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- Part of Records of the Office of the Public Liaison (Clinton Administration), Elizabeth (Julian) Potter's files
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magazine. But even more importantly, you are doing your part in the struggle for gay and lesbian equality.
Throughout 1999, we fought long and hard for every inch of ground we gained. But with your sup-
port, in trying times, HRC ensured our message got through to the Congress and the people of this nation.
We increased awareness about hate crimes - pushing this issue solidly into the national spotlight.
Throughout the past year, the Shepards, the Byrds and other families of hate crime victims
joined with HRC, religious leaders and civil rights advocates to focus national attention on
the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). We conducted a major education campaign to
rebut anti-gay arguments against the bill and make a case for its passage. We were thrilled
to see HCPA pass the Senate attached to a major appropriations bill, but disappointed when
forces later managed to delete the HCPA attachment. Hate crime victims and their families
deserve better. We have put Congress on notice - we will not stop until HCPA is passed.
We launched a nationwide television campaign to promote tolerance.
Matthew Shepard's mother, Judy, worked with HRC to produce two public service
announcements this past fall. The ads are intended to curb anti-gay violence and promote a
greater understanding of gay issues. One of the ads, titled "Parenthood," features the quote
from page one of this letter. In the other ad, Judy ends by saying, "I loved Matthew just the
way he was. Just the way he was." Then the message "Choose to Understand" appears on
the screen. The powerful ads began airing across the country in October.
We pressured Congress to build support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Support for ENDA continued to grow in 1999. Polls showed 58 percent of Americans sup-
port ENDA. Meanwhile, a record number of co-sponsors (36 in the Senate and 167 in the
House) backed the proposal.
HRC conducted polling and public education, and brought people who had experienced job dis-
crimination because of their sexual orientation to Washington to tell their stories. Despite these
efforts, anti-gay voices kept ENDA from a vote in 1999. You and I know that people should not
be fired from their job simply because they are gay or lesbian. With your renewed support, HRC
will continue to push for passage of ENDA next year to make that type of discrimination illegal.
We helped American businesses institute domestic partner benefits programs.
HRC is a major driving force in winning domestic partner benefits gains in corporate
America. HRC's WorkNet, which assists companies with domestic partner benefits and
other workplace issues, worked closely with United with Pride and GLEAM, the gay
employee groups at United Airlines and American Airlines. In 1999, these airlines, along
with USAirways, announced they will provide domestic partner benefits. I'm proud to
report that because of our steady focus on this issue, more than 2,800 U.S. employers now
offer domestic partner benefits, including 71 Fortune 500 companies.
We helped secure major increases in funding for prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Thanks to HRC and our coalition partners throughout the country, the final Congressional
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