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nwnews
SEPTEMBER 2. 2011
“They are so tied to the established order in
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mostly focused on not rocking the boat.
Hopefully that can change.”
The HRC board chairs said they will work
with a search committee as well as a firm to
identify Solmonese’s successor.
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HRC President Announces
2012 D eparture
Human Rights Campaign president Joe
Solmonese will leave the organization when
his contract expires at the end of March
2012, the co-chairs of the HRC board of
directors and foundation board announced
August 27.
“We’ve made more accomplishments [dur
ing Solmonese’s tenure] than any time in our
history nationally,” said HRC board member
Terr)' Bean. “We’ve been very lucky at HRC.
We’ve been able to get the perfect person at
the perfect time. He had the leadership and
political smarts to get [pro-equality] legisla
tion through and stop bad legislation.”
Since Solmonese began at HRC in 2005,
the organization has celebrated major victo
ries for LGBT equality including the legal
ization of marriage equality in six states and
the District of Columbia, the passage of the
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act, the repeal of “Don’t
ask, don’t tell” and the reversal of the HIV
travel ban.
The HRC also credits Solmonese with
increasing the organization’s supporter base
by 250,000 and expanding its public educa
tion and outreach programs in areas such as
health care, religion and faith, corporate
equality, bullying and adoption.
“HRC has never been stronger and after
nearly seven years, this is the right moment
for me to move on,” Solmonese said in a re
lease. “As I explore new professional possibili
ties, I plan on continuing to pour my heart
and soul into improving the lives of members
of our community—from battling proposed
marriage amendments to creating more equi
table workplaces to ensuring ... President
Obama is reelected for a second term."
Still, Solmonese’s tenure has not been with
out criticism. Most notable was the HRC’s
decision to support a version of the Employ
ment Non-Discrimination Act that did not
include protections for transgender people.
The HRC has since clarified its position, and
now only supports an inclusive ENDA.
Some have expressed hope that Solmonese’s
departure will spark an organizational shift.
“The challenges for a new leader are clear:
HRC remains insular, not open to new ap
proaches or ideas,” Richard Socarides, for
mer senior White House adviser to Presi
dent Bill Clinton on gay rights, told The
Advocate following the announcement.
Christopher Senyonjo, a retired Anglican
bishop from Uganda, makes his way to Port
land September 6-13. The gay rights advo
cate and founder of St. Paul’s Reconciliation
and Equality Centre for LGBTQ/Straight
Alliance will give a public talk at Trinity
Episcopal Cathedral (147 NW 19th Ave.)
September 12 at 7 p.m.
Bishop Senyonjo retired from his minis
terial career in 1998, leaving behind a legacy
of LGBTQ_advocacy that continues today,
specifically on behalf of LGBTQJJgandans.
His counseling services for LGBTQ_people
began in 2001, nine years prior to the found
ing of St. Paul’s Reconciliation and Equality
Centre for LGBTQ/Straight Alliance. In
2010, Bishop Senyonjo was a keynote
speaker during two United Nations interna
tional human rights conferences, and he has
been recognized by the California State As
sembly for his leadership on LGBTQjssues.
He was also named one of the Hujpngton
Post's 10 Most Influential Religious Leaders
for 2010.
Bishop Senyonjo and his wife, Mary, will
be in the United States through October 24.
For more information on Bishop Senyonjos tour,
call the Rev. Canon Albert Ogle at 949-338-8830,
or emailaogle@stpaulsfoundation.com.
— R yan J. P rado
BRO Encourages LGBTQ
O regonians to Share Their
Stories
As Basic Rights Oregon prepares to make
a decision on moving forward with a 2012
marriage equality ballot measure, the orga
nization is encouraging LGBT Oregonians
and their allies to share their stories about
why marriage matters.
“Research shows that people who’ve talk
ed to LGBT folks and straight allies about
marriage are twice as likely to support the
freedom to marry,” said BRO executive di
rector Jeana Frazzini.
At an August 24 marriage strategy ses
sion, BRO field organizer Kyle White ex
plained that while a near majority of Orego
nians support full or partial rights for
same-sex couples (whether or not they want
to call it “marriage”), about 100,000 hearts
and minds need to be changed to reach the
50 percent mark.
That’s why, in addition to hitting the
streets this summer and reaching out to
20,000 Oregonians via phone banks this fall,
BRO is asking LGBTQ_folks and their al
lies to share their personal stories with