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.
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January 06, 2005

Last month, when the NAACP announced its search to replace its outgoing President and CEO Kweisi Mfume, a nine member panel was convened to field prospects.

NAACP National Board Chairman Julian Bond announced today that an eclectic group of nine people have been named to conduct the search for a successor to President and CEO Kweisi Mfume, who announced his resignation late last month. Mfume’s resignation is effective December 31.

In addition to Bond, the Presidential Search Committee includes: Roslyn Brock, Vice-Chair, NAACP Board; Rupert Richardson, member, NAACP Board; former Republican Congressman Jack Kemp; Hugh B. Price, former president, the National Urban League and senior advisor to Piper Rudnick LLP; Alice Huffman, member, NAACP Board; Philip Murphy, Managing Director, Investment Management Division, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and member, NAACP SCF Trustee Board; Coleman Peterson, President/CEO Hollis Enterprises, LLC and member, NAACP SCF Trustee Board; and Nicholas Wiggins, NAACP Youth Board Member.
[NAACP Board Names Presidential Search Committee - NAACP - 12-10-04]

This week, when HRC officially announced its search to replace outgoing President Cheryl Jacques, a 25 member panel was convened and the names withheld.

A 25-member committee, chosen to reflect broad geographic representation and diversity as well as board and staff perspectives will form the search committee as the Human Rights Campaign officially opens its search for a new leader today. The announcement launches a national search that Board of Directors Co-Chair Gwen Baba said would be “aggressive in both its timing and its scope.”
[HRC BOARD ANNOUNCES SEARCH PROCESS FOR NEW LEADER - HRC - 01-04-05]

This has led San Francisco AIDS activist Michael Petrellis to call on HRC to release the names of the selection committee for transparency. I don't see a problem with HRC choosing to not share these names. We all know who's on HRC's board, and the final decision will be made by majority support of the board.