National Coming Out Day 2007 YouTube Project
Current mood: excited
Come out with us this year in video! View the video below then head to YouTube and find our video to post a video response. We're trying to get people talking, so be sure to tell your friends about it too.
National Coming Out Day 2007 coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Lesbian & Gay March on Washington and the unfurling of the Names Project AIDS Quilt on the National Mall.
As the AIDS Quilt told the story of a generation, this year for National Coming Out Day, we'd like to create a patchwork of stories from you.
Watch HRC's National Coming Out Day video on You Tube. Then, make your own video response about what inspires you about coming out and living openly. Maybe it's the people in your life that you know personally who have come out. Maybe it's something that inspired you to make the leap yourself. Whatever it is, we want to hear from you.
Videos do not need to be fancy, just heartfelt and honest. Videos with profrane or inappropriate content will not be granted approval.
Once you have shot your video – either on a camcorder, your computer camera, a digital camera, or even your phone, follow these simple steps:
Click beneath the video on You Tube on the "post video response" link
You will be either asked to set up a You Tube account password, or you will be prompted to set up a You Tube account.
Once you have completed those steps, you will receive an email from You Tube with easy to follow instructions for posting your video response.
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U.S. House of Representatives Passes Historic Hate Crimes Bill
Act Would Strengthen Ability of Law Enforcement to Investigate, Prosecute Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1592, in a vote of 237 to 180. The proposed legislation, which has the endorsement of 230 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations and the support of 73 percent of the American people, was introduced in March by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., along with more than 100 other members of Congress. The Senate will soon consider an identical companion bill called the Mathew Shepard Act.
"This is a historic day that moves all Americans closer to safety from the scourge of hate violence," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Today, legislators sided with the 73 percent of the American people who support the expansion of hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
"The Human Rights Campaign thanks Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and the entire House leadership, whose dedication made this vote a success. We also commend the bipartisan coalition of leaders who co-sponsored and supported the bill for so long, including Representatives Baldwin, Bono, Frank, Nadler, Ros-Lehtinen and Shays," added Solmonese.
"I am personally grateful to the United States House for recognizing the grave reality of hate crimes in America," said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
Each year, thousands of Americans are violently attacked just because they are black, female, Christian, or gay. According to the FBI, 25 Americans each day are victims of hate crimes - that means approximately one hate crime is committed every hour. One in six hate crimes are motivated by the victim's sexual orientation.
Specifically, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would strengthen the ability of federal, state and local governments to investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity.
It would strengthen state and local efforts by enabling the Justice Department to assist in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. The bill will also provide grants to help state and local governments meet the extraordinary expenses involved in hate crime cases.
At the federal level, the LLEHCPA would eliminate the outdated intent requirement in current law that prevents the Justice Department from working with state and local officials in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. It would allow the federal government to step in when needed, but only after the department has certified that a federal prosecution is necessary.
The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would strengthen the ability of law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute hate crimes by:
Protecting All Americans. Under the current federal law, enacted nearly 40 years ago, the government has the authority to help investigate and prosecute bias-motivated attacks based on race, color, national origin and religion and because the victim was attempting to exercise a federally protected right. For example, authorities became involved in a Salt Lake City case where James Herrick set fire to a Pakistani restaurant on Sept. 13, 2001. Herrick was sentenced to 51 months' incarceration on Jan. 7, 2002, after pleading guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 245.
However, under current law, the federal government is not able to help in cases where women, gay, transgender or disabled Americans are victims of bias-motivated crimes for who they are. For example, in Texas, in July 2005, four men brutally assaulted a gay man. While punching and kicking him, whipping him with a vacuum chord and assaulting him with daggers, the offenders told the victim that they attacked him because he was gay. Two of the men were sentenced to six years in prison under a plea bargain that dropped the charges that could have sent them to prison for life. Under this bill, federal authorities would have had the jurisdiction to prosecute the crime or could have provided local authorities resources that might have assisted them in pursuing a longer sentence.
Equipping Local Law Enforcement. The act would provide crucial federal resources to state and local agencies and equip local law enforcement officers with the tools they need to investigate and prosecute crimes. While most states recognize the problem of hate violence, and many have enacted laws to help combat this serious issue, federal government recognition of the problem is crucial to its solution. Too many local jurisdictions lack the full resources necessary to prosecute hate crimes. For example, when Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998, the investigation and prosecution of the case cost the community of 28,000 residents about $150,000, forcing the sheriff's department to lay off five deputies in order to save money.
