To every LGBTQ person across this nation feeling stunned and disheartened, and questioning if they have a place in our country today, we say this: You do. Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. Be bold, be strong, and continue to stand up for the principles that have always made America great. We are with you.
If you or someone you know is struggling to comprehend last night’s results and is in need of assistance, here are several LGBTQ-friendly resources listed:
· Ken Blackwell is a Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council (FRC), which was named an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and is a leading opponent of transgender rights, advancing discrimination under the guise of religious freedom and encouraging the dangerous practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Blackwell is a longtime opponent of marriage equality and has compared the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges to the Dred Scott ruling.
· Former Attorney General Ed Meese supported Indiana’s disastrous anti-LGBTQ religious refusal law passed under Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, saying it “has nothing to do with refusing to serve gay people.” Meese has also said that marriage equality “shows how the culture has deteriorated over two centuries.”
· Kay Cole James is a former senior vice president of the Family Research Council. The Advocate reported that in her book, Transforming America from the Inside Out, James compared LGBTQ people to drug addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, or “anything else sinful.”
FEAR ABOUT ROLLBACK OF CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER TRUMP HITS LGBTQ COMMUNITY: Liam Stack (@LiamStack) of The New York Times reports on the deep concerns among LGBTQ groups, including HRC, about what will happen to hard-won equality gains under a Donald Trump-Mike Pence administration. HRC Communications Director Jay Browntold Stack that after the election, HRC has been contacted by scores of people frightened about what the election results mean for them. Those reaching out say they are worried that Trump and Republicans, may, among other anti-equality actions, try to overturn marriage equality, reinstate the military ban on openly LGBTQ service members, and rollback protections of transgender people. “This is a devastating loss for our community,” Brown said, characterizing Pence as “one of the most anti-L.G.B.T. politicians out there.” More from The New York Times.
· During a Facebook Live event Thursday, HRC’s Legal Director Sarah Warbelow and Government Affairs Director David Stacy answered important questions the LGBTQ and allied communities have been asking us about what a Trump Administration could mean for them. Watch it here, and read the Q&A with Sarah and David here.
LGBTQ youth are panicked after the election; HRC looks at what we -- especially those of us who are parents, caregivers, educators and other youth-serving professionals -- can do to help them. Read about it here.
TWEET OF THE WEEK:
One silver lining in this very dark cloud is the defeat of Governor McCrory in North Carolina. A real win for the LGBT community and @HRC
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) November 9, 2016
WEST PALM BEACH BANS DANGEROUS SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY” FOR MINORS: West Palm Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance banning the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy” for minors -- a strong move to protect LGBTQ children growing up in the Florida city. West Palm Beach joins three other Florida cities prohibiting the practice -- Miami, Miami Beach and Wilton Manors. More from South Florida Gay News.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL REJECTED IN MEXICAN CONGRESS: A congressional committee in Mexico’s national legislative body rejected an initiative that could have established nationwide marriage equality. Ten of Mexico’s 31 states currently extend marriage rights to all citizens, and the nation’s Supreme Court last year ruled that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. More from Gay Star News.
Have news? Send us your news and tips at AMEquality@hrc.org. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
Every one of us, and especially those of us who are parents, caregivers, educators and other youth-serving professionals, have two urgent tasks. We must reassure our youth of their value, dignity and future, and we must identify and protect young people who are at risk.
Helping all Young People Cope
Whether or not a child or youth is LGBTQ, and regardless of their age, they may be experiencing this election as a traumatic event. If you think a young person is having a difficult time, you can help them feel better by taking the steps outlined in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s guide for helping children and youth cope after a traumatic event. Key takeaways are: talk with your child about how they are feeling, allow them to ask questions, and encourage them to connect with others by writing caring letters or taking part in community gatherings. Reassure them that they are not to blame. SAMHSA advises that adults “model self-care” as best we can by setting routines, eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep. It’s fine for children to see adults cry or express their emotions, but take care not to yell or otherwise show intense anger.
Acknowledging Fears and Demonstrate Support
If you know that a young person is LGBTQ, ask how they are feeling about the election, and acknowledge that the results may have made them uncertain about their future. It’s important not to challenge, diminish or dismiss a young person’s fears that anti-LGBTQ prejudice—or racism, sexism, or other biases—will harm them.
