In June of last year, Queerty shared with you a letter from a Human Rights Campaign Federal Club member and donor who, frustrated over the organization’s complete lack of backbone, wrote HRC to tell them he was cutting off his cash. The major complaints? HRC was advising the White House on which types of LGBT rights legislation to push forward, but generating no movement; and that HRC was soliciting funds to “fight” Don’t Ask Don’t Tell but was actually doing virtually nothing on the subject. Here we are, nine months later, and radio host Michelangelo Signorile brings us news of another person who’s going to stop giving HRC money. For the same reasons.
At this point, it’s impossible to tell how many donors HRC is losing because of its fumbling. But HRC’s ineptitude isn’t new. This website has been calling out the organization and its leadership for years, and generating much criticism along the way. But now there are other voices out there who have finally awoken to HRC’s terrible progress record on gay rights, and its inability to generate much of a return for donors.
From absolutely bungling efforts to pass a trans-inclusive ENDA to refusing to make any shifts in its strategy (that, year after year, fails), the discontent with HRC leadership isn’t just palpable, it’s tangible.
Maybe this is why HRC, just like Focus on the Family, is falling so out of favor with its core constituency that it can’t meet its own fundraising goals.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Brian En Guarde
Gross incompetence hurts the cause. It makes the gay community look satisfied with the lack of progress of the Administration. There is no progress. Obama makes a speech, then drops the ball.
The HRC should be disbanded, donors need to start giving to some group with some fighting spirit. I think Joe Solmonese has just filled that organization with Jan Brady types, talking to their imaginary friends, getting assurances, and feeling happy. They are just nuts over there.
Cam
Even people that aren’t mad at them are dropping off their lists. Many of my friends aren’t irritated with them like I am but they’ve all let their memberships lapse because they just don’t see them doing anything.
AndrewW
The problem with HRC is that they have convinced so many people that lobbying works. We are now seeing that it does not work for LGBT issues. HRC may have accomplished a few things in their 29-year existence, but they cannot justify the waste of more than $550 million.
We will not lobby our way to full equality. Our challenge is to continue to change the cultural conversation about LGBT people. To that end, $550 million sure would have been helpful.
The LGBT Community must re-organize and do some very honest and objective analysis of where we are and what will actually help us succeed. As HRC evaporates, we must explore ALL ideas and strategies that can be shown to be both effective AND valuable. This fight is winnable, but not until we make winning the goal.
Miguel
Failure to pass ENDA should be a major issue for gay people. Failure to pass a “trans inclusive” ENDA is virtually a non-issue. While I support anti-discrimination protection for transgendereds, that is not a gay issue and it should not be the top priority for a gay organization. It is appalling that tens of millions of gay workers have to remain vulnerable to discrimination because we had to insist on including a separate, amorphous group (or to be more accurate, groups) composed almost entirely of straight people. This is another example of how the false concept of “LGBT” has hurt gay people.
Kurt
Just How Many Deep Pocketed Donors Is HRC Willing to Lose? Hopefully all. It is time we stop having a movement directed by the rich.
Andrew
When I was only fifteen I remember I use to donate a good chunk of my birth day money to HRC. Sometimes anywhere from 50-100 dollars. Not much, but oh well, I wanted to feel like I was helping to fight for equality.
Now I’m a bit put off and think I’ll be donating any future funds@Miguel: Not to mention that many Trans people are covered by gender laws once they change their docs.
Andrew
*to the LGBT Equality campaigns directly.
Mark Dallas
No more HRC. Thank God.
Josh AZ
I can’t imagine that Bruce Bastion, Tim Gill, David Bohnett or Jon Stryker give money to HRC – they’re smarter than that.
HRC makes it’s money off of the naive $50 monthly donors. I know, I used to be one.
Ben
@ Miguel
Fuck you.
I’ve spent my entire life fighting for the rights of LGBT people… that’s right, gay, lesbian, bisexual, AND transgender people.
I’m a trans man and I’ve worked my ass off for lots of people whose “lifestyles” I might not agree with.
If you think fighting for my rights is a non-issue, then fuck you. The average trans person has probably been much more active in the fight for LGBT rights than the average gay man or woman. We don’t often get to hide behind the guise of being “normal.” If you think you can start your own little gay man movement without us, go right on ahead. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.