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From: admin Admin@satxis.com
Subject: hrc boycott
I was shocked to read your article regarding the boycott of HRC. ÿ I was in the dark on this whole subject and would like to thank you for the information.ÿ Due to your article I am now a X-supporter of HRC. ÿ I just started a new adult website and lost my backer so funds are non-existant.ÿ In fact I may be loosing my newly started business (web server). ÿ If it all turns around for me, I'll be sure and get back here and get you some support funds. ÿ My adult site gets about 3000 hits a day (haven't check how many of those are unique).ÿ I'll be sure and put a bannerlink to your site here in my adult area. ÿ best to ya ÿ
--tom ÿ

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From: AEGIS Internet News Wednesday, 1 April, 1998 Part 2 of 2
Contents: Trans-Community Split over ENDA, HRC? OPINION by Dallas Denny
In 1994, when the transgender community discovered that the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) had dealt it out of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), the reaction was swift and unified. Although the community had less than a week to organize, HRC booths were picketed at 15 Pride events.
Although most local HRC organizations and many HRC members expressed sympathy and said they were in favor of transgender inclusion, the response by HRC National, then and now, has been one of spin control. They have _not_ moved on the issue. Not one inch. To date, all of HRC's literature speaks of gays and lesbians, with nary a transgender or bisexual mentioned. HRC will make nice talk about inclusion; they just will not move toward it.
Since 1994, the community has been in HRC's face, picketing at HRC dinners and reminding national and local HRC personnel of the problem at every turn. Lately, there has been a call for HRC to live up to its name and commit to advocating human rights for all humans. "Change your mission statement," is the call. GenderPAC, the transgender lobby organization, has laid off HRC, claiming that ENDA is lost to us because of the "30 Votes" issue (i.e., transgender inclusion will cost 30 congressional votes). GenderPAC is concentrating on learning how to effectively lobby, with HRC tutors.
Some transgender community leaders claim that those who cooperate are falling prey to HRC's cynical spindoctoring efforts to divide the community.
For several years now, leaders of some national transgender organizations have attended a GLBT summit meeting in Washington, DC. Only some organizations have been invited. Transgender leaders, many of them politically naive on the national scene, get to lecture seasoned gay and lesbian activists about the importance of inclusion, and the gay and lesbian activists express admiration and agree that it is really important. Afterwards, the ones who are sincere- PFLAG and NGLTF, for example- get busy and change their organizations, and the ones who aren't- most notably, HRC- don't.
Following last month's summit, IFGE Executive Director Nancy Nangeroni weighed IFGE in on the HRC issue. The following is excerpted from Nangeroni's 3/16/98 article "Maybe Not So Casual Today" on the IFGE web page. The entire text is posted at the end of this editorial so it will be clear I have not selectively quoted her.
"As you probably know, various TG activist groups around the country have been harrassing HRC, picketing their fundraising dinners and in some cases actively discouraging contributions. This has not escaped the notice of HRC's Board.
Did we hurt HRC? We picketed (and are planning on picketing) their fundraisers. Surely that cost them something. I wonder how much. $1000? $10,000? Even more? I couldn't begin to guess, but I really hate to think what the payback might be. If we cost them donations - the stated intent of some activists - we probably created enough hurt to anger someone. Did we accomplish anything? Absolutely. HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch acknowledged in conversation with me that it got some people's attention that needed getting. But could we have accomplished as much with less hurt, less damage, less waste?
If there is any hope for peace in the world, if we've made any progress in that direction, there is hope for peaceful resolution of social conflicts. And peaceful means no terrorism, social or economic. No show of force to obtain concessions, except under the most dire circumstances and following determined effort at negotiation.
As [HRC sees it today], putting forward an ENDA with "transgender" in it, is tantamount to a setback of many years. Is it so hard to understand their reluctance to do so? Can we blame them for not knowing transgenderism as well as we do, or for not having an effective strategy for transgender integration at the ready? Look at our options: we can blame them, feel self-righteous, and work against them. Or, we can educate them, bring some new ideas of merit to their attention, and by so doing win their respect and earn their cooperation."
The IFGE page also contains a self-congratulatory article about what a great impression trans leaders made on HRC: "Transgender Leaders Applauded by HRC Board The applause that greeted (IFGE Executive Director) Nancy Nangeroni when she completed her 15-minute presentation on transgenderism, was spirited, strong - and surprising. What made it unexpected was that the applause came from the Board of Directors and Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a group that has been under attack from TG activists around the country. Many of those present knew the transgender community only as a threatening, disruptive group of activists who have been undermining efforts to raise funds in support of pro-gay reform to federal law. For this group to warmly and enthusiastically embrace a transgender presenter was unprecedented, and perhaps demonstrative of the character of the group of activist and philanthropic leaders."
This seems painfully naive. Of _course_ they applauded. Of _course_ they were warm and friendly. What were they going to do? Boo? But will they move towards transinclusion because of this love fest? Absolutely not.
On the other side of the issue is the Gulf Gender Alliance, which has taken the position that an ENDA without transinclusive language will be of little or no benefit to gay men and lesbians, who will be vulnerable because of their gender-nonconforming appearance or behavior. That gay man swishes too much? That woman is too butch? Out they go! Don't believe it? Did Mike Bowers get rid of that pesky butch lesbian in his office? GGA is calling for a continued boycott of HRC, and specifically for a) not supporting HRC financially and b) convincing others not to financially support HRC. GGA is asking the transgender community to stand with them on this issue until HRC changes its mission statement. It's become a hot topic in the New Orleans gay papers- and it is having an effect, as noted by the headline in New Orleans' _Ambush_ magazine: "HRC DInner Boycott Threatens to Cut Last Year's $90,000 Gross."
I'm not sure if any or all of the four individuals who originated the boycott were GGA members, but GGA has joined what is in fact a coalition. _Ambush_ shows a list of about 100 organizations and individuals who support the boycott, including GGA. It appears to be a major big deal in New Orleans.
Here in Atlanta, some members of the trans community are paying $150 for tickets to the HRC dinner this Spring. Their strategy: to change from within. Tomorrow, here in Atlanta, the new chapter of It's Time, Georgia will have its first meeting. I plan to attend, and I plan to bring up the issue of the boycott. My recommendation: Reluctantly, to join the boycott. I will not be going to any HRC dinners, although I may be outside, wearing a black t-shirt.
Protest is unpleasant for everyone involved. It makes people angry. It hurts peoples' feelings. It can have unintended consequences. However, no bureaucracy has ever changed without outside pressure. There are times when protest is needed. And in my judgement, many of our leaders are in an HRC-induced fog of inclusion and will not accomplish anything by murmuring sweet nothings in HRC's collective ear.
Is this one of those times when we need to rattle the cage? I believe it is. I - and I am not alone in this- believe HRC is machinating cynically and deliberately to divide the transgender community and defuse the issue of transgender inclusion by complementing and placating our leaders.
It's working.