Instead, show them that they will have support in confronting prejudice. Let them know that while there are real challenges ahead, we have already changed many hearts and minds in support of LGBTQ people—and that support isn’t going away. Remind them that you are there to fight for them, and (if true) of the other members of your community who are, too: friends, teachers, counselors, school administrators, family members, and many elected officials.
Affirming LGBTQ Identities
This is an especially crucial moment to actively show support for a LGBTQ young person’s orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. Many adults believe that young people are aware of their support because they’ve never expressed negative views about LGBTQ people, but this is often not the case.
We know this is especially true when it comes to preventing death by suicide. Research by the Family Acceptance Project has shown that youth whose parents actively acknowledge and support their LGBTQ identities are much less likely to attempt suicide. That support can take many forms, such as:
· Offering to help the young person attend an LGBTQ youth group
· Watching movies or reading books with LGBTQ characters together as a class or family
· Displaying an LGBTQ-affirming poster, sticker or flag
· For parents, including a young person’s LGBTQ friends in family events
· For parents, making a donation to an LGBTQ advocacy or community organization of the young person’s choice
· For educators, advising or attending the school’s LGBTQ student group
For educators, HRC’s Welcoming Schools program has suggestions for affirming LGBTQ identities in elementary school classrooms. Many of these resources can be adapted for use with older students.
Addressing the Risk of Suicide
A shocking proportion of LGBTQ youth have considered or even attempted suicide. In a recent national survey, nearly 30 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer youth had tried to take their own lives in the past 12 months. That study did not identify transgender participants, but their risk is believed to be even higher, with one study finding that half of transgender youth had attempted suicide in their lifetimes. With the election results compounding some young people’s feelings of hopelessness, it’s crucial that we check in immediately and directly with the LGBTQ young people in our lives.
If a young person appears to be in distress, the first step is to ask them privately whether they are feeling suicidal. Don’t agree to keep suicidal thoughts a secret, since you may need to involve parents, guardians, and/or mental health professionals in order to keep the young person safe.
If the young person indicates that they have a plan for suicide, the situation is a medical emergency. Do not leave the person alone, remove any items that could cause harm, and call for medical assistance.
If the young person is having thoughts about suicide but does not have a plan to harm themselves, or if they are not suicidal but are in distress, listen supportively to their concerns. Next, call the school crisis response team (if applicable) or make every effort to connect the young person with a mental health professional, such as a school counselor, as soon as possible. If possible, choose a mental health professional who is LGBTQ-affirming and experienced at working with LGBTQ youth.
If you are concerned but don’t see signs of danger, and the young person isn’t comfortable discussing their feelings with you, you may recommend that they contact a crisis hotline—particularly The Trevor Project, which runs phone and text chat support lines specifically for LGBTQ youth.
In each case, do your best to remain calm, and take a tone of concern and sympathy. Listen to the young person’s responses without expressing judgement, and ask follow-up questions that encourage them to say more. If the young person is not feeling suicidal, supportive listening may be enough to reduce their distress. If they are feeling suicidal, these techniques may help keep them calm until you can get help.
Resources
The Role of High School Teachers in Preventing Suicide (National Suicide Prevention Resource Center)
Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
Frequently Asked Questions About Referral to Mental Health Services (Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide)
Final Thoughts
Donald Trump’s campaign featured mockery of people with disabilities, objectification of women, sexual assault, demonization of Muslims, rhetoric that has emboldened white supremacists, and policies that would tear apart many immigrant families. We should keep each of these themes in mind as we support the young people in our lives. It’s also important to consider a young person’s family status. For instance, the children of LGBTQ or undocumented immigrant parents may be feeling as destabilized as those who are themselves LGBTQ or undocumented.
Even as we cope with our own anger, sadness and fear about our political future, we must remember that the most important force keeping LGBTQ youth safe is support in their families, schools and communities. We have the power to both provide and build that support, regardless of the political winds.
To learn more about HRC’s work with children and youth, visit hrc.org/youth.
Earlier today, HRC’s Legal Director Sarah Warbelow and Government Affairs Director David Stacy, along with HRC Senior Program Specialist, HIV Prevention & Health Equity Noel Gordon, sat down for a Facebook Live to answer some of your questions.