Ensuring Equal Application of the Law. The act would allow federal authorities to become involved if local authorities are unwilling or unable to act. In the hate crime on which the film Boys Don't Cry was based, 21-year-old Brandon Teena was raped and later killed by two friends after they discovered he was biologically female. After the rape and assault, Teena reported the crime to the police, but Richardson County Sheriff Richard Laux, who referred to Teena as "it," did not allow his deputies to arrest the two men responsible. Five days later, those two men shot and stabbed Teena to death in front of two witnesses, Lisa Lambert and Philip DeVine, who were then also murdered. JoAnn Brandon, Teena's mother, filed a civil suit against Laux, claiming that he was negligent in failing to arrest the men immediately after the rape. The court found that the county was at least partially responsible for Teena's death and characterized Laux's behavior as "extreme and outrageous." Had this federal hate crime law been in effect, federal authorities could have investigated and prosecuted the offenders when the local authorities refused to do so.
A wide coalition of national organizations has called for the passage of the LLEHCPA legislation. Some of those supporting this legislation include: the National Sheriffs Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 26 state attorneys general and the National District Attorneys Association.
For additional information on hate crimes visit the Human Rights Campaign website at www.hrc.org
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Human Rights Campaign and NationalCenter for Transgender Equality Release Groundbreaking Guide, "Coming Out as Transgender"
New Resource Helps Transgender People Come Out and Live Openly
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign and the NationalCenter for Transgender Equality announce the joint release of the groundbreaking new resource guide, "Coming Out as Transgender." The new publication, available in print and online, offers step by step guidance in talking with friends, coworkers and family about being transgender.
"I wish that a resource like this had been available when I was coming out," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the NationalCenter for Transgender Equality. "Coming out and talking with the people in your life about being transgender is a deeply personal journey; this resource will help point the way."
"Making the decision to come out and be open about being transgender takes incredible courage," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "Our great hope is that this new tool will empower transgender people to begin a new dialogue with their friends and family about their lives."
A group of transgender leaders including HRC Board of Director Donna Rose, Joanne Herman, Dr. Michele Angello, Jay Smith Brownand NCTE and HRC staff members consulted on the text for the guide.
"While no one guide can provide anyone with everything they need for coming out as transgender, this resource will be an important starting point for a lot of people," said Keisling.
The "Coming Out as Transgender" guide helps people understand basic terminology and concepts about being transgender, an umbrella term describing a wide range of people who feel their gender differently from what other people often expect. The guide also outlines the emotional spectrum that many people experience as they begin the coming out process. It also offers some simple steps to consider when having coming out conversations.
"Our entire community feels the benefit from each additional GLBT American who chooses to live openly. HRC is proud to partner with NCTE on this resource to help transgender people, who often face some of the biggest challenges in coming out, tell their stories," said Solmonese.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
The NationalCenter for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. By empowering transgender people and our allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation's capital and around the country. NCTE is a 501(c)3 organization. For more information, please visit www.NCTEquality.org.
WASHINGTON (March 27, 2007) – At this year's NCAA Men's Final Four weekend in Atlanta, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and It Takes a Team! – a project of Billie Jean King's Women in Sports Foundation – present a panel discussion designed to continue the dialogue about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender athletes at all levels, from high school to the pros. The panel, to take place on March 30th at 11:00 am at the Inforum in downtown Atlanta, will include John Amaechi, Billy Bean, Joey Fisher, David Kopay, Terri O'Connell and Esera Tuaolo.
"With his announcement this spring, John Amaechi reignited the dialogue in this country about openly gay athletes," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We believe that GLBT and straight athletes all benefit from respectful, open competition. As sports fans from around the nation will be watching the NCAA Final Four games in Atlanta, we want to bring this conversation to them."
The panel is being supported by Nike, a longtime partner with HRC and a strong supporter of workplace equality.
"Sports is a metaphor for life and should be about inclusion and equality. I applaud HRC, Nike, ESPN and the Women's Sports Foundation for enabling this debate," said Sheryl Swoopes, WNBA champion from the Houston Comets and a Nike athlete.
"It's essential that we maintain an open discourse in an effort to eradicate homophobia throughout the world," said the HRC's Coming Out Project Spokesperson and panelist John Amaechi. "Specifically in the arena of sports, this discussion must continue until gay athletes are viewed and treated without prejudice. Sports organizations have an obligation to engender an atmosphere where all people can perform at their peak for the benefit of the individual and the team. Allowing people to be true to themselves not only encourages empowerment, it fuels honesty and trust, the key elements needed in any healthy relationship, marriage, team or work environment."