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From: Liz Julin
Subject: HRC Boycott
Dear Editor: I understand that a boycott of the New Orleans Human Rights Campaign dinner is in progress. I would like to share with you and other boycotters that HRC has opened its door to the TG community. I attended a Board of Governors meeting in Washington DC in March. While at that meeting two representatives from the TG community gave a presentation to the Board of Governors and requested the assistance of HRC members in helping educate the "public". That meeting went very well, and members of the Board of Governors were open to finding ways to help in the communication process. I'd like to suggest to those who are boycoting the dinner that the way to open positive communication is not through negative and even violent means; such as threatening the dinner cochair. I leave you with the words of Indira Gandhi, "You cannot shake hands with a closed fist."
--Liz Julin

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From:Ripna To: Liz Julin
Subject: Re: HRC Boycott
Dear Liz,
This boycott was launched after 18 months of frustration and non-response from HRC national. It was a difficult decision for all of us here, since we are avid supporters of HRC. Many of us have bought tickets or served as table captains since the New Orleans dinner celebration began 6 years ago. For us the choice to boycott was clear. It was a matter of inclusiveness for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. This boycott is a peaceful measure, done solely through columns, editorials, letters and emails. I phoned cochair Robert Ripley, and he assured me that he had not received any threatening calls and in no way believed that boycott organizers would resort to such measures.
Mr. Ripley did tell me that the Dinner Committee ad salesperson had received two isolated calls of a threatening nature. Again, Mr. Ripley assured me he does not believe these calls have come from or were condoned by organizers of this boycott. I appreciate your views in this matter.Sincerely,
--Rip Naquin-Delain, Editor/Publisher Ambush Mag 2000

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From: rnichols@sctcorp.com
Subject: New Orleans HRC Dinner
Dear Ambush,
Years ago, when I was a just a newbie gay-boy, I lived in Louisiana. My first visit to a gay bar was at the Truck Stop in Alexandria, and over my years there, I made many friends in the community, including gays, lesbians, bis, and tgs. I still have many friends there and look forward to every visit back, especially to the Big Easy. The Ambush was the first gay paper I ever had the opportunity to read, and I still enjoy it when I get a copy. I took my first steps out of the closet in Louisiana, and am happy to tell you that I have lived out and proud for the last 15 years.
I have been following the new out of New Orleans about the TG boycott of the upcoming Human Rights Campaign (HRC) dinner. For the last two years, I have served on the Dinner Committee in Philadelphia, and on March 21, we hosted an incredibly successful event. I have also been an HRC Federal Club member for a number of years, and am deeply committed to the work being done by the HRC.
I am writing to express my dismay at the TG boycott and to express my support for the HRC in all of its endeavors nationwide, and especially in New Orleans. HRC is the most effective national voice for all gays and lesbians and has a history of work with the TG community. In light of the forces that can be marshaled against us by the religious right and other conservative organizations, as made very clear by the recent overturn of Maine's anti-discrimination law, I am appalled that members of our community cannot find ways to work together toward the common good, even when we agree to disagree on specific issues.
I send my strongest support to my brothers and sisters in New Orleans, and wish great success to upcoming HRC Dinner and other HRC activities.
--Randy Nichols, PA

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Subject: Update 21
From: Paul van Yperen Hanna
Schygulla added to Gay Games Theater Attractions
By Nellie Voss and Paul van Yperen
Legendary German film star Hanna Schygulla will present her new theater show 'Schy gulla chante/singt'during Gay Games Amsterdam 1998. She will perform on July 31 and August 1 in De Stadsschouwburg, the Municipal Theater of Amsterdam. Schygulla has been the star of many films of director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Her breakthrough came with her role as the girlfriend of Petra Von Kant in the lesbian melodrama 'The bitter tears of Petra Von Kant'. Three other international acts in De Stadsschouwburg have already been confir med earlier. These are Harvey Fierstein with his show 'This is Not Going to be Pretty', Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and the Japanese Shadow theater of Ken Togo. Several other Amsterdam venues will also organize shows as part of the Gay Games program. In the Trusttheater in Amsterdam the Lesbians Unlimited Nederland will present 'Hotel Paradise Unlimited'. This exciting and humourous performance is English spoken and is especially created for an international public. Mojo theater productions will present 'The Rocky Horror Show' in the Royal Carr6 Theater. This cult musical full of horror, sex and science fiction of Richard O'Brien is staged by Christopher Malcolm ('Absolutely Fabulous')

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From: BJLEDERMAN
Subject: HRC and and the TG Community
To whom it may concern:
As a long time supporter of the Human Rights Campaign, I am surprised at the boycott supported by your publication. The lesbian and gay communities share many common interests with the transgendered community. Where appropriate both communities should and must work together. HRC (on a national and local) has pursued a policy of positive alliances with many transgendered leaders and organizations.
ENDA is an example of legislation (not written by HRC, but by Congress) which addresses the needs of the lesbian and gay community to exist in an open, honest and safe work environment. Although it may not encompass all of the concerns of the TG community it is a start. Only by working in cooperation, will we be able to effectively educate the public and Congress to the issues affecting the TG community. Sincerely,
--Bruce Lederman

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From: Demorest, Lawrie
Subject: HRC
I understand that some members of the transgendered community, as well as some of their allies, are planning an aggressive boycott of the Human Rights Campaign Dinner. It is unfortunate that those participating in the boycott do not realize that HRC is one of the TG community's strongest allies. HRC has lobbied congress on including TG persons in Hate Crimes legislation and, in fact, HRC's Executive Director, Elizabeth Birch, testified about this inclusion before congress. HRC has also assisted interested members of the TG community with lobby training and with setting up visits with their members of congress to help educate them about TG issues.
While HRC and the TG community obviously do not agree on every issue, wouldn't it be more effective for both groups to work together in those areas where they do agree, rather than searching for and highlighting issues. It is only by working with allies where we can that our common goals will be realized.

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From: marjorie mann
Subject: HRC and TG community
If we as a total community don't work together to achieve equality for all of us, our cause is lost. As a member of the HRC Steering Committee and Media Chair of our recent Philadelphia dinner, I am appalled at the TG community's violent attack on HRC. I truly don't understand their tactics.......we are certainly NOT the enemy. The energy would be better spent on creating a forum where we can effectively work together in our fight for equal rights. Divided we fall...
--Marjorie Mann, HRC Philadelphia

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