We want you to know that we stand with you and are committed to continuing to fight for you. Stand with us in solidarity and join us. If you or someone you know is struggling to comprehend last night’s results and is in need of assistance, here are several LGBTQ-friendly resources.
Here are links to several resources that are mentioned in the video. Please comment on the post with your questions and we will try to answer as soon as we can.
Watch the video and check out answers to your questions below:
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NOTE: this isn’t an exact transcript; it’s been edited for length and clarity:
Will marriage equality be overturned?
It’s not impossible, but it’s not likely. It’s a binding decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress and Donald Trump cannot unilaterally undo marriage equality. Currently, all five justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality are still on the bench, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. It’s hard to imagine how we lose marriage equality.
Will my parental rights be challenged?
Most adoption law is set at the state level. The U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling makes clear that legally married same-sex couples should be treated the same as every other married couple. We think that listing both parents on a birth certificate should be sufficient to establish parentage. However, if you are a non-biological parent you may want to take the extra step of also adopting your child - simply to make sure you have every legal tie available.
What if my same-sex spouse was born in another country?
The only concern is if your spouse has not come to the country with necessary documentation, isn’t now documented, or hasn’t applied for a green card. You should as quickly as possible ensure your spouse has a green card or legal documentation in place. If that is in place, there is no reason to believe your spouse would be deported.
Will protections for transgender people be undone?
One of the big things that the Obama Administration has done through the Departments of Justice and Education is issue guidance protecting transgender people and students. That guidance is at very grave risk; there is a good chance it will be withdrawn. However, that doesn’t mean underlying law protecting people from discrimination is going away. For example, school districts have a moral and legal responsibility to provide every student a safe learning environment. There likely won’t be the same level of enforcement from federal government under a Trump Administration, but people are still protected.
Can Don’t Ask Don’t Tell be reinstated?
As a technical matter, the new president could say that LGBTQ people can no longer serve in the military. That would be exceedingly unlikely. Openly LGB service in the military has been phenomenally successful. Military leadership feels good about it, and LGBTQ servicemembers have skills and expertise our military needs. That being said, transgender military service has just begun, and it is a little more at risk. But once the military implements something, it takes a lot to change course. If you’re in the military, if you’re openly LGB, you’ll have a lot of support. If you’re transgender in the military, this is a time to decide what’s best for you in regards to coming out, and we encourage you to speak with transgender military advocacy organizations for guidance while making your decision.
Will the healthcare I receive be affected?
There is nothing stopping hospitals and doctors’ offices from doing their best by their LGBTQ patients. Our concern is that a Trump Administration and the incoming Congress may push for huge carve outs allowing religious hospitals and healthcare facilities to discriminate against LGBTQ people by not recognizing same-sex marriages, for example, or not treating transgender people equally and with the dignity they deserve. We will be watching this like a hawk, and pushing back at any effort seeking to allow discrimination.
Will restaurants and places I do business be able to turn me away?
Unfortunately, both federal law and many states laws lack provisions preventing discrimination against LGBTQ people in places of public accommodation, including businesses and restaurants. If you have such protections under your state or local laws, that is certainly not going to change in the short run. Federal agencies and the courts will continue to accept employment discrimination complaints, but we do have concerns that the new administration will very likely not enforce these as vigorously as the Obama Administration has.
“Ken Blackwell is a man who has spent his entire career going after LGBTQ Americans. Blackwell’s leadership role in President-Elect Trump’s transition team should be a major wake up call for anybody who ever had any doubt that LGBTQ people are at risk,” said Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “Ed Meese and Kay Cole James, who are also reported to have key roles, have been vocal opponents of equality and other issues we care deeply about. The people President-Elect Trump picks to serve in his administration will have a huge impact on the policies he pursues. We should all be alarmed at who he’s appointing to key posts on his transition team.”
Ken Blackwell is a Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council (FRC), which was named a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. He also serves on the board of directors of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. In addition to supporting measures to ban marriage equality, he believes being LGBTQ is a choice, saying, “The reality is, again…that I think we make choices all the time. And I think you make good choices and bad choices in terms of lifestyle. Our expectation is that one’s genetic makeup might make one more inclined to be an arsonist or might make one more inclined to be a kleptomaniac. Do I think that they can be changed? Yes.”
