Local
Gay Community Divided Over Boycott
By Sarah Ruggiero
Aug 3, 2008 - 6:19:33 PM

SAN FRANCISCO —Members of the transsexual and transgender community boycotted the annual Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala Saturday night on July 26 in an effort to protest their debarment from a federal gay bill last fall.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) left out transsexual and transgender people when it backed a federal civil bill last fall that protected gays, lesbians and bisexuals from job discrimination.

Many transgender individuals urged others in the gay community to support their protest, entitling their peaceful, yet populated protest “left out.”   Several groups populated the protest, boycotting the black-tie fundraiser.   The protest ended up being one of the largest boycotts seen in years.

“If you leave us behind chances are there is never going to be legislation in probably my lifetime.   It sends a signal you can leave people behind,” said Robert Haaland, a gay rights activist.   Hiring one transgender or giving halfhearted apologies doesn’t cut it.   They need to be accountable, they need to do the right thing."

The HRC position on the bill has triggered protests nationwide. Among those boycotting the event were Assemblyman Mark Leno and San Francisco Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Bevan Dufty.

“Here what you saw was a community who probably is bearing the most brunt of discrimination,” said Dufty.

Many people of the transsexual and transgender community feel that Joe Solomonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, broke a promise of unity when he accepted the bill.

Last year in a televised press conference, Solomonese said, “We absolutely do not support and in fact oppose any legislation that is not absolutely inclusive.   And we have sent that message loud and clear.”  

Although many feel he does not support the uniting of the gay community, he explained later that he feels the legislature needs to be presented with smaller bills and that the community must take smaller steps to achieve a larger goal.   He also feels that the bill would not have been passed if it had included transsexual and transgender individuals.

Although the gay community is divided on this issue, they continue to stand united when it comes to passing gay marriage.