Human Rights Campaign Foundation

RESEARCH, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING: THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION (HRCF) ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE ALL LGBTQ+ PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE SYSTEMS THAT SHAPE OUR DAILY LIVES. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGE, AND TRAINING, THE FOUNDATION'S IMPACT CAN BE FELT IN SCHOOLS, ON FACTORY FLOORS AND CORPORATE SUITES, AND IN PLACES OF WORSHIP. IT TOUCHES LGBTQ+ LIVES FROM CHILDHOOD THROUGH END-OF-LIFE, PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, ETHNICITIES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, GENDER IDENTITIES, ABILITIES AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IN BIG CITIES AND SMALL TOWNS, IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE GLOBE.ALL-CHILDREN ALL-FAMILIES (ACAF) IS THE ONLY NATIONAL PROGRAM DEDICATED TO LGBTQ+ INCLUSION IN CHILD WELFARE THAT PROVIDES RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. IN FY21, ACAF RELEASED ITS SECOND ANNUAL CHANGE-MAKERS IN CHILD WELFARE REPORT, WHICH RECOGNIZED 100 PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS. ACAF ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADAPTED ITS TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE DELIVERED ENTIRELY ONLINE AND CONDUCTED ITS FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL TRAINING OF FACILITATORS PROGRAM.THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM PROVIDES CAPACITY-BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO LGBTQ+ ADVOCATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IN FY21, THE PROGRAM HOSTED ITS FIFTH - AND FIRST VIRTUAL - ANNUAL GLOBAL INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY SUMMIT THAT WELCOMED 31 GLOBAL INNOVATORS FROM 27 COUNTRIES ON FIVE CONTINENTS TO WASHINGTON DC. WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST-EVER GLOBAL SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM, AWARDING 19 INITIATIVES IN 17 COUNTRIES WITH GRANTS OF UP TO $5,000 TO SUPPORT THEIR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS IN THE AGE OF COVID AND HELPING TO BUILD ALLIES WITH BUSINESSES AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. WE HELD OUR FIRST GLOBAL CONVERSATION, FEATURING A DIVERSE AND ENGAGING PANEL OF TRANS ADVOCATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON "TRANS RIGHTS AND RESILIENCE." THAT PROGRAM REACHED AN AUDIENCE OF 9,000 ON FACEBOOK ALONE, AND WAS WIDELY PROMOTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO MONITOR AND REPORT ON THE STATE OF LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD, AND ENGAGED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, GLOBAL EQUALITY FUND AND OTHER MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS.THE HEALTH & AGING PROGRAM (HAP) WORKS TO INFORM AND FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM THE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND CULTURES OF HEALTHCARE AND AGING ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF LGBTQ+ HEALTH AND AGING CONCERNS. IN FY21, THE HEALTHCARE EQUALITY INDEX SAW A RECORD 765 PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, INCLUDING INCREASES IN HRC PRIORITY STATES. THE LONG-TERM CARE EQUALITY INDEX, DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED THE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR LONG-TERM CARE COMMUNITIES TO COMPLETE AS PART OF THE LEI JOURNEY TOWARDS LGBTQ+ INCLUSION. THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) PROGRAM IS THE ONLY NATIONAL PROJECT THAT PARTNERS WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON ESTABLISHING AN LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE CAMPUS CLIMATE. IN FY21, THE PROGRAM PIVOTED TO A VIRTUAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM, DRAWING MORE THAN 80 STUDENTS, STAFF, AND ALUMNI FROM NEARLY 30 HBCUS. OTHER KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE INCORPORATING GOTV EFFORTS INTO THE ANNUAL HBCU OUT LOUD DAY, A NATIONAL DAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE LGBTQ+ HBCU COMMUNITY; AND, IN COLLABORATION WITH RUTGERS CENTER FOR MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS (CMSI) RELEASED 'MODELING INCLUSION: HBCUS AND LGBTQ+ SUPPORT,' A RESEARCH BRIEF EXAMINING THE GROUND-BREAKING STEPS THAT HBCUS ARE TAKING TO ESTABLISH LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES ON THEIR CAMPUSES. THE PROGRAM ALSO MAINTAINED CONSTANT ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS BY HOSTING SEVERAL WEBINARS AND DISCUSSIONS CENTERED AROUND EXPANDING INCLUSION AND SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ STUDENTS.THE HIV AND HEALTH EQUITY (H&HE) PROGRAM DEVELOPS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF HIV ON BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITIES. H&HE SECURED A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM GILEAD SCIENCES TO FUND EXISTING HIV AND HEALTH EQUITY RELATED PROJECTS AND CREATE NEW PROGRAMMING. IN FY21, THE TEAM INTRODUCED MY BODY, AN EVIDENCE-BASED CAMPAIGN THAT UTILIZES CDC'S HIV DATA TO CONVEY THE REALITIES OF HIV TO A