Former Attorney General Ed Meese is a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, an organization that asserts that laws protecting LGBTQ people are not “necessary” and “weaken the marriage culture and the freedom of citizens and their associations to affirm their religious or moral convictions…” According to NBC, the conservative Heritage Foundation is helping vet candidates for Trump’s Cabinet. Meese supported Indiana’s disastrous religious refusal law passed under Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, saying it “has nothing to do with refusing to serve gay people.” Meese has also said that marriage equality “shows how the culture has deteriorated over two centuries.”
Kay Cole James, president and founder of the Gloucester Institute, is a former senior vice president of the Family Research Council and a former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. She worked in the administrations of both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. The Advocate reported that in her book Transforming America from the Inside Out, James compared LGBTQ people to drug addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, or “anything else sinful.”
To every #LGBTQ person across the nation feeling stunned, disheartened & questioning if they have a place in our country today, we say this: pic.twitter.com/eKXdJuBj5D
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) November 9, 2016OUR MARCH TOWARD EQUALITY CONTINUES: HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) issued the following statement on the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence:
“Throughout our nation’s history, we’ve faced devastating setbacks in our pursuit of a more perfect union. But even in the darkest of moments, Americans have summoned the courage and persistence to fight on. The results of tonight’s presidential election require us to meet tomorrow with the same resolve and determination.
“This is a crucial moment for our nation and for the LGBTQ movement. The election of a man who stands opposed to our most fundamental values has left us all stunned. There will be time to analyze the results of this election, but we cannot afford to dwell. We must meet these challenges head on.
“Over the last 18 months, Donald Trump and Mike Pence have intentionally sowed fear and division for cynical political purposes. They now face a decision about whether they will also govern that way. We hope, for the sake of our nation and our diverse community -- which includes women, people of color, those with disabilities, immigrants, and people of all faiths and traditions -- they will choose a different path.
“For our part, HRC will continue our fight for equality and justice for all with greater urgency and determination than ever before. We must. Lives literally depend on it.
“Despite the outcome of this presidential race, we know that the tide has irreversibly turned in favor of LGBTQ equality. Today, we draw strength from the vast majority of Americans who believe that our lives and rights are worth fighting for. Thanks to you and your tireless work, we deployed the largest get out the vote effort in our organization’s history. In North Carolina, it appears we have defeated the hateful Governor Pat McCrory and helped elect Roy Cooper to repeal HB2. We were proud to support Hillary Clinton, and she made history as the most pro-equality candidate to ever run for president of the United States.
“The defeats we have suffered tonight demonstrate that our future victories will require us to dig deeper and work harder to continue bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice and equality. We must fight to protect our progress, and to limit the damage that Donald Trump has promised.
“To every LGBTQ person across this nation feeling stunned and disheartened, and questioning if they have a place in our country today, I say this: You do. Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. Be bold, be strong, and continue to stand up for the principles that have always made America great.
“At a time like this, we don't slow down. We double down. Tomorrow, HRC will set to work once again, undeterred and focused on our mission to realize a world in which every single LGBTQ person is safe and equal and valued.”
WE ARE WITH YOU -- RESOURCES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN A TIME OF NEED CAN BE FOUND HERE.
Today, we suffered a loss but we are not giving up. Stand with HRC and recommit to fighting for LGBTQ rights. https://t.co/Ljle1UwwEU pic.twitter.com/Rqvt06GdtS
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) November 9, 2016
HISTORIC DEFEAT OF ANTI-LGBTQ NC GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY: Once the results are certified, Roy Cooper’s victory will be confirmed and anti-LGBTQ Pat McCrory -- who staked his re-election campaign on the discriminatory HB2 -- will have been defeated. By electing Cooper their next governor, North Carolinians have sent a powerful message across their state and this country that targeting the LGBTQ community is a political liability. In 2012, McCrory was elected with an 11-point margin of victory. Not only did HB2 cost McCrory his re-election, it dragged down several state candidates. HRC and Equality NC endorsed Cooper for Governor and Josh Stein for Attorney General, as well as four champions in statehouse races: Rep. Cynthia Ball (D), Chaz Beasley (D), Joe John (D) and Mary Belk (D). More from HRC.