Pat Griffin, Director of It Takes A Team! says "Everyone should be able to enjoy the challenges and joys of sport participation. Every athlete should be evaluated, not on her or his sexual orientation or gender identity, but on their accomplishments and character. All athletes should have the right to play without fear of discrimination or harassment."
LZ Granderson, senior writer, ESPN The Magazine and columnist ESPN.com, will moderate the discussion of five former professional "out" athletes and a current college athlete.
·John Amaechi, former NBA player, Bronze medalist at the Commonwealth Games and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Man In The Middle"
·Billy Bean, former Major League Baseball player and author of "Going the Other Way: Lessons from a Life In and Out of Major League Baseball"
·Joey Fisher, a University of Georgia Ice Dogs goalie, and student who came out to his team last year.
·David Kopay, former NFL player and one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay and author of "The David Kopay Story"
·Terri O'Connell (born James Terrell Hayes), a former World Class race car driver with more than 25 years experience and author of "Dangerous Curves."
·Esera Tuaolo, a former NFL player and author of "Esera Tuaolo: Alone In The Trenches"
"This is an important discussion to be had in terms of both male and female athletes at all levels of sports. Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues with other events around the country, several leading female athletes were not able to participate in our panel this weekend in Atlanta. HRC and ITAT hope to host a similar panel discussion focusing on homophobia in women's sports in the near future," said Mark Shields from HRC's Coming Out Project.
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About HRC
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC seeks to improve the lives of GLBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs. HRC works to secure equal rights for GLBT individuals and families at the federal and state levels by lobbying elected officials, mobilizing grassroots supporters, educating Americans, investing strategically to elect fair-minded officials and partnering with other GLBT organizations.
About It Takes a Team!
It Takes a Team! is an education and advocacy initiative of the Women's Sports Foundation dedicated to developing and disseminating information and education materials to high school and collegiate athletic programs to make athletics a safe and respectful place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletes and coaches. It Takes A Team! is the premier education resource for athletic administrators, coaches, athletes and parents dedicated to fair play for all. Most of our education material is downloadable at no cost at our web site – www.ItTakesATeam.org It Takes A Team! Director Pat Griffin is the author of Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport. The mission of the Women's Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, is to advance the lives of girls and women through sport and physical activity.
Former NBA Star John Amaechi Named Spokesperson of HRC Coming Out Project
Amaechi to Conduct Nationwide Book Tour, Raise Dialogue Around Living Openly
WASHINGTON
— Today the Human Rights Campaign announced that former NBA player John Amaechi will serve as a national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Project, a program designed to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people come out and live openly.
"John is making history this week, becoming the first NBA player to ever come out and talk about his life and experiences as an athlete and a gay man," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "In sharing his story, our great hope is that John will pave the way for more GLBT and straight athletes to openly support fairness and respect on and off the playing field."
"John is going to give a new face and a thoughtful, heartfelt voice to openly gay athletes in this country," said Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project Director Mark Shields. "Young athletes – GLBT and straight – will now have a new role model to help show them the importance of competing openly, honestly and respectfully."
As spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Project, Amaechi will promote the importance of being out and living openly and honestly while traveling around the country to promote his new autobiography Man in the Middle. A new website at www.hrc.org/amaechi features Amaechi's biography, high-resolution photos, book excerpts, book club discussion questions and more.
"I believe very strongly in the responsibility of people with power and influence to be role models," says Amaechi. "Living more openly in the later years of my NBA career was one of the things that radically changed my life. It made me happier. I want to spread my influence in the same way that I was able to because I had a basketball in my hand. I hope now to have perhaps a different lectern to stand behind but with an equally important message."
Amaechi will also be a featured speaker at the Human Rights Campaign's 11th Annual Philadelphia Gala Dinner on Feb. 17, 2007. For more information contact Paul Steinke at p.steinke@att.net 215/472-5809 and to purchase tickets please visit www.boxofficetickets.com/hrc or call 800/494-TIXS (8497).
Raised in Manchester, England, Amaechi graduated from Pennsylvania State University and has played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets, the Orlando Magic, the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The HRC Coming Out Project has featured other national spokespeople including George Takei of "Star Trek," Candace Gingrich, Betty DeGeneres and Chastity Bono. Additional information on HRC's Coming Out Project is available at www.hrc.org/comingout.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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As leaders of gay-straight alliances around the country, the Human Rights Campaign thought you would be interested in the NEW "Straight Guide to GLBT Americans."
The HRC Coming Out Project and PFLAG partnered on this revolutionary new guide which addresses issues, feelings, and concerns an individual might encounter on his or her way toward becoming a straight supporter.
HRC's Coming Out Project launches NEW Snapshot Photo Project
The Human Rights Campaign Coming Out Project creates resources to help gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight Americans talk openly about their support for equality.
We create resources to help GLBT people come out for the first time, tools to help straight Americans understand and show their support for GLBT equality, and more.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 is National Coming Out Day. It is the day set aside when we honor all GLBT and straight supportive Americans who live their lives openly and honestly every day. It is also a day set aside to help remind everyone that coming out and living openly is a lifelong journey – it's something that we are called to do each and every day.
For more on the HRC Coming Out Project including resources, tips and tools, and more – please visit: www.hrc.org/comingout
Even pop star P!NK is talking about it! In celebration of National Coming Out Day on October 11, the Human Rights Campaign has created the first online public art project encouraging Americans to Talk About It. The project celebrates gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight Americans who support living openly and talk about the things that make us all different — and, just as importantly, the ways that we are all the same. Get involved or learn more today at www.hrc.org/snapshot.
HOW DO I SNAPSHOT?
Living openly about your life as a GLBT American, or as a straight person who supports equality, is a lifelong process. HRC's Snapshot Project is a public art project that captures some of those moments in pictures. It's easy. It's fun. It's a great way to Talk About It.
1) PRINT A SIGN
Every picture submitted to the Snapshot Gallery must include one of the two signs available for download below. Signs can be printed out on standard 8.5x11 computer paper, and there are also larger sizes available for people looking to think big.
You can choose between the "Talk About It" sign or the "Ask Me" sign.
2) TAKE A PHOTO
Once you have your sign in hand, you're ready to roll. Take a picture of you, your downloaded sign, and someone that you would like to 'Talk About It' with.
You can take a Snapshot with anyone:
oa neighbor
oa co-worker
oyour dry cleaner
oyour legislator
oyour doctor
othe dog walker
oyour family
oyour friends
othe mailman
oyourself
othe list goes on and on
o... be creative!
The picture you take can either be on a digital camera - or you can use a regular camera and then scan the image into your computer. Either way, when you get to our next step, you will need an electronic image to upload.
3) POST YOUR PHOTO
You're in the home stretch. Simply upload your photo to the HRC Online Gallery. Images cannot be larger than 500k. Once you have uploaded your photo, HRC will review the image for approval. Once your image has been approved (usually, later that day), you will receive an email letting you know that you can view your image in the Gallery, and send an email to your friends and family directing them to view your photo in the public gallery.
FAQ's
Can I submit more than one photo?
Every picture submitted to the Snapshot Gallery must include one of the two signs available for download below. Signs can be printed out on standard 8.5x11 computer paper, and there are also larger sizes available for people looking to think big.
Will these photos be used anywhere else?
By clicking on the terms and conditions when you submit your photo, you are giving HRC permission to use your photo in other areas of our work. A small percentage of the photos will likely end up in our Equality Magazine, on our website, or in other HRC materials. If we choose your photo for other uses, we will do our best to contact you first.
Every Oct. 11, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day. They hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events all aimed at showing the public that GLBT people are everywhere. But what's so special about Oct. 11? How did that become a day aimed at encouraging GLBT people to come out and be honest about themselves?
The HRC Coming Out Project is a program designed to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people come out and start living openly.
As coming out is a lifelong journey, the HRC Coming Out Project also helps GLBT people, as well as straight-supportive people, to live openly and talk about their support for equality at home, at work and in their communities each and every day.
In short, the HRC Coming Out Project's chief export into the world is open and respectful dialogue about the lives of GLBT Americans and their family and friends.
The project is an extension of National Coming Out Day — celebrated every Oct. 11. The day was born out of the 1987 GLBT march on Washington, D.C., where hundreds of thousands of Americans marched to support equal rights for GLBT Americans. Today, National Coming Out Day events are held in hundreds of cities across the country and around the world.
Being brave doesn't mean that you're not scared. It means that if you are scared, you do the thing you're afraid of anyway.
Coming out and living openly as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as a straight-supportive person is an act of bravery and authenticity.
Whether it's for the first time ever, or for the first time today — coming out may be most important thing you will do all day.
Talk about it.
"Talk About It" will be the theme of this year's National Coming Out Day to be celebrated on October 11, 2006. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Coming Out Project is an on-going campaign to empower gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied Americans to live openly and honestly about their lives.
excited