Tired of letting Gay Inc. run all of your homosexual rights drives? Then you haven’t heard of the Gill Foundation, founded by Quark software founder Tim Gill. Rather than take the approach of the Human Rights Campaign, which involves (supposedly) lobbying lawmakers, Gill acts as an umbrella donation machine. Sort of like the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation, Gill selects other worthy non-profits making impacts on a smaller scale. As former executive director Rodger MacFarlane explains it, the foundation’s activism is less about pursuing its own agenda (beyond the broad “LGBT quality” mission) than it is about supporting the missions of smaller orgs doing good work. Oh, Gill also uses its clout to influence other donors and foundations to support gay rights issues.
activism
What Makes the Gill Foundation Different From Gay Inc. Groups?
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Cam
They also look for gay friendly politicians in local races to support, those people are the ones who will hopefully run for Congress one day.
AndrewW
If you have a good idea or strategy for LGBT Equality – this should be your first stop. They are notable in the sea-of-sameness prevailing in Gay Inc., a group more interested in their salaries, than the Community. Plus, they actually want to WIN.
Kurt
I am not buying it. Th ekey words: “Gill selects…”
I will give credit to the National Stonewall Democrats and the Log Cabin Republicans. They have local chapters. You can go to a meeting. You can put your hand in the air at a meeting, make a motion, argue your case with your fellow chapter members, and then there is an up or down vote. Same with those the chapters elect to the National Board.
I am sure Mr. Gill is a nice guy, but it is no different than an unaccountable organization.
GimmeABreak
The morons running queerty are thinking of accepting money from Mormons and you’re judging a group like Gill Foundation? Stick to posting pictures of pretty boy homos – that’s the one thing y’all are good at.
meltelly
Interesting and necessary strategy.
btw- you queerty haters are weird.
Lady Ga-Gasp
The Gill Foundation brought on Tim Sweeny, a co-founder if I’m not mistaken of GMHC, previously part of the Haas foundation, and regardless a true pioneer in the fight. That says a lot for them. Not sure if he’s still there,but like I said, it speaks to quality.
AlwaysGay
Why are they talking about this in public? Just do it! I know the Gill Foundation does great work because I see the result. We don’t need anyone to know how it gets done.
1EqualityUSA
Dear Mr. Tim Gill, Would it be possible to create a queer union? As it is now, huskies are pulling the sled in many different directions. We are not effectively focused and because of this, the streamlined opposition is seeing more wins than they should. Every LGBT organization, gay-straight alliance, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, ACLU, GMHC, task force, HRC, and all could participate under one umbrella. Issue cards and ask for queer union dues. It would decrease some of the double duty that’s occurring. The legal arm could strengthen church-state walls, the political arm could hold politicians to their word, negotiating solutions, and the entire movement could be streamlined into one huge, powerful block of gays and straights that are sympathetic to our cause. Please consider helping this community pull our act together, lest we are forced to explain to the queer generation coming up after us that we dropped the ball. Thank you for your time.
Charles Merrill
I don’t know whether he is different from Gay Inc. or not. I hear reports about Tim Gill chasing twinks and not caring about his org, feuds between Gill and Jared Polis the gay congressman from Colorado, and sad reports about the suicide of Roger McFarland pictured in the video above. I knew Roger in New York and didn’t hear him complain about back pain which was stated in a Gill press release as his reason for killing himself in the desert.
romeo
Mr. Merrill, your post #9 is one of the shittiest things I’ve ever seen here. Would you care to substantiate any of that innuendo? Mr. Gill is a substantial friend to our community and is entitled to better than mindless character assassination.
StopHRC.com
They give lots of money to the log cabin republicans, which sucks.
Charles Merrill
Romeo
I have heard those remarks from former top level associates at the Gill Foundation and Williams Institute. I think Queerty could have honored the life of Rodger McFarland along with running his video. That’s really what ticked me off. Queerty reads too much like paid public relations fluff and not enough reality of the situation. I attend the Gill Conferences and pay my way.
Sam
I have huge respect for Gill and the work they do, especially their Action Fund (political work) and the work they do bringing the other LGBT groups together to collaborate. That said, one of their hand-picked candidates voted against marriage equality in New York last night.
So Tim Gill is not the infallible savior you suggest here. Another great org doing great work, but still capable of mistakes…
Simply Dumbfounded
Just so you all know, Rodger MacFarland killed himself this year while in New Mexico. Tim Styles is the new e.d. and is a wonderful leader.
leliorisen
According to another post on this site, Gill’s founder, contributed the maximum $9,500 personal donation to Joe Addabbo.
Addabbo voted ‘no’ on gay marriage. He said 73% of his constituents told him to.