KATE BROWN BECOMES FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ PERSON ELECTED GOVERNOR: In Oregon, Kate Brown made history Tuesday, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected governor. Under her leadership as governor, Oregon banned the practice of gay conversion therapy and extended critical protections for transgender students in Oregon schools. During her time as Senate Majority Leader, Brown, who identifies as bisexual, played a key role in passing Oregon's non-discrimination law. More from HRC on Brown’s victory and other pro-equality champions elected Nov. 8, and check out a few of the pro-equality candidates elected to the U.S. Congress: Senator-Elect Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senator-Elect Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Senator-Elect Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Congressman-Elect Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Congresswoman-Elect Stephanie Murphy (D-FL). Christine Hauser of The New York Times (@christineNYT) writes about the diversity of candidates winning on Tuesday. Read her piece here.
Have news? Send us your news and tips at AMEquality@hrc.org. Click here to subscribe to A.M. Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!
“Maggie Hassan has been fighting to expand equal rights to all members of the LGBTQ community throughout her career. Her commitment to equality makes her a model for elected officials across the country,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The Human Rights Campaign was proud to endorse Maggie Hassan’s campaign, and we look forward to working with Senator Hassan to pass the Equality Act so that everyone can live free from fear of discrimination.”
In 2016, HRC launched #turnOUT, its most robust get-out-the-vote effort in its more than 35-year history. This year, HRC developed an “Equality Voter Model” that gave the organization the tools needed to reach beyond HRC's 1.5 million members and supporters to target pro-equality voters in crucial races and key battleground states across the nation. The dynamic new model used years of polling conducted for HRC, public voter files and available data on voters not yet affiliated with the organization, but who have demonstrated an openness to creating a more equal and fair society. HRC’s historic effort also included deploying more than 100 staff members to races across the country, mobilizing our volunteers to commit more than 50,000 hours contacting voters and fundraising for candidates, launching an unprecedented persuasive advertising campaign and harnessing the power of social media like never before.
There are nearly 40,000 LGBTQ voters in New Hampshire, and following its endorsement of Hassan, HRC communicated to thousands of members and supporters about the need to #turnOUT and support pro-equality candidates. In the closing days of the election, HRC released two digital ads in support of Hassan, “Clinton & Hassan For Equality” and “Raymond Braun Reflects on Why He Came Out to Maggie Hassan.” HRC targeted pro-equality members and supporters in New Hampshire through person-to-person contact, paid advertising, and online and mobile engagement, resulting in more than 1.2 million impressions on social media.
Throughout her career, Maggie Hassan has fought for the rights of all citizens to participate fully in the civic and economic life of their communities. As a State Senator, she worked tirelessly to achieve marriage equality, helping make New Hampshire one of the first states to pass legislation ensuring access to legal marriage for all. As Governor, she took a bold and historic step by issuing an executive order extending vitally important non-discrimination protections to transgender people in New Hampshire with respect to government employment, contracts and programs.
| Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
HRC President Chad Griffin made the following statement:
“Throughout our nation’s history, we’ve faced devastating setbacks in our pursuit of a more perfect union. But even in the darkest of moments, Americans have summoned the courage and persistence to fight on. The results of tonight’s presidential election require us to meet tomorrow with the same resolve and determination.
“This is a crucial moment for our nation and for the LGBTQ movement. The election of a man who stands opposed to our most fundamental values has left us all stunned. There will be time to analyze the results of this election, but we cannot afford to dwell. We must meet these challenges head on.
“Over the last 18 months, Donald Trump and Mike Pence have intentionally sowed fear and division for cynical political purposes. They now face a decision about whether they will also govern that way. We hope, for the sake of our nation and our diverse community -- which includes women, people of color, those with disabilities, immigrants, and people of all faiths and traditions -- they will choose a different path.
“For our part, HRC will continue our fight for equality and justice for all with greater urgency and determination than ever before. We must. Lives literally depend on it.
