Columbus Earns Perfect Score on HRC Equality Index

For Immediate Release                                           

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Contact:              Dan Williamson, Mayor’s Office

                              John Ivanic, City Council

                              Paul Guequierre, HRC,

Columbus Earns Perfect Score on Equality Index

According to a new report by the Human Rights Campaign, the City of Columbus has achieved a perfect score in terms of treating its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents with dignity and respect. HRC today released its new Municipal Equality Index, a rating system of LBGT inclusion in municipal law. One year after receiving a score of 83 percent in the most recent Municipal Equality Index, Columbus this year was one of 25 U.S. municipalities to score 100 percent.

“Our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents provide leadership, creativity and ingenuity to make Columbus great,” Mayor Michael B. Coleman said. “Protecting their rights and fighting for their equality is the least we can do.”

HRC surveyed 291 cities of varying sizes. HRC’s Municipal Equality Index is based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories:

·        Nondiscrimination laws

·        Relationship recognition

·        Municipality’s employment and contracting policies

·        Inclusiveness of city services

·        Law enforcement,

·        Municipal leadership on matters of equality

“Columbus has long been recognized as one of the most open and inclusive cities in the nation,” said Council President Andrew J. Ginther. “Our HRC MEI score confirms this, and I look forward to the day when all cities in Ohio and across the country welcome the LGBT community as proudly as Columbus has.”

Columbus’ score was tops among Ohio cities, including Cincinnati (90 percent), Cleveland (83 percent), Toledo (70 percent) and Akron (48 percent).

“Columbus’ hard work to raise the city’s score from 83 points last year to 100 points this year shows its dedication to ensuring that LGBT citizens are treated equally,” said Cathryn M. Oakley, HRC’s legislative counsel for state and municipal advocacy.  “As a leader in Ohio and the region, Columbus demonstrates how much can be accomplished by a city who is dedicated to equality”.

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Even in the Reddest of States, America’s Cities are Leading the Way in the Fight for LGBT Equality, HRC Releases 2013 Municipal Equality Index

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2013

Paul Guequierre 

Even in the Reddest of States, America’s Cities are Leading the Way in the Fight for LGBT Equality, HRC Releases 2013 Municipal Equality Index  

Across the country, municipalities extend vital protections to LGBT citizens

WASHINGTON — From coast to coast, America’s cities are demonstrating a commitment to treating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people with dignity and respect by passing laws and implementing policies that treat all people equally.  That’s according to a new report by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization.  The 2013 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) is the second edition of the only rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law.  This year’s index finds that cities across the country – including in Idaho, Kentucky, Georgia, Montana, Missouri, and Texas – continued to prove that municipalities will act to support equality for LGBT people, even where states and the federal government have failed to do so.  The MEI is issued in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute.

Key findings from the MEI create a snapshot of LGBT equality in 291 municipalities of varying sizes drawn from every state in the nation – these include the 50 state capitals, the 150 most populous cities in the country, the three largest cities in every state, the city home to each state’s largest public university, and the 25 large, 25 mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples.  Twenty-five cities earned a perfect 100-point score and serve as shining examples of LGBT inclusivity, with excellent policies ranging from non-discrimination laws, equal employee benefits, and cutting-edge city services. 

2013 MEI at a glance:

• Cities across the country achieved excellent scores, demonstrating that cities have a commitment to LGBT equality that is unbridled by regionalism and not confined to parts of the country many people assume are most LGBT friendly;
• 25 cities received perfect scores (100 points) in 2013; 11 did in 2012;
• Of cities that scored 100, 8 cities came from states without comprehensive relationship recognition and without statewide non-discrimination laws (compared to two such cities in 2012);
• 31 million people live in cities where trans people are protected at the city level alone;

• In 2012 we rated 137 cities with a total population of 55,853,651; in 2013 we rated 291 cities with a population total of 77,851,822;
• 10% of cities scored over 96 points, 25% scored over 78 points.  The average score was 57 points, half of cities scored over 60 points. 25% of cities scored 35 points or fewer; and 3.5% of cities scored 10 points or fewer.
• Cities tended to have higher scores where the city was selected for having a high proportion of same-sex couples, and the presence of openly LGBT city officials and LGBT police liaisons also tended to be correlated with higher scores. 

