The Gist

HRC Dinner Under Fire

The Human Rights Campaign just can't get away from their decision last year to support a version of the Employment Nondiscimination Act in Congress that failed to include protections for trans people. Now they're getting a taste of good ol'fashioned San Francisco grassroots action, with prominent politicians and activists speaking out:

Activists plan to be on the streets during the festivities to inform people of the boycott and protest of the Human Rights Campaign's annual fundraising dinner in San Francisco next month, a major event that raises tens of thousands of dollars for the organization.

Similar actions took place at fundraising dinners in Philadelphia and New York City earlier this year.

San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano called HRC "cowards" and many other prominent city leaders endorse boycotting the dinner, which is selling for $225 per person. In a statement Joe Solmonese defended his organizations tortured flip-flops over ENDA and invoked the upcoming vote on a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in California as a reason for people to get back behind HRC:

"At a time when our community is threatened, once again, with a cynical election-year ploy that could hurt our families, we believe that it's time to set aside our differences and fight for what we all want," it reads.

Ummm, we can't help but wonder if HRC is also being a little cynical here themselves by invoking our recently won right to marry in California--a victory which they had nothing to do with--as a reason why we should lavish them with more financial support. What, exactly, have they done?