“Despite the outcome of this presidential race, we know that the tide has irreversibly turned in favor of LGBTQ equality. Today, we draw strength from the vast majority of Americans who believe that our lives and rights are worth fighting for. Thanks to you and your tireless work, we deployed the largest get out the vote effort in our organization’s history. In North Carolina, it appears we have defeated the hateful Governor Pat McCrory and helped elect Roy Cooper to repeal HB2. We were proud to support Hillary Clinton, and she made history as the most pro-equality candidate to ever run for president of the United States.
“The defeats we have suffered tonight demonstrate that our future victories will require us to dig deeper and work harder to continue bending the moral arc of the universe toward justice and equality. We must fight to protect our progress, and to limit the damage that Donald Trump has promised.
“To every LGBTQ person across this nation feeling stunned and disheartened, and questioning if they have a place in our country today, I say this: You do. Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. Be bold, be strong, and continue to stand up for the principles that have always made America great.
“At a time like this, we don't slow down. We double down. Tomorrow, HRC will set to work once again, undeterred and focused on our mission to realize a world in which every single LGBTQ person is safe and equal and valued.”
| Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin & Equality North Carolina Executive Director Chris Sgro said:
“While we still await national results, Pat McCrory’s historic defeat is a beacon of hope for equality. Tonight voters said that HB2 and the politics of hate have no place in the state of North Carolina. As businesses and jobs fled the state and McCrory’s poll numbers fell, anti-equality groups rallied to his side, spending millions of dollars to bolster his faltering campaign. And we met them head on. Through our TurnOUT NC campaign, we launched the largest voter mobilization effort in our organizational histories.
“We are confident that once the results are certified, Roy Cooper’s victory will be confirmed. By electing Roy Cooper their next governor, North Carolinians have sent a powerful message across their state and this country that the days of anti-LGBTQ politicians targeting our community for political gain are over. While McCrory may have been surprised by the overwhelming opposition in this state and across the country to his discriminatory politics, the same will not be true for lawmakers who are considering doubling down on anti-LGBTQ extremism in the future. This is a wake-up call.
In 2012, Pat McCrory was elected with an 11 percent margin of victory. Not only did HB2 cost McCrory his re-election, it dragged down several state candidates. HRC and ENC endorsed Roy Cooper for Governor and Josh Stein for Attorney General, who both won, as well as four challenger races that also declared victory: Rep. Cynthia Ball (D), Chaz Beasley (D), Joe John (D) and Mary Belk (D).
North Carolina has more than 255,000 LGBTQ voters -- a critical number of potential voters in a state that President Obama won by just 14,000 votes in 2008. TurnOUT NC -- a groundbreaking partnership of the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina -- has been working to turn out every LGBTQ voter and pro-equality ally. Since August, TurnOUT NC held more than 260 field activities in Charlotte and Raleigh on behalf of HRC and ENC endorsed candidates. TurnOUT NC communicated to members and supporters through targeted social media, door-knocking, phone calls, direct mail, text message alerts and email alerts. The TurnOUT NC program generated more than 24 million impressions online to members and supporters encouraging them to vote for pro-equality candidates. What’s more, HRC and ENC released a series ads targeting pro-equality voters, including “Lennie & Pearl for Roy Cooper” and “Pat McCrory: Bad for Business.
| Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
“Josh Gottheimer’s win tonight showed our nation that the tide is turning and that targeting LGBTQ people for political gain is now a recipe for electoral defeat,” said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “We look forward to working with Josh Gottheimer to pass the Equality Act and help move our country closer to full federal equality for LGBTQ people.”
The race was clearly a referendum on Congressman Garrett’s opposition to LGBTQ equality.
In 2016, HRC launched #turnOUT, its most robust get-out-the-vote effort in its more than 35-year history. This year, HRC developed an “Equality Voter Model” that gave the organization the tools needed to reach beyond HRC's 1.5 million members and supporters to target pro-equality voters in crucial races and key battleground states across the nation. The dynamic new model used years of polling conducted for HRC, public voter files and available data on voters not yet affiliated with the organization, but who have demonstrated an openness to creating a more equal and fair society. HRC’s historic effort also included deploying more than 100 staff members to races across the country, mobilizing our volunteers to commit more than 50,000 hours contacting voters and fundraising for candidates, launching an unprecedented persuasive advertising campaign and harnessing the power of social media like never before.
Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.