“Equality isn’t just for the coasts anymore,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This groundbreaking report shows that cities and towns across the country, from Vicco, Kentucky to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, are leading the charge for basic fairness for LGBT people.”

The MEI rates cities based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories:

• Non-discrimination laws;
• Relationship recognition;
• Municipality’s employment and contracting policies;
• Inclusiveness of city services;
• Law enforcement; and
• Municipal leadership on matters of equality.

"Change is possible everywhere, and the Municipal Equality Index showcases the monumental progress we've made. In cities and towns across America, advocates are telling their stories, organizing their friends, and changing the hearts and minds of our policymakers and neighbors," said Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of Equality Federation. "We're winning equality where it matters most -- in the communities we call home."

The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city and a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC and the HRC Foundation strive to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. 

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HRC - Speaker Boehner Brings Hate-Peddlers to Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 15, 2013
Paul Guequierre 

Speaker Boehner Brings Hate-Peddlers to Capitol Hill

HRC: Speaker should be ashamed of associating with anti-LGBT group

WASHINGTON – Buzzfeed reports that House Speaker John Boehner today secured meeting space for the top American supporters of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws. The news comes after Sen. Mark Kirk withdrew their original meeting space with a spokesperson saying, “Senator Kirk will not host groups that advance a hateful agenda.” 

The World Congress of Families – which sent nearly a dozen anti-LGBT American activists to Russia to support these heinous laws – used today’s event to promote using Russia’s anti-gay laws as a model for the U.S.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

"Speaker Boehner's embrace of these ambassadors of hate is shameful and despicable. These individuals have supported the subhuman treatment of LGBT people around the world, and now they want to do the same here. 

The fact that the Speaker would welcome a panelist who praised Uganda’s proposal to sentence gay people to death should shock the conscience of all Americans.”

The roundtable discussion, hosted by the World Congress of Families, is entitled “Family Policy Lessons from Other Lands: What Should America Learn?” The event is presented in innocent-sounding language, but the biographies of the participants reveal their malicious intent.

Three of the four panelists, Austin Ruse, Allan Carlson, and Steven Mosher, have traveled to Russia to meet with other anti-LGBT leaders during critical stages of Russia’s recent anti-LGBT crackdown. The fourth panelist, Janice Crouse, celebrated a proposed law in Uganda that would make being LGBT punishable by death. Crouse called it a, “biblical and cultural stand against the radical homosexual agenda.” For more on the panelists see this background document.

With the help of rogue American activists like those on this panel, Russia continues to demonize and harass its LGBT community.

In June, Russia enacted an "anti-propaganda" law that outlaws even modest public gestures of support of the LGBT community. Foreigners breaking this law, such as those visiting Russia for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, face arrest for up to 15 days followed by deportation.

Russia also enacted a law this summer that prohibits LGBT Russians from adopting children and prohibits adoptions by single foreigners from countries that recognize marriage equality. In September, an even more draconian piece of legislation was proposed that would allow courts to take children away from parents who are LGBT or are suspected of being LGBT.

This state-sanctioned homophobia and transphobia contributes to a culture of violence and harassment against the Russian LGBT community that goes unchecked by law enforcement. Just last week, two masked men with a gun and bat broke into the screening of an LGBT film in St. Petersburg. Several individuals were attacked—two had to be sent to the hospital, one of whom was shot in the eye.

For more information on these laws, and for updates as the situation in Russia develops, click here.

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 - Why John Boehner is Still Wrong on ENDA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2012
Dan Rafter

Why John Boehner is Still Wrong on ENDA

Washington – House Speaker John Boehner again today offered a false and factually inaccurate explanation for why he won’t support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – which passed the Senate one week ago with bipartisan support from 10 Republicans. Boehner re-iterated his opposition to the legislation that would simply protect hardworking lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from workplace discrimination, saying it would lead to frivolous lawsuits and wrongly claiming that such protections already exist.

“The late, great Senator Moynihan of New York said that everyone is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts,” said Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin. “It’s shocking that Speaker Boehner, entrusted by the people to make laws, is so fundamentally mistaken about what’s currently on the books. The Speaker is flat out wrong on the facts and the law.”

