Target Corporation Message to LGBT Community: We Won't Make it Right |
| HRC to devote $150,000 in Minnesota to elect pro-equality candidates.
Washington – After two weeks of good-faith discussions – and two tentative agreements – with Target Corporation, the company has informed the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, that it will take no corrective actions to repair the harm that it caused by contributing $150,000 to an organization supporting a vehemently anti-gay candidate closely associated with a Christian rock band that advocates death and violence to gay people. In response, HRC announced that it will devote $150,000 of its own resources to help elect a pro-equality governor and legislature in Minnesota. The next governor will likely have the opportunity to either sign or veto marriage equality legislation in the North Star State.
“All fair-minded Americans will now rightly question Target’s commitment to equality. If their initial contribution was a slap in the face, their refusal to make it right is a punch in the gut and that’s not something that we will soon forget,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “However, with full marriage equality hanging in the balance in Minnesota, regardless of Target, it’s important that we as a community send a message that we will work tirelessly to elect pro-equality candidates.”
As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United, corporations are now permitted to give unlimited amounts of shareholder cash to certain political committees. Target has made a conscious decision to place stores in LGBT communities throughout the nation. In fact, two stores are currently under development in the City of San Francisco.
All eyes are now on Best Buy, another Minnesota-based company, that also made a political contribution to MN Forward, the group supporting Tom Emmer, one of the most strident opponents of equality in Minnesota to vie for the governor’s mansion. Best Buy has yet to respond.
“Target and Best Buy have – and no doubt will continue to have – model employment policies for LGBT people. We will continue to support those efforts. But before they can regain that exalted status among their consumers, they need to make things right in Minnesota,” said Solmonese. “The nation’s LGBT community has shown these two companies enormous customer loyalty. Now it's time for that faithfulness to be returned.”
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. |
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Human Rights Campaign Congratulates Elena Kagan on Her Confirmation as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court |
| "We commend the Senate for confirming Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. She has demonstrated a understanding of the need for equality for all Americans and her record indicates she may be more familiar with how laws and policies affect the LGBT community than any previously confirmed Justice," said HRC President Joe Solmonese
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today applauded the United States Senate for confirming Solicitor General Elena Kagan as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The Senate voted 63-37 with 5 Republicans voting in favor of her confirmation and 1 Democrats voting against it.
“We commend the Senate for confirming Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “She has demonstrated an understanding of the need for equality for all Americans and her record indicates she may be more familiar with how laws and policies affect the LGBT community than any previously confirmed Justice.”
On July 1, after thoroughly reviewing her record and her responses to questions posed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, HRC formally announced its endorsement of Kagan. In her testimony before the Committee, she indicated an understanding of the important issues facing many Americans, including those who are LGBT. Her opening statement pointed out what she saw as the command to every justice – the pursuit of Equal Justice Under Law – and argued for a “fair shake for every American.” She also took the opportunity to clarify a statement from her Solicitor General confirmation regarding the lack of a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples as simply an assessment of where the law currently stands.
Kagan’s record shows she has worked on LGBT issues during many phases of her career. While in the Clinton White House, she was involved in LGBT issues ranging from expanding hate crimes legislation to preventing employment discrimination to increasing funding for HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. As Dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan supported the LGBT community and passionately defended the school’s sexual orientation anti-discrimination policy when it conflicted with the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law – a law she called “a profound wrong – a moral injustice of the first order.”
HRC is particularly pleased to see the fourth woman to serve on our nation’s highest court and the third woman sitting on the current Supreme Court, marking the highest representation of women on the Court in its history. In addition, she will be the only member of the current Court to have not previously served as a judge – which ends the recent historical anomaly of having a Court comprised entirely of justices that entered the Court from the bench. This increased diversity will help provide greater perspectives to the Court, particularly regarding how the law affects everyday people, including LGBT Americans.
Learn more about federal judicial nominations and follow our work on these crucial issues on HRC’s Equality in the Courts by visiting: www.HRC.org/EqualityInTheCourts.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. |
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John McCain: Against Filibuster of Defense Bill Before He Was For It |
| Senator pledges not to block NDAA this morning; objects to bringing it up this afternoon.
Washington – Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was quoted in Congressional Quarterly this morning as saying “I do not plan to filibuster” the National Defense Authorization Act – the bill to which repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is attached. However when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon moved to bring the bill up after the August recess, the Senator strenuously objected.
During an exchange between Sens. McCain and Carl Levin, McCain implied that repeal would be implemented before the Pentagon Working Group study is complete – a complete falsehood. He also brought up the seemingly irrelevant fact that last year the Senate passed a strong hate crimes bill – also over his objection – as an amendment to the Defense bill.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese released the following statement:
“In less than 24 hours, Senator McCain seems to have changed his mind on blocking a critical defense bill in order to score some political points with his base. Further, the Senator willfully mischaracterized both the substance and the procedure surrounding repeal of the ban on openly gay and lesbian service members. Our country needs the best and brightest men and women in uniform and no one should play politics when it’s time to get down to doing the people’s business.
“Additionally, Senator McCain seemed fixated on rearguing the fight over the hate crimes bill, an issue that has been settled for more than a year. He tried his hardest to prevent Americans from being protected from hate crimes and lost. His attempt to prevent qualified openly lesbian and gay service members from serving will be a failing effort as well.”
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. |
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HRC Endorses Lynn Nunes in NY State Senate Race |
| Election of Nunes key to securing marriage equality
Washington – Today the Human Rights Campaign announced the endorsement of Lynn Nunes for the New York State Senate. Nunes, a strong supporter of marriage equality, is running in Queens, NY to unseat State Senator Shirley Huntley who voted against marriage equality.
“With equality hanging in the balance, Lynn Nunes is the leader New York needs to ensure every family is treated equally,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “LGBT people and our allies remember the sting of last year’s marriage equality loss and are determined to elect leaders who won’t back down when equality is at stake.”
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HRC New York PAC Announces Endorsements in NY State Senate Races |
| Challengers and Incumbents Key to Securing Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON – Today the HRC New York PAC – affiliated with the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – announced the endorsement of nine candidates for the New York State Senate in its first round of endorsements. These challengers and incumbents are all supporters of marriage equality and their election will put New York on a path to fairness and equality for same-sex couples in the state.
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