Gay Advocacy Group Says Its President Is Resigning

[Freddie Stubbs]

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

Published: December 1, 2004

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 - In a surprise shake-up, Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human Rights Campaign, is resigning immediately after 11 months on the job, officials of the group, the nation's largest gay advocacy organization, said Tuesday.

Until the organization finds a new president, the group will be run jointly by two high-powered Washington lobbyists, Michael S. Berman, a member of its board and president of the Duberstein Group, and Hilary Rosen, the former chief lobbyist for the Recording Industry Association of America. Ms. Rosen is also the partner of Elizabeth Birch, the former president of the Human Rights Campaign.

Mr. Berman said Ms. Jacques was resigning "for reasons of a difference in management philosophy." He would not elaborate except to say that her departure "had absolutely nothing at all" to do with the Nov. 2 elections, when gays and their supporters suffered defeats in 11 states that passed ballot measures against same-sex marriage.

"We didn't quite see eye to eye, but the reality is that a lot of terrific things happened" during her tenure, Mr. Berman said, citing the defeat in Congress of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. But despite the defeat of the amendment in the House and Senate last year, the proposal is likely to resurface.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/politics/01human.html?ei=1&en=8eae5dacb9a63c18&ex=1102901347&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1101902503-h3a+6yiTR2SaTbC2Iq7H9Q

[xultar]

1. Sounds to me like some wanted to take a more in-yo-face approach

and some were log cabin Rethugs.

I think the GLBT need to start kicking some ass and quit listening to those who want to suffer quietly. Time to take a civil disobedience stance like us black folk did in the 60's.

Don't get me wrong, yes, there were some black folk that wanted to hide under the massa's porch and watch the others get hung and fire bombed. But if you don't fight you don't get.

Time to fight. I think you'll find that there are more with you than against you. You can count me in. Though I get WAY jealous of all the kute boys kissin each other. I'll get over my jealousy for a good cause.

[Brian_Expat]

2. Thank you!

And there are different possibilities for civil disobedience this time around.

Just imagine if the fight for equality for blacks under the law was fought today. Civil disobedience could include not cashing checks on time at the bank, filing documents late, opening the store hours late and closing early, etc.

[xultar]

3. Hell Yeah! Seems as though Black folk are too busy trying to be Rethug

to fight. So I'll fight with ya'll.

[Brian_Expat]

4. And likewise

We're in this together... the right don't like anyone who is "different."

[Ian David]

5. Tom Brokaw

Can we get Tom Brokaw to take her place?

[Lisaben2619]

9. Replace her with Margaret Cho!!

She'd have my vote and it would irritate those who thought it was a good thing to take her off the Unity stage (don't want to make any waves at the convention, y'know; they might not like us anymore).

Are you GAY??? could be the new HRC slogan.

[GodlessBiker]

10. Are you gay?

That is a GREAT slogan!

[Chovexani]

11. I LOVE that bit in her act!

My friends and I quote that ALL the time. Oh dear lord if Margaret Cho was head of the HRC I might actually give them money...and there might actually be some people of color at the table!

I *heart* Margaret.

[GodlessBiker]

12. What you said!

I'm right there with you.

[Duncan Grant]

13. Oh, hell yes! And here's the blog entry to prove it.

From Margaret's blog, 11/03/04 :
<snip>
The Bush administration will be sorry they won this battle, for they now look forward to losing the war. Ultimately, a government cannot defeat its people, no matter how much power they assume or how corrupt they are. Even though today feels like a defeat, there is no loss. There is only opportunity. Now we have the chance to challenge everything, fight everything. The possibilities are tremendous. All the polls, all the posturing, all the opinions that we endured during months leading up to the election provide us with a valuable education on how we think and act as a country.

There are a huge number of us that are on the same side. We had no idea how many of us there were before. We constitute roughly half of the nation, probably more. If we refuse to concede to apathy, then we can roll up our sleeves and get dirty. This is merely the third act break, when it seems like our hero is down for the count, but it just isn't possible, because there is still half an hour to go before the movie ends. We have a lot more of our story left to tell. We need to wipe the blood off our lip and get up again for the last time.
<snip>
http://www.margaretcho.com/blog/blog.htm
I like how you think, Lisaben2619! :D :hi:

[GodlessBiker]

14. Oh my god...

Now that has impact. She would be so good. Is it too much to ask for?

[GodlessBiker]

6. Now two reason to avoid HRC.

1. They endorsed D'Amato. and 2. Hilary Rosen was the person who advocated criminal charges against people who dared to share their music with others over the internet.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Did Al D'Amato vote against gays?

:shrug:

[GodlessBiker]

8. HRC was playing the odds.

They tend to favor incumbants and they were looking for some Republican to support so they could be seen as trying to appeal to both parties. Never mind that, at the time, the Senate was 55-45, and there was concern that Republicans could get a 60 vote majority that year. Local and state gay organizations endorsed Schumer, and HRC's endorsement made D'Amato appear as something other than the right-wing nut case that he was. At best, HRC should have kept its mouth shut and stayed out of it.

[livinginphotographs]

15. I just noticed that Hilary Rosen was in there.

That's a HUGE problem for me. I may have to rethink my contributions to HRC now if that witch is going to be running things.

[GrrrlRomeo]

18. Look on the bright side

If she goes after the Bush Administration the way she went after Napster and mp3 downloaders, we could have a lesbian US President by 2008.

[udflyersfan]

16. HRC should merge with NGLTF...

...and focus on state and local issues. With Reid as Senate Minority leader, our chances of *any* progress on the national level are slim to none. We need to get back to "grassroots" at the local/state level, and start building a solid foundation. The religious right started this way 20 years ago, and look where they are today. If it worked for them, it sure as hell can work for us, and it won't take us 20 years!

[Brian_Expat]

17. Getting rid of Cheryl is a huge mistake. . .

. . . she is a highly effective former legislator.

Although, it's odd she's been out of the closet for less time than I have yet she gets to head up HRC. ;)

Her style is a combination of bare-knuckled politics and giving opponents an opportunity to save face. If she's "too confrontational," then HRC is completely irrelevant and should liquidate now to save us some $$$s.

[Guy Fawkes]

19. Wait a second... Lobbyist *for* the RIAA?

Great, a monopoly-loving big business lobbyist is helping out the HRC. Who wants to take bets she's in bed with the republicans?

[justin899]

20. It's even worse than that...they've named a straight man as co-chair

which makes about as much sense as naming a white person to run the NAACP or a man to run NOW (but that's another issue)...anyway, he has said one of his first priorities will be to "reach out to the GOP."

[GodlessBiker]

22. Oh man, an Act Up-like group should splinter from HRC.

[Guy Fawkes]

23. Well, there goes the HRC; time to find a gay rights group...

that doesn't hate gays...

[GrrrlRomeo]

21. CEO, President and head of the RIAA

As much as I despise the RIAA, especially when it was under her, she DID get things done and got legislation passed.