This is not the first time Speaker Boehner has disseminated misinformation about ENDA. He did so most recently right before the bill’s successful Senate passage last week. Here’s why John Boehner is still wrong on ENDA:

ENDA will not lead to an increase in lawsuits

• ENDA will not lead to an increase in frivolous lawsuits. In fact, a July 2013 GAO report looking at employment complaints in states with sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination policies in place found no major uptick in complaints filed.
• A top leader at General Mills directly rebuffed this faulty premise when it was raised during a June 2012 hearing about ENDA on Capitol Hill, telling lawmakers: “Not at all. Again, it's absolutely not been an issue for us. You know, frequently, we talk about the cost of this legislation in terms of accommodations and potential litigation. There is a real cost that all U.S. companies are paying right now in terms of loss of engagement when employees are in fear, loss of productivity when they can't concentrate on bringing their whole self to their work every day, and loss of talent because of these artificial barriers to entry. 

 There currently aren’t adequate workplace protections for LGBT people

• There is no state law in 29 states prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, or in 33 states based on gender identity. For far too many LGBT Americans, there is simply no legal remedy when they are denied a job, denied a promotion or fired simply because of who they are.
• There is nothing “special” about the protections created by ENDA. The bill simply embodies the longstanding, deeply American principle that people should be judged at work solely on their merits. It closely follows the longstanding federal workplace protections for individuals based on race, sex, religion or disability.

Discrimination is a very real problem for LGBT people

• In testimony before the Senate HELP Committee, academic experts have outlined recent national surveys of LGBT people that show 42 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and 78 percent of transgender people, have experienced mistreatment on the job because of who they are.
• In addition, studies show significant wage disparities between LGBT and heterosexual people, with one analysis showing gay men make 10 to 32 percent less than their straight counterparts.

Businesses big and small back ENDA

• More than 100 Fortune 500s and other major companies support ENDA through HRC’s Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness. Leaders at these companies have testified on Capitol Hill, spoken out in the media and put internal practices in place that show they take seriously the American values embodied in the legislation.
• ENDA includes a small business exemption – but even small business owners support the legislation. In the run-up to the Senate vote, nearly 500 small business owners from across the country signed letters to their Senators expressing support for ENDA.

Learn more about ENDA – and why this legislation is so necessary – at www.hrc.org/enda. 

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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Coming Out Still Matters, HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day Oct. 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2013

Coming Out Still Matters, HRC Celebrates National Coming Out Day Oct. 11

Tomorrow marks the 25^th anniversary of National Coming Out Day

WASHINGTON –The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is underscoring that, even in light of recent victories, there is more work to do on National Coming Out Day 2013 with the theme “Coming Out Still Matters.”  NCOD – a globally celebrated event that encourages LGBT people and their supporters to be visible by living open and honest lives – is celebrated each October 11. This marks the 25^th anniversary of HRC’s NCOD – which encourages LGBT people and their supporters to be visible by living open and honest lives.

“As our community celebrates victory after victory for equality, including two major marriage victories at the Supreme Court this year, it’s important to remember LGBT people still face great difficulties and challenges ahead,” said HRC Vice President and Chief Foundation Officer Jeff Krehely.  “Twenty-five years after the first National Coming Out Day, it is still important to remember that the more we come out as LGBT people and allies, the more we tell our stories and engage others, the more victories we will achieve.”

This week, HRC also engaged campuses in Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon to celebrate NCOD and encourage LGBT students and allies to come out for equality.

“Over the past 25 years, we’ve seen the incredible power of coming out,” said Sultan Shakir, director of HRC’s Youth and Campus Engagement Program.  “As we come out to family and friends, and in our schools, workplaces and places of worship, we see that those around us come to understand us. The process of coming out, now more than ever, is powerfully important.

To celebrate and honor NCOD 2013, HRC asked its 1.5 million members and supporters to share their stories about why coming out still matters to them. Throughout the week, HRC’s NCOD blog campaign is highlighting stories from HRC friends, supporters and staff, and discussing the still profound impact of coming out.  HRC released a video from Jay Brown, HRC’s director of foundation program strategy who tells his journey of coming out as a transgender man, an NCOD video about why coming out still matters with remarks from HRC President Chad Griffin, and a 25^th anniversary compilation video that provides a look back at some of the trailblazing coming out moments in American media that raised the profile of LGBT Americans over the last 25 years.  Also, the newest film coming out of our Religion and Faith program, Before God: We Are All Family will be featured nationally on Univision on October 11th at 7:00 a.m. and will focus on how, coming out is a family journey in Latino families.  

In addition, the critically acclaimed artist Ryan McGinnis – dubbed by many as the Warhol of the 21^st Century – designed a new National Coming Out Day T-shirt in celebration of the day.

To learn more about NCOD and the coming out process, visit www.hrc.org/ncod

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 - Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act Introduced in U.S. House and Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 19, 2013

Paul Guequierre

Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act Introduced in U.S. House and Senate

Legislation Would Ensure All Federal Employees Receive Equal Pay for Equal Work

WASHINGTON – 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.   In an effort to remedy that continued inequality, today the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) of 2013 was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate.  The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and in the House by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Richard Hanna (R-NY) would provide benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. These benefits would include participation in applicable retirement programs, life and health insurance benefits, and family and medical leave.

"DPBO is about the basic concept of fairness in the workplace,” said Human Rights Campaign Legislative Director Allison Herwitt.  “Corporate America has led the charge in offering equal pay for equal work, and the U.S. Supreme Court sent a message this summer that the Federal government should follow their lead.  Equal workplace policies, like those DPBO would enact, will help attract and retain the best and brightest talent, which is exactly what our federal workforce needs.” 

In the wake of the Windsor decision, the Office of Personnel Management issued guidance making clear that federal employees’ same-sex spouses, regardless of where they live, are now equally eligible for spousal health, retirement and other benefits.  However, because same-sex marriage is only legal in thirteen states and the District of Columbia, there are thousands of same-sex couples, including federal employees, who are unable to marry in their states.  Traveling to another state in order to marry can be burdensome for these couples, and entering into a legal status that will not be recognized in their home state can create legal burdens, as well as expose them to discrimination or harassment in a state without laws protecting individuals based on their sexual orientation.  However, DPBO has been updated in this Congress to limit eligibility for domestic partner benefits to those individuals who do not live in a state where marriage is available to same-sex couples. 

Currently, 62 percent of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner benefits to their employees.  Many of America's leading companies, including defense giant Raytheon, IBM, Microsoft, Shell Oil, Walt Disney, Owens Corning, Citigroup, Whirlpool, Time Warner, and United and American Airlines offer these benefits. In addition, twenty-four states, the District of Columbia, and more than 100 local governments offer their public employees these benefits. 

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 - Two Years After ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal, Threats of Gay “Chaos” Still Unfounded

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2013

Charles Joughin

Two Years After ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal, Threats of Gay “Chaos” Still Unfounded

Military recruitment, readiness strengthened by repeal of discriminatory law

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), a law that prohibited qualified gay and lesbian Americans from serving openly in the armed forces.  Contrary to the arguments made by many who sought to keep the discriminatory policy in place, the evidence suggests that the impact on our Armed Forces has been a positive one.

“Two years after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the dire warnings by the opponents of lifting the ban are still utterly laughable,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin.  “The end of DADT didn’t have a single negative effect, and for personnel now serving openly, repeal transformed their lives for the better.”

At the time, repeal of the law enjoyed widespread support among military leadership and the American public. Yet supporters of the discriminatory policy alleged that allowing openly-gay and lesbian Americans to serve would cause great detriment to the Armed Forces, and endanger the lives of service members.  Dire and outlandish predictions used to argue against repeal of DADT have since been debunked. 

PREDICTION: "[Lifting the ban] may even prove decisive to the viability of the all-volunteer force. That viability may, in turn, determine our ability to avoid in the years ahead -- as we have for the past four decades -- a return to conscription to meet our requirements for warriors in those conflicts." [Frank Gaffney, Jr., Center for Security Policy, 2011]

TRUTH: Military recruitment has met or exceeded goals for both FY2012 and FY2013; “In FY2011 and FY2012, all of the Active Components achieved their recruit quantity goals and recruit quality was very strong. Retention also remained strong, with all of the Services close to or exceeding their goals. Nearly all of the Reserve Components met or exceeded their quantity goals, while quality remained high.” [Congressional Research Service, May 2013]

PREDICTION: “I hope that when we pass this legislation that we will understand that we are doing great damage.  And we could possibly and probably… harm the battle effectiveness vital to the survival of our young men and women in the military.” [Sen. John McCain, December 2010]

