Allison Herwitt Promoted to HRC Vice President for Government Affairs
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) today announced Allison Herwitt, currently HRC’s legislative director and a seven year veteran of the organisation, has been promoted to the position of Vice President for Government Affairs.
HRC Calls on U.S. Catholic Hierarchy to Heed Pope’s Hopeful Message
Last Friday, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin wrote to the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the CEO of Knights of Columbus – an affiliate of the Roman Catholic Church – calling on them to follow Pope Francis’ message of welcome and mercy for gays and lesbians.
Members of Congress Introduce Dangerous Legislation Billed as Protecting Religious Freedom
Last Thursday, a group of Members of Congress led by Idaho Republican Raul Labrador introduced the ‘Marriage and Religious Freedom Act,’ which Rep. Labrador claims will ‘protect freedom of conscience for those who believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman.’
Griffin: Pope Francis Presses “Reset Button” on LGBT Issues
In a wide-ranging interview released in a publication of the Jesuit order, Pope Francis expanded dramatically on his recent comments that “if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge”—making clear that he intended that tolerant message to apply to all lesbian and gay people, not just priests and members of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.
Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act Introduced in U.S. House and Senate
While the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and guidance from the Office of Personnel Management have made clear that federal workers’ same-sex spouses are now eligible for benefits, there are still federal employees who cannot access marriage and thus continue to be denied critical health, retirement and other benefits for their families.
HRC Hires Brad Clark to Develop New Strategies to Achieve Full Equality
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) last Friday announced Brad Clark, currently the executive director of One Colorado, will join the organisation to create and lead new strategies that will allow HRC to bridge the gap between states that have made great strides toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, and those that have barely any protections for the LGBT community.