TARGETED COMMUNITY THAT'S HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO NEW HIV DIAGNOSES, WHICH RECEIVED OVER 2,500 ONLINE ENGAGEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, H&HE PARTNERED WITH THE PREVENTION ACCESS (PAC) TO DEVELOP A U=U (UNDETECTABLE = UNTRANSMITTABLE) RESOURCE GUIDE AND IMAGE SHARE CAMPAIGN, WITH OVER 2,000 VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENTS. THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED A SERIES OF COVID AND HIV PUBLIC EDUCATION CONVERSATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, FEDERAL HEALTH AGENCIES, AND ADVOCATES, AND ASSESSED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER NEEDS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHERN HEALTH & HIV SURVEY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTHERN AIDS COALITION (SAC), LATINOS IN THE DEEP SOUTH/LATINO COMMISSION ON AIDS (LCOA), AND SOUTHERN BLACK POLICY AND ADVOCACY NETWORK (SBPAN), WHICH GIVES HRC ACCESS TO 17 MINORITY-LED AND SERVICE CBOS, ADVOCATES, AND STAKEHOLDERS - SERVING OVER 50,000 LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH ANNUALLY. THE TEAM WORKED TO EXPAND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THROUGH YOU ARE NOW, A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION CENTERED ON THE IMPACT OF HIV, CRIMINALIZATION, AND SURVIVAL AMONG THE BLACK AND LATINX HOUSE AND BALLROOM COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO INCREASING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TRANS AND GENDER NONCONFORMING COMMUNITY WITH THE SECOND CLASS OF ELEVATE AND LAUNCH OF ACTIVATE, WITH ALMOST 100 APPLICANTS.THE IMPACT LITIGATION PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON COMBATTING ATTACKS ON LGBTQ+ EQUALITY. BY PARTNERING WITH LITIGATORS FROM TOP FIRMS, HRCF IS PURSUING STRATEGIC CASES THAT WILL SHAPE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AND EXPAND THE APPLICATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES. BY WORKING TOGETHER, THE ORGANIZATION AND THESE FIRMS UTILIZE THE COURTS TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE ENTITIES AND GOVERNMENTS THAT TARGET THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY WITH DISCRIMINATORY LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES. THE IMPACT LITIGATION PROGRAM SECURED ITS FIRST WIN BY OBTAINING A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO ELIMINATE PROTECTIONS FOR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THE REGULATION IMPLEMENTING SECTION 1557 OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (WALKER V. AZAR). ADDITIONALLY, HRCF IS WORKING WITH IN-COUNTRY PARTNERS (INCLUDING LOCAL ADVOCACY GROUPS) AND AN INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM TO THOUGHTFULLY IDENTIFY CHANGE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT IMPACT LITIGATION EFFORTS AS PART OF BROADER EFFORTS IN THE MOVEMENT FOR LGBTQ+ EQUALITY, COMPLEMENTING HRCF'S CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS FOR LOCAL ADVOCATES THROUGH THE GLOBAL PROGRAM.THE MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX (MEI) AND THE STATE EQUALITY INDEX (SEI), ARE 2 FLAGSHIP PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED ANNUALLY BY THE HRCF -- DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LGBTQ+ ADVOCATES AND CITY AND STATE LEADERS WITH A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN THEIR REGIONS. THE MEI IS THE ONLY NATIONWIDE ASSESSMENT OF LGBTQ+ INCLUSION IN MUNICIPAL LAW, POLICY AND SERVICES. THE 2020 MEI RATED 506 CITIES -- INCLUDING THE 50 STATE CAPITALS, THE 200 LARGEST CITIES IN THE U.S., THE FIVE LARGEST MUNICIPALITIES IN EACH STATE, 75 MUNICIPALITIES WITH A HIGH PROPORTION OF SAME-SEX COUPLES, AND THE CITIES WITH THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES -- ON 49 DIFFERENT CRITERIA. A RECORD 94 CITIES EARNED PERFECT SCORES FOR ADVANCING LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES -- UP FROM 88 IN 2019 AND JUST 11 IN 2012. THE AVERAGE SCORE FOR CITIES INCREASED EVERY YEAR DURING THE TRUMP-PENCE ADMINISTRATION-- FROM 57 IN 2017, TO 66 THIS YEAR. THE STATE EQUALITY INDEX (SEI) IS A COMPREHENSIVE STATE BY STATE REPORT THAT PROVIDES A REVIEW OF STATEWIDE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE 2020 SEI DETAILED STATEWIDE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ASSESSED HOW WELL STATES ARE PROTECTING LGBTQ+ PEOPLE FROM DISCRIMINATION. TWO STATES MOVE INTO THE TOP CATEGORY RESULTING IN A NEW HIGH OF 19 STATES WORKING TOWARD INNOVATIVE EQUALITY.THE PUBLIC EDUCATION & RESEARCH PROGRAM PRODUCES WRITTEN RESOURCES AND CONDUCTS ORIGINAL QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH EXPLORING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE. IN FY21, THE TEAM TRACKED AND RESEARCHED EVERY KNOWN INCIDENT OF FATAL VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND LAUNCHED THE "2020 FATAL VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE REPORT." WE ALSO PRODUCED A WEB RESOURCE UPDATE ON UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND A NEW TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY PEOPLE FAQ. THE PROGRAM PRODUCED A SERIES OF EIGHT RESEARCH BRIEFