christian grantham
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
	latest posts   U.K. Free Speech in Peril   Communism Is So Gay   Sunday Read   Virginia Republicans Priority 1: Discrimination   I Love New York

December 15, 2004

HRC Board co-chairs issued a rare letter to the editor of today's Boston Globe hoping to "set the record straight."

We need to set the record straight on some key, and false, assertions. First, Cheryl Jacques did not choose to resign from the Human Rights Campaign for any political or electoral policy reason. As she stated herself, she chose to step down based on differences in management philosophy. In short, the issues were internal, not external.
[No retreat in quest for equal marriage - Boston Globe - 12-15-04]

Their letter to the editor comes a day after a Globe story quoting former Massachusetts attorney general Scott Harshbarger as saying "Cheryl was a victim of [an] internal power play" and that HRC was "misguided" in firing Jacques because she wanted to stand up for full equal marriage rights.

''She made the decision that the most important issue for HRC was marriage," said Harshbarger, former Massachusetts attorney general. ''It is what HRC is all about. She had every right to think that would be accepted by the board. Then they take action to eliminate [her] tenure. . . .I'm afraid all the wrong lessons got learned by HRC. To walk away because you interpret the results of an election to mean [marriage] is not a winner for the community you represent is very sad and misguided, and Cheryl was a victim of that internal power play."
[Gay rights activists split over taking softer course - Boston Globe - 12-13-04]

As hard as it is to read Gwen Baba and Mike Berman calling Scott Harshbarger and anyone with common sense a liar, I can understand why they resist wanting to discuss this with the public.

I believe Mr. Harshbarger. It's conceivable that Jacques wanted to pursue full equal marriage rights, spending whatever it took to stand on principle. The idea of spending millions of dollars and getting the soft hands of HRC staff dirty in grassroots politics isn't exactly a political reality HRC directors have ever wanted to embrace. It's really no fault of their own as HRC is a federal lobbying organization. The stark losses over the past 8 years, however, continue to challenge a political culture in Washington that believes it doesn't matter what constituents want or where they are on our issues.

It's not unreasonable to believe HRC board members find it easier to tell the public that there was a difference in "management philosophies" rather than suggest career advocates at HRC weren't up to the task Cheryl Jacques had in store. But let's not kid ourselves as to what is really behind that difference in "management philosophies."

Baba and Berman offer this vague clarification on the key issue behind differences in "management philosophies."

Second, there is no retreat in the quest for equal marriage. We couldn't be more unequivocal about that goal or that support.
[No retreat in quest for equal marriage - Boston Globe - 12-15-04]

Again, HRC plays careful word games. The fact is, HRC views attempts to achieve full equal marriage rights as too fast and too soon. Hilary Rosen said so herself in the Advocate just last week.

"This election may have shown us that the change agents for gay marriage are looking too much like a noisy red Ferrari speeding down quiet Main Street."
[The Future of HRC - Advocate - 12-09-04]

So, how does HRC propose to slow down the "noisy red Ferrari speeding down quiet Main Street?" Nevermind Rosen's blatant reference to the fact that the everyday lives of gays and lesbians have surpassed HRC's federal legislative agenda. HRC is adopting a strategy that was the exact opposite of Cheryl Jacques's desire to continue "speeding down quiet main street."

Baba and Berman's suggestion that "there is no retreat in the quest for equal marriage" is partially true. HRC will now begin trying to secure equal marriage rights one battle at a time. If that's a "difference in management philosophies," so be it, but let's be honest why HRC decided to fire Cheryl Jacques. Had the 11 ballot measures constitutionally banning equal marriage rights failed, Rosen and HRC would be very content in the driver's seat of Jacques's "noisy red Ferrari speeding down quiet Main Street."

Some HRC Federal Club members, a major donor base for HRC, are independently expressing frustration to me privately that HRC's message about what is going on isn't consistent or clear. HRC will have yet another chance to speak clearly and honestly to their Federal Club members in a conference call tomorrow. Stay tuned...