HRC Blog

Last night hundreds of Minnesotans came together in honor of National Coming Out Day. Our event – “Coming Out For Equality” – was headlined by the DFL Lieutenant Governor candidate, State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, and featured surprise guest Alfre Woodard.

Today the Human Rights Campaign-- in partnership with Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Equality Utah, and the Utah Pride Center -- delivered 150,000 petitions to respectfully ask Elder Boyd K. Packer, president of the Mormon Church’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles, to correct his inaccurate and dangerous statements calling same-sex attraction “impure and unnatural,” claiming that it can be corrected and characterizing same-sex marriage as immoral. The delivery comes as over the past month, a number of teenagers across the country have taken their own lives as a result of anti-gay bullying.

Saturday night the Human Rights Campaign held our 14th Annual National Dinner in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Convention Center. As a special surprise, Ricky Martin opened the show -- his first appearance at an LGBT event after coming out earlier this year. The program also included White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett as the guest speaker; Grammy Award winning artist P!nk who was presented with the Ally for Equality Award by Bette Midler; the National Arts & Culture Award went to the hit ABC series Modern Family and was accepted by cast members Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson; and Lee Daniels, Producer and Director of Precious and Monsters Ball took home the Visibility Award presented by Precious star Mo’Nique.

Yesterday New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino made anti-gay remarks in a speech in which he said he didn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.” Paladino’s divisive remarks come amidst news of suicides by young people who faced anti-gay harassment as well as a horrific hate crime in the Bronx that targeted three gay men. “By his own words, Carl Paladino has made himself the poster boy for the kind of divisive leadership that makes young LGBT people question their self-worth and gives license to those who use violence to advance their hate,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Carl Paladino is either homophobic or stunningly tone deaf to the needs of the community – two qualities New Yorkers don’t want in a Governor.”

Last night the Human Rights Campaign held our 14th Annual National Dinner in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Convention Center. As a special surprise, Ricky Martin opened the show talking about his recent coming out. The program also included White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett as the guest speaker; Grammy Award winning artist P!nk who was presented with the Ally for Equality Award by Bette Midler; the National Arts & Culture Award went to the hit ABC series Modern Family and was accepted by cast members Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson; and Lee Daniels, Producer and Director of Precious and Monsters Ball took home the Visibility Award presented by Precious star Mo’Nique.