Brad Luna was, until Friday, the Human Rights Campaign’s director of communications — the standard flack job every organization has. But no longer. “The position was eliminated,” says HRC’s human resource director John Green. Was Luna fired by HRC? Did he quit in disgust? Leave amicably for greener pastures?
A mix of all three, as these things usually are.
His departure comes at a curious time. The Human Rights Campaign is in the middle of an aggressive defense campaign to counter widespread criticism of its do-nothingness. The recent events with Dan Choi and Get Equal/Robin McGehee are the latest, and perhaps most public assault on HRC’s character and ineffectiveness. Choi, the DADT repeal’s most public face, has called HRC worthless.
But if Luna wasn’t on board with HRC’s spin campaign? The one where they try to assure donors and the media that they’re doing everything right, when they aren’t? Then it would be best to sack him sooner rather than later. One HRC source tells us that’s precisely what happened; after feuding with directors there over strategy and messaging, it was clear Luna wasn’t terribly willing to stay on message, and he was asked to leave. We’re also hearing Luna volunteered to leave after weeks of back-and-forth. In the end, the official story will likely be that he “resigned.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Privately, Luna — who is well liked inside HRC, and who this website has enjoyed stern but pleasant relations — has been voicing frustration with HRC’s latest round of blah. It’s likely that began to creep into the workplace. Around 4:45pm on Friday, an email was circulated to HRC’s entire staff announcing Luna’s exit. (Luna declined to comment to Queerty.)
Meanwhile: “For the last week, Luna had been ducking questions about the what Lt. Choi was told about the nature of the rally, and HRC’s plans regarding Choi, while buzzing up a flurry of sudden activity criticizing Choi’s action and trying to raise funds to fight Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” relays PBC Liberal. “Today, HRC’s deputy communications director acting in Luna’s place has taken the direct approach. HRC simply will not answer questions about it. They will neither confirm nor deny that GetEqual’s Robin McGehee was told Choi couldn’t speak because he hadn’t signed a release that would give Griffin’s production company intellectual property rights to his speech. They’ll say nothing further about any support they’ll offer Choi, pointing to a statement on their blog which attendees at the rally report is ‘utterly untrue.'”
As it stands, the Human Rights Campaign, which executive director Joe Solmonese claims represents the entire LGBT community, has brought in Fred Sainz as its new vice president of communications, to speak to the entire LGBT community (and beyond).
Might Get Equal need a newly available certain someone who can match wits?
john
just out of curiosity, could anyone fill me in on other national organizations that support LGBT causes and arguably do a better job the HRC?
Gridlock
Hah! When HRC has to lock down their fancy shmancy HQ because they fear gays, the people they’re supposed to represent, might retaliate for the Choi thing, won’t answer any questions about how much of a failure they are, and wage a whiny, lying defense campaign then all signs point to HRC being an organization that exists merely further its own existence with donations.
the crustybastard
There is no national organization that arguably does a better job than HRC. They all do an EMPIRICALLY better job.
Well, unless you’re just interested in schmoozing with other “powerfags” at a cocktail party. If that’s the case, HRC is for you.
Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Servicemember’s Legal Defense Fund, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Courage Campaign, Get Equal…
The list is long.
MikeSLC
Well, can anyone name a major accomplishment that HRC has done? ENDA doesn’t count as it was a coaliation of labor unions, attorney generals, and decades of lobbying. The gay community has given them hundreds of millions of dollars and yet I see no noticable change. There are tons of organizations/people who do more for gay rights than the HRC in my personal opinion.
Lamda Legal, NCLR, GLAD, Dan Choi, The City of San Francisco, Ted Olson and David Bois, The Courage Campaign, American Foundation for Equal Rights, Derrick Martin/Constance Mcmillan, The Grassroots of the gay community, etc etc.
Joe must go!
Gridlock
My desk lamp does more for gay rights and its budget is really low.
HRC hasn’t accomplished anything in 30 years and 550 million dollars.
Zach
So completely not on topic: Is that photo at JR’s in Denver?
Isaiah
LOL @ Gridlock
jeffree
Does anyone including Queerty know anything about Fred Sands? I’ll hit up google laterz, but in the mean time….
Thanks !!
Jane Laplain
I went to college with Mr. Luna at Tulsa University around ’95. He impressed me then as an outspoken if somewhat idealistic budding activist even then. Years later I was horrified to learn he had become the face of HRC! I don’t even recognize him in this photo, he is all Stepfordy looking now. I hope he recovers from the cult-of-high-profile personality that he’s been immersed in lo these years and regains that passion for genuine activism again. Ah well.
mark snyder
@john: NGLTF
Bill Perdue
Rats. Sinking ship.
Michael
@Jane Laplain:
What an interesting synopsis coming from someone who knew this person over ten years ago. He is and always has faught for equality. No matter the views of HRC and their current leadership, there are still very hard working people who are indeed fighting! Brad was one of those people who get a great message out to the public.
Now he is able to take the experience and knowledge and help us as a community…
Qjersey
HRC has “Gone Hollywood.” When things go bad, fire your publicist.
