Joe Solmonese: 'We're all working towards the same goal'

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has taken major hits on LGBT op-ed pages, activist blogs and listservs for its decision not to oppose a split version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the organization's credibility in the transgender community was further undermined by the decision of Donna Rose, the only out transgender member of HRC's board of directors, to resign over HRC's ENDA stance.

HRC executive director Joe Solmonese in particular has come under fire for reversing his pledge at the Southern Comfort transgender conference last September that HRC would oppose any non-inclusive ENDA bills. Speaking with Bay Windows, Solmonese said that HRC has pursued its controversial strategy because the organization believes that it is the most effective way to pass a trans-inclusive bill. He said that by opposing the split-bill strategy in principle while agreeing not to oppose the split versions of ENDA put forward by Congressman Barney Frank and House leadership in practice, HRC is maintaining the lines of communication needed to win protections for the trans community.

"It is true we oppose any effort to advance any effort that would ultimately leave any members of our community out. But this is a complicated issue, and what we are doing in not coming out in opposition is showing respect to Congressman Frank and [Speaker Nancy Pelosi's] decision not to make this legislation the end of the line but rather a tool in getting us closer to an inclusive bill," said Solmonese.

HRC has been alone in nearly all of the major national LGBT advocacy groups in not signing onto a statement as part of a campaign called United ENDA pledging to oppose any ENDA bills that are not trans-inclusive. Some activists, including Ethan St. Pierre, board chair of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC), have credited the more than 250 organizations that signed onto United ENDA with persuading Pelosi to push back mark-up on ENDA to give activists more time to lobby for an inclusive bill (see "Local Trans Activists Take Lead Role In ENDA Debate," page one).

By contrast, Solmonese, said it was HRC's work to maintain strong relationships with House leadership that enabled them to successfully lobby for more time on ENDA. Solmonese also said that ultimately HRC would try to win back support from those in the trans community who have opposed HRC's strategy by delivering results in the fight for a trans-inclusive bill.

"I think the best way for us to bridge that gap moving forward is going to be through our actions," said Solmonese. He said HRC is lobbying to try to win support for an inclusive bill from the estimated 40-60 additional lawmakers needed to allow the bill to pass the House. He declined to speculate on the chances that advocates will succeed in meeting that goal.

Solmonese said if House leadership presses forward in its plan for a split bill, HRC will demonstrate its support for the trans community by helping House leadership organize hearings on the trans-inclusive version of ENDA to educate members of Congress about employment discrimination based on gender identity.

"The leadership that I think we will be able to take, because we have been careful to keep the lines of communication open with our congressional allies through our work and the actions we've taken the last week or so, is going to put us in a position to do that," said Solmonese.

While HRC has not joined other organizations like the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality in signing the United ENDA statement, Solmonese said HRC is working with many of the United ENDA organizations over the next couple weeks to lobby aggressively for a trans-inclusive ENDA bill.

"We're all part of the same coalition. I know there is a group who came out in opposition to the bill, but there is a broader coalition working on ENDA that is a broader part of the civil rights community, and we're all a part of that as well. We're all working towards the same goal," said Solmonese.