TRUTH: Repeal was “a nonevent” for the Marine Corps. “I’m very pleased with how it has gone.” [Gen. James Amos, November 2011]

PREDICTION: "The core values of the military profession would be seen by many to have changed fundamentally if homosexuals were allowed to serve. This would undermine institutional loyalty and the moral basis for service, sacrifice, and commitment."[Military Working Group on homosexuality in the military, 1993]

TRUTH: “Our nation has always benefited from the service of gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and coast guardsmen, and Marines.  Now they can serve openly, with full honor, integrity and respect.  This makes our military and our nation stronger, much stronger.  The Department of Defense is very proud of its contributions to our nation's security.  We're very proud of everything the gay and lesbian community have contributed and continue to contribute.  With their service, we are moving closer to fulfilling the country's founding vision, that all of us are created equal.” [Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, June 2013]

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex marriages are now recognized by the Department of Defense. HRC continues to push for full equality in the armed forces. 

“In light of DADT repeal, the sacrifices made by all who serve, as well as by their families, should be valued and recognized, and this country owes these heroes every possible measure of support,” continued Griffin. “Inequality in the military persists, however, and we’ve got to keep fighting to ensure that discrimination is erased once and for all,”

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

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HuffPost: Columbus, Here I Come..!

The story is here

I just returned from a short trip to a city that, to be honest, I knew very little about. So why did I bother? Out of the blue, I received an invitation for the opening of a new private museum of contemporary art. Checking out the artwork on the museum's website, I got intrigued. So, after a long flight with a layover, I arrived in the city, which turned out to be full of surprises.

If someone were to blindfold and drop me in the charming historic district of this city -the meticulously maintained German Village with its Victorian architecture and lush gardens -I would believe I was someplace in Europe. But no ma'am! I'm walking the streets of Columbus, Ohio, pinching myself in disbelief. The artistic hub of the city, known as Short North, is bursting with hundreds of restaurants, cafes and galleries. My hosts made sure that I visited several dozen of them.

And still, the main reason for my trip was attending the opening of the Pizzuti Collection in a renovated historic building, with its display of contemporary artwork assembled by major Columbus art collectors Ron and Ann Pizzuti. Several large-scale sculptures that greet visitors in front of the building set a tone for the whole collection, which is anything but ordinary. Take a look at the photos at KCRW.com/arttalk. The bronze sculpture by acclaimed LA based artist Thomas Houseago makes you think about menacing ghosts from horror movies. The stainless steel figure of a pissing boy by Tom Friedman is both amusing and impressive; first you giggle, then you admire the texture and fluidity of its form. However, my favorite was the larger than life bronze sculpture of a young boy on crutches by Enrique Martínez Celaya, a well-known American Cuban artist currently living in Miami.

In over 40 years of collecting the work of established as well as emerging artists from around the world, Ron and Ann Pizzuti particularly fell for Cuban artists. And that's why their museum opened with an exhibition titled Cuban Forever featuring works by young, mostly native Cuban artists. I was not surprised to see so many excellent photographic works in this exhibition as photography, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting and original aspects of contemporary Cuban art.

The rest of the diverse collection, occupying two other museum floors, is an impressive variety of major works by John Chamberlain, Louise Nevelson, Frank Stella, Jean Dubuffet and the rest of who's who in modern and contemporary art. The morning after the opening, I attended a panel discussion with three visiting Cuban artists, who turned out to be exceptions to the British rule saying that "children should be seen but not heard," which is how I feel about many artists -even those I admire greatly. But, these three Cuban artists turned out to be great conversationalists with good stories to tell.

Another high point of my visit to Columbus was a chance to see the Wexner Center for the Arts, with its edgy, unnerving architecture by Peter Eisenman, a big star in the 1980s. Since then, his light has dimmed considerably, and now this ambitious cultural center on the university campus looks rather dated. However, it doesn't stop the Center's stream of high profile exhibitions, one of which, Blues for Smoke, is scheduled to open on September 21st. You may remember this excellent exhibition, which originated here in LA at MOCA last year.

One day, late at night, I joined a group of journalists to see the sprawling Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, with its surprising display of contemporary art -both indoors and outdoors. I trust that you've already seen the amazing exhibition of James Turrell, either here in LACMA, at the Guggenheim Museum in NY, or at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. And still, you will be surprised and seduced by the magic of Turrell's colorful, slowly changing light emanating through the glass roof and dome of the Conservatory.

This magic spell was not broken when I returned back to my hotel room at midnight and turned on the TV to find President Barack Obama speaking to journalists while attending a G20 summit in my home city of St. Petersburg, Russia. And I'm listening to him while still here, in Columbus, OH, where the large sculpture by Enrique Martínez Celaya now proudly stands in front of the Pizzuti Museum. What does it have to do with Russian, American and Cuban interaction? Believe it or not, last year, another cast of this same sculpture was on display in the courtyard of my beloved Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Go figure...

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Edward Goldman is an art critic and the host of Art Talk, a program on art and culture for NPR affiliate KCRW 89.9 FM. To listen to the complete show and hear Edward's charming Russian accent, click here.

HRC - Bayard Rustin to be Posthumously Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2013
Paul Guequierre 

Bayard Rustin to be Posthumously Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Gay civil rights leader rightly recognized as the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington nears

WASHINGTON – The White House today announced Bayard Rustin, the late civil and human rights advocate will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.  An aide and confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Rustin was the main organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, an iconic moment in the history of our nation.  Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin wrote President Obama a letter earlier this year urging him to posthumously grant the medal to Rustin.  Griffin today made the following statement:

“Bayard Rustin’s contributions to the American civil rights movement remain paramount to its successes to this day,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.  “His role in the fight for civil rights of African-Americans is all the more admirable because he made it as a gay man, experiencing prejudice not just because of his race, but because of his sexual orientation as well.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”.  The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 and replaced the earlier Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945.

Rustin was active in the struggle for civil rights for sixty years, from organizing early freedom rides in the 1940s, to serving as key advisor to Dr. King, to helping found the A. Philip Randolph Institute. But his advocacy was far from limited to the rights of African Americans. He worked to end apartheid in South Africa, fought for the freedom of Soviet Jews, worked to protect the property of Japanese Americans interned during World War II, and helped highlight the plight of Vietnamese “boat people.” And in the 1980s, he also spoke up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, testifying in support of anti-discrimination legislation in New York.

“Bayard Rustin dedicated his life to advocating for fairness and equality and overcame prejudice to help move our nation forward,” added Griffin.

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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You can watch the documentary on Netflix:

HRC - Marriage Equality Arrives to Minnesota and Rhode Island

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2013
Charles Joughin

Marriage Equality Arrives to Minnesota and Rhode Island

Gay and lesbian couples can now legally marry in thirteen states, plus Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – Today marriage equality laws went into effect in two more states – Minnesota and Rhode Island – bringing to thirteen the number of states where committed and lesbian couples can legally marry.  Couples were lined up at midnight in both states to begin applying for civil marriage licenses. 

“Today over 90 million Americans now live in states with full marriage equality,” said Human Rights Campaign national field director Marty Rouse.  “As we march toward full LGBT equality nationwide, Minnesota and Rhode Island serve as shining examples of the progress being made, and the growing support for fairness that exists all across this country.”

HRC was a key player in the work to pass marriage equality in Minnesota and Rhode Island, providing significant financial investment, staff and technical resources over many years to amplify the historic grassroots efforts of the Minnesotans United for All Families and Rhode Islanders United for Marriage coalitions. 

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 Statement on Pope Francis’ Remarks on Gay Priests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2013
Paul Guequierre 

HRC Statement on Pope Francis’ Remarks on Gay Priests

Pope Francis’ comments reflect a hopeful change in tone; now, all Catholics should be included and affirmed as a matter of basic human dignity

WASHINGTON –Following his historic visit to Brazil for World Youth Day, Pope Francis made multiple comments about gay Catholics in the priesthood during a wide-ranging press conference aboard the Papal plane. 

By all accounts, the Pope was speaking in response to a question about gay priests within the Roman Curia when he said, "Who am I to judge them if they're seeking the Lord in good faith?" He went on to discuss the so-called “Gay lobby,” gay leaders within the church seeking to change it from within, remarking, “they shouldn't be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem ... they're our brothers."

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, made the following statement.  

“While Pope Francis’s words do not reflect a shift in Church policy, they represent a significant change in tone. Like his namesake, Francis’s humility and respect for human dignity are showing through, and the widespread positive response his words have received around the world reveals that Catholics everywhere are thirsty for change.”

“But as long as millions of LGBT Catholic individuals, couples and youth alike are told in churches big and small that their lives and their families are disordered and sinful because of how they are born—how God made them—then the Church is sending a deeply harmful message. One’s sexuality is an immutable characteristic, and every leading medical and mental health organization has declared that attempts to change or suppress that fact are profoundly damaging. It’s time to send positive and affirming messages to all people, because the Bible is clear. All people have dignity in themselves and in their love for one another. It’s time for Church teaching to reflect that simple fact.”

A recent poll from New York Times/CBS News found that more than six in ten American Catholics support equal marriage, compared to 53 percent of the country as a whole. Another poll released today by Gallup, shows over 60 percent of Catholics support a law to legalize marriage equality in all 50 states, far greater than support by members of any other organized religion. The Catholic hierarchy would do well to listen to its members.

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 - Record Number of Healthcare Facilities Commit to Equal Care for LGBT Patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2013
Paul Guequierre 

Veterans’ Medical Centers Join Hundreds of Others in Pledging Unbiased Treatment for LGBT Patients

WASHINGTON –American hospitals and clinics are increasingly committed to equality for their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients, according to a report released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, at a press conference at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC. The new report indicates that a record total of 718 healthcare facilities nationwide, including 121 veterans’ medical centers, have explicitly pledged themselves to equal treatment for LGBT patients.

“The country’s healthcare facilities are leading figures in our nation’s movement toward full equality and inclusion for LGBT Americans,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The Department of Veterans Affairs’ participation in the HEI is another example of President Obama’s unwavering commitment to those who put their lives on the line for the country they love, regardless of who they love.”

The report details the results of the most recent Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The 718 facilities included in the HEI 2013 represent a 153 percent increase in participation over last year’s survey. An unprecedented 74 percent of HEI 2013 respondents won recognition as “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality” after meeting four foundational criteria for equitable LGBT care, a 199 percent increase in facilities achieving this status.

In a major breakthrough, 121 of the nation’s 151 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers participated in the HEI 2013, compared to just one VHA participant in the HEI 2012. Nearly 80 percent of the participating VHA facilities were awarded Equality Leader status in the HEI 2013, as they sought to welcome LGBT veterans who have served their country.

“We were pleased to have this opportunity to foster a more inclusive environment for our LGBT Veterans and their families,” said Robert L. Jesse, MD, PhD, VHA Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health. “Our participation in the HEI 2013 exemplifies our untiring efforts in the pursuit of health equity for all of our veterans.”

The HEI helps hospitals assess themselves against established best practices and ensure that they are complying with legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements for LGBT non-discrimination. The HEI 2013 participants were congratulated for their explicit commitment to non-discrimination by Leon Rodriguez, Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

“The Obama administration and our department are deeply concerned about equality for all Americans,” said Rodriguez. “It is gratifying to see so many healthcare facilities commit themselves to the goal of equitable, unbiased care for all.”

Ninety-three percent of HEI 2013 participants explicitly prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual patients, and a record 87 percent ban discrimination against transgender patients. Additionally, 90 percent of respondents explicitly grant equal visitation rights to same-sex couples and same-sex parents. This represents a significant increase since the Department of Health and Human Services issued rules in 2011 requiring all hospitals that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding–nearly every hospital in America–to protect the visitation rights of LGBT people. 

The HEI 2013 required participating facilities to document that employees in key work areas had received expert training in LGBT health needs. As a result, nearly 5,000 healthcare personnel nationwide, including senior administrators, participated in training provided through the HEI, a unique educational initiative.

Studies, including a 2011 Institute of Medicine report, have repeatedly shown that the LGBT community faces health disparities and healthcare discrimination and that many LGBT Americans are concerned about experiencing bias in healthcare. But as the HEI 2013 indicates, healthcare facilities are increasingly seeking to assure them that they will receive equal treatment.

“No one should have to worry about receiving discriminatory healthcare,” added Griffin. “We’re very pleased to offer hospitals and clinics a comprehensive resource for equitable care, and we celebrate all of those who used the HEI 2013 to welcome LGBT patients, employees and families.”

View the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2013 at www.hrc.org/hei.

The HEI is funded in part by grants from Pfizer Inc. and PhRMA.

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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