2008 Competition: Issues
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues - Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) advocacy organization, has joined with Film Your Issue 2008 as it outreaches to young adults everywhere, to create films on issues that impact their generation.
The Human Rights Campaign envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. HRC has 700,000 members and supporters – all committed to making this vision of equality a reality.
Founded in 1980, HRC effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support to fair-minded candidates, and works to educate the public on a wide array of topics affecting GLBT Americans, including relationship recognition, workplace, family, and health issues.
We invite entries on issues of relevance to us, and will select a winner on a film that best exemplifies those issues, in a way that is impactful, visceral and can positively illuminate the issues using the power of film.
Visit The Human Rights Campaign online at www.hrc.org
HRC’s Federal Advocacy
Protecting GLBT Americans from Job Discrimination
Currently, no federal law safeguards Americans from being fired from their job for their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. It remains legal in 33 states to fire someone based on sexual orientation and only 6 states provide employment protections statewide based on gender identity. HRC is advocating on Capitol Hill to build support for broad federal non-discrimination legislation and is leading with a coalition of GLBT attorneys, activists and allied organizations to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
Protecting Our Community from Hate Violence
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation continue to make up the third highest category of all hate crimes reported each year after race and religion, and yet they are not covered under the federal law used to prosecute hate violence. Hate crimes against transgender Americans also occur with alarming frequency. HRC is working with a broad, bipartisan coalition of organizations to help prevent hate crimes, educate the public and work toward passage of a strong federal hate crimes measure. The House of Representatives and the Senate recently passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act in honor of Matthew Shepard, a victim of a vicious hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming. The legislation is yet to be signed into law by the president. For more information regarding hate crimes legislation, please visit www.hrc.org.
Protecting GLBT Families and Advocating for Equal Marriage Rights
As the national debate over marriage continues to unfold in this country, HRC is engaged in advocating for equal marriage rights and stopping any anti-gay constitutional amendment by commissioning independent polling and research; working with and informing elected officials; activating grassroots support for marriage equality; and fighting attempts at the state and federal levels to deny equal treatment for GLBT families. HRC has recently coalesced efforts into a Marriage Project – working at the state and federal level to advance the national conversation on marriage equality. For years, HRC has been working for equal treatment in areas such as taxation, domestic partnerships, inheritance, and Social Security. In addition, HRC works with state GLBT organizations as well as legal and child welfare organizations to ensure adoption and foster-parenting decisions are made in the best interest of the child.
Advancing Sound Public Policy on HIV/AIDS and Lesbian Health
HRC works to advance fair, science-based federal policy on HIV/AIDS and lesbian health and to defeat efforts to single out GLBT Americans for discriminatory treatment in the provision of health care. In coalition with national health and civil rights organizations, HRC has helped pass major legislation, including increased HIV/AIDS funding, the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and programs for breast and cervical cancer research and screening. HRC is also working with allies to pass the Early Treatment for HIV Act and to ensure that all public health programs are fully funded.
HRC Foundation’s Educational & Outreach Programs
Workplace Project
The HRC Workplace Project (hrc.org/worklife) works to achieve equality in the workplace for GLBT employees. The Workplace project partners with employers to enact corporate non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity, implement domestic partner benefits, and helps business leaders connect with the GLBT community in respectful, appropriate and inclusive ways.
We keep track of companies’ policies using our WorkNet database (hrc.org/employersearch), and issue an annual report rating their progress: the Corporate Equality Index. Another annual publication, the State of the Workplace, summarizes both employer policies and local, state and federal laws ensuring non-discrimination for LGBT employees, as well as providing a snapshot of the availability of same-sex domestic partner benefits offered to employees.
Finally, the Workplace Project works to turn companies’ support for LGBT issues into advocacy for LGBT equality, encouraging individual corporations to endorse and lobby for federal and state legislation to increase equality for the LGBT community.
Religion and Faith Program
The HRC Religion and Faith Program (hrc.org/religion) seeks to empower and equip fair minded people of faith to talk about GLBT issues from a faith perspective, to amplify the voices of progressive religious leaders willing to speak out for LGBT equality, and to contest the predominance of right-wing voices in the religious dialogue on GLBT equality. The Religion and Faith Program collaborates with denominational leaders, religious affinity groups, theological schools, and other progressive advocacy organizations to enhance and expand the work of those already engaged in religious advocacy for GLBT issues.
Coming Out Project
The HRC Coming Out Project (hrc.org/comingout) is a point of connection and entry to the GLBT community, as well as for straight friends and family looking to learn more and show their support. Because we know that coming out is a lifelong process, we give guidance to people at every step along the coming out continuum. By providing resources, talking points and guidance, the Coming Out Project encourages and empowers as much conversation and dialogue around our lives as possible, whether it’s for the first time ever or for the first time today.
Family Project
Developed in cooperation with more than 15 national GLBT organizations, the HRC Family Project (hrc.org/family) educates GLBT families on the specific challenges they face due to their lack of marriage rights while advocating for policies that will benefit them – from marriage and civil unions to adoption and foster care rights – with the mainstream professional organizations whose opinions often influence policy. Our FamilyNet database provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date federal and state information available on the full range of issues that affect LGBT families — including marriage, civil unions, domestic partner benefits, parenting, schools, aging, personal finance, and more.
Research Center
The HRC Research Center is a comprehensive, authoritative and accurate clearinghouse of research on the LGBT community that will help HRC and our community as it shapes public opinion.