Kate
“No. 4 · MikeSLC
Well, can anyone name a major accomplishment that HRC has done? ENDA doesn’t count as it was a coaliation of labor unions, attorney generals, and decades of lobbying.”
ENDA doesn’t count because it hasn’t been passed yet. It’s also a very watered down version of a civil rights bill that doesn’t cover public accomadation, has a religuos exclusion that you can drive a truck through and was being worked on before HRC existed. Not to mention how royally HRC fucked it up in 2007 and outright lied to lgbt leaders around the country – Joe, David Smith & Allison Herwitz – huge, shameless, lies.
Then they go hide under their desks when they think genuine activists might visit. Really? Non-violent protestors? You couldn’t just invite them in for a cuppa?
Lanjier
HRC simply does not effectively know how to accumulate and leverage political power. They have lots and lots of conversations with powerful Democrats, but have been unable to leverage power.
When the shift came from Democrats being totally out of power, to being in power, HRC never changed tactics. It was still, “write your congressman!” and “Celebrate our President with a standing ovation for doing nothing!”
They have not changed to date. You won’t hear one public criticism of Obama from the HRC or its ass-in-the-air president. There may have also been some back room deal between the HRC and the administration. Their people-pleasing “activism” keeps bumping us further and further down the Democratic Party’s to do list.
Even civil rights for non-citizens is ahead in line of civil rights for us. That tells you how effective HRC has been.
MikeSLC
@Kate:
Oops I meant the hate crimes bill.. Let’s not discuss ENDA at this time…
Cam
So basically what I get is that they were asking him to lie about what they had told Choi and he didn’t want to do it.
the crustybastard
Basically what I get is that HRC has noticed its reputation is circling the toilet, and Smirking Joe Solduscheaplee reckoned it couldn’t POSSIBLY be his fault, so it must be his publicist’s.
OnCloud9
He’s cute. Is he single?
the crustybastard
One other thing: I propose HRC’s board of directors fire Smirking Joe and hire away the leader of Albania’s LGBT advocacy organization.
Last month Albania managed to pass an omnibus gay antidiscrimination law.
The only LGBT legislation we can get passed in the US on a federal level is an anti-fagbashing law (attached to an anti-tardbashing law), and even then, only if somebody staples that bill to the back of a defense spending bill and hopes nobody notices.
But Albania can pass an omnibus gay antidiscrimination law. Albania, ferchrissakes —where citizens got the right to travel just 20 years ago.
I suspect HRC wouldn’t notice the US had fallen behind Uganda’s LGBT rights until they themselves were getting loaded into boxcars.
Warren in NY
@john: Lambda Legal does a better job securing our rights for starters.
Michael
@OnCloud9: No fully taken…
AndrewW
During the last 30 years HRC has spent more than $550 miilion.
Here is a list of their accomplishments:
.
.
.
.
.
.
Add to it if you can find anything they have accomplished.
Jason
HRC is a gay dotcom.
They have spent alot of money, had a few good parties and accomplished nothing.
Cam
Once again, what I’m getting from this is that HRC wanted him to lie about what was actually said to Dan Choi and this guy didn’t want to do that. So they fired him. This pretty much cements the fact that Choi was 100% telling the truth when he said that they promised him things and didn’t follow through. Sounds like Solomnese really is playing the typical Washington Lobbying game. Lie, smile, and keep going out to fancy lunches.
Riley
I sure hope he left for greener pastures… not a good time to be outta work.
Sam
I had once hoped that the Task Force would rise up and replace HRC, but they seem less interested in federal lobbying and more interested in the think tank-y side of policy work. The legal orgs have done a lot of good (Lambda, NCLR, GLAD, ACLU) but I don’t think they’d be as good at lobbying as they are at suing.
What would be really great is if the state organizations that have had so many successes locally could somehow band together and form a nationwide network to make progress in DC the way they have in their state capitals. I know they’re all supposed to be part of Equality Federation, but I haven’t seen them do much yet.
Michael
To answer John in line 1, here are a few:
1) Equality Network
2) Equality Accross America
3) Queer Rising (just starting to go national)
There are others that I just can’t think of right now. Just an FYI the HRC is at the top of Gay,Inc. there are many regional groups who are also Gay,Inc. (meaning money mills) Equality California ,and to a lesser extent Courage Campaign.
Hope this helps.
Kate
“No. 27 · Sam
I had once hoped that the Task Force would rise up and replace HRC, but they seem less interested in federal lobbying and more interested in the think tank-y side of policy work.”
Yeah – it’s hard to say what they’ve been doing the last few years. They’re completely off the radar screen.
madisonreed
An Open Statement to Joe Solmonese
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_60yCTEoRDbY/S6k71zCHH5I/AAAAAAAAArI/xXFKl0K4_x8/s320/CHOIX390.jpg[/img]Joe,
HRC has alienated me and many other LGBT Americans. I’m a gay American with a foreign partner who lives on another continent. What have you done over the past 7 years of my separation from my partner, to bring our nightmare or the nightmares of 36,000 to 200,000 same-sex bi-national couples to a rapid end, or to create even a temporary stop-gap solution for us? We deal with loneliness, separation, exile, financial hardship, detention, and degradation every single day, just because we want to love and live like other people!
To tell you the truth, I’m sick and tired of hearing anything about the Human Rights Campaign’s glories, because you’ve done absolutely nothing of substance that I can detect to help bi-national couples; to call for the passage of the Uniting American Families Act, or to pressure President Obama and Congress to put a rapid end to discrimination against us.
And what about the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, fighting to make a difference in marriage equality, and the passage of ENDA, etc? Millions have been waiting a very, very long time! Our LGBT brothers and sisters are still suffering, enduring insults and abuse, couples even dying split apart from each other, while you have lots of fun entertaining dignitaries and making a lot of money on our blood and tears!
Where were you last week Joe Solmonese, when our two heroic brothers Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo were being arrested by DC police and wearing chains for standing up for our rights?
For God’s sake, to have honor and do something of substance that would help the American LGBT community, will you resign from the Human Rights Campaign, and ask Lt. Daniel Choi if he will take your place? What do you say?
Madison Reed
Dan
We need a new organization that values “progress” more than “access”.
If the NGLTF is a “think tank”, then what about a new organization, “Equality America”?
MikeSLC
well sad Madison Reed, I agree 100%
MikeSLC
err.. said *
AndrewW
@Dan: At the very least, we need an organization to be able to justify its tactics, methods and strategies. Otherwise, no donations.
If Gay Inc. won’e embrace accountability, we’ll just fund their replacements. New organizations that make sense and are committed to winning, not just surviving.
madisonreed
@Dan: That’s even a better idea, as long as Dan Choi is the director!
Then, outstanding true workers for LGBT civil rights, who value progress more than access, such as Wayne Besen, Mel White, Pam Spaulding, Melanie Nathan, Amos Lim, Charles Merrill, to name just a few, could be its board members.
PBCliberal
@Cam: I think it’s more basic than that. After all, he didn’t walk when the cover story “felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally” was published on the backstory blog.
There’s a point in public relations when things go so badly south that you have to switch to a crisis management mode; it no longer suffices to just gird your loins, have people say nasty things about you, and wait for things to blow over.
For example: Amazon went to crisis management when it got caught manipulating sales figures for LGBT books because they were labeled as porno; they admitted an error and apologized.
Public relations people lie. It’s part of the job and I don’t think most people (at least in the media) are upset by that. But the PR job also involves giving good advice to your bosses or clients; when they don’t take that advice, you often have to choose between your paycheck and the future of your career.
I have no inside information on this, other than what I reported on my blog (linked to in the above story), but what is reported here is certainly consistent with the way my calls to HRC were handled and what I was told by Brad Luna when I finally got him on the phone.
SD_Dave
@AndrewW:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
That’s what I had to add to your list =)
AndrewW
Can’t somebody come up with something HRC has accomplished? Anything?
JoeyB
Classical gay face.
David
Crazy Scientology eyes.
DEREK WASHINGTON
@GRIDLOCK: That shiz was funneeee!
Yet.
Sadly.
True.
Steve
@madisonreed: I think I am stupider for having read the final lines of this post. If Dan Choi was more qualified to lead HRC then their Board would have hired him. If you’re so much smarter than Joe Solmonese they should have hired you.
madisonreed
@Steve: And what’s your hard-working LGBT civil rights track record, Steve, that you can utter such wise counsel? You are addressing your comment to me, right? It’s hard for me to believe that you could be serious about your comment about the HRC board. They selected Joe Solmonese! Whose buddy are you Steve?
Dan has emerged as the leader of the American LGBT community, regardless of who disagrees. Like any of us could do, Dan simply went out on the front lines and took the first necessary step to say “Hell no!” to the broken promises, lies and insults directed toward the American LGBT community by the Obama administration and the rest of our government. By doing this, Dan has gone against the grain of most LGBT leadership; against the wishes of the U.S. government and the religious establishment. He has clearly demonstrated that LGBT Americans are a reality that can no longer be ignored. His actions are a catalyst to release energies that will cause the resistance to our full equality to collapse. He and the other LGBT American heroes who have joined him in the first and second wave of protests, have demonstrated the truth, integrity and valor of our people, as well as how our community values love. I actually believe that we value love more than others, because the freedom to love has been our struggle!
Dan Choi took risk, cuffed himself to the White House fence, bruised and bloodied his wrists, and spent time in jail. He’s a leader, plain and simple. I kiss his wrists. My biological brother shuns me because he’s a religious fanatic Baha’i. Dan is my true spiritual brother. Finis!
madisonreed
@Steve:Now, we, are all Dan.
PBCliberal
@Steve: This isn’t about whether Dan Choi should have been hired to lead an organization, its about what the person who IS leading the organization is doing.
The board is making a mistake by keeping someone at the helm who would rather jockey for position against a hero instead of embracing him and throwing its support behind him.
Like so many organizations, HRC seems more anxious to maintain the status quo by rejecting anything “not invented here” than to leverage all our assets in a coordinated fashion. It may take a while for the board to see what a lot of us outside the organization have known for quite some time.