Human Rights
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lobbying group and political action committee in the United States. The Human Rights Campaigns fights for gay rights in the United States and boasts over 725,000 members and supporters. The Human Rights Campaign is a very visible faction in the United States political arena. It lobbies Congress for gay rights, works to build an LGBT-friendly Congress, mobilizes grassroots action amongst it members, and encourages members to exercise their right to vote in every election.
Support for Human Rights
The Human Rights Campaign was established in 1980 to raise money for gay rights and gay supportive congressional candidates. The goal of the Human Rights Campaign has always been to “create an America where gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are ensured equality, and embraced as full members of the American family at home, at work, and in every community.” The Human Rights Campaign fights for gay rights through public education campaigns, policy advocacy, and corporate and media outreach.
LGBT Supporters
With the vast amount of members and donors, the Human Rights Campaign is by far the largest advocacy group fighting for gay rights in the United States. It conducts activism for gay rights through a network of statewide groups and a national office. It also undertakes visibility initiatives including the annual True Colors Tour, which features LGBT and pro-LGBT performers.
Supporters of the Human Rights Campaign and their fight for gay rights agree that aside from being the largest and most well funded LGBT advocacy group, it is also the most mainstream. It has attracted the attention of celebrities and given it considerable success advocating for more gay-friendly corporate policies. Critics of the Human Rights Campaign say that the organization has “sold out” and does not play the leadership role that it should in the movement for gay rights. The Human Rights Campaign has also been criticized in the past for its lack of diversity however; the organization has implemented a new diversity initiative to combat that problem.
Advocacy for Gay Rights
The Human Rights Campaign is at the forefront of the fight for gay rights in that they are the most visible, the best known, and the most recognized. Other organizations excel in direct action, community organizing, and aggressive policy reform and both types of organizations are equally successful and equally necessary. There are many activist groups that are fighting for gay rights, and they all have different approaches, and none are superior. It is the convergence of all these organizations and approaches that will lead to ultimate success. Organizations that specialize in direct action and grass roots organizing and organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign which has a tremendous amount of power in the realm of advocacy much come together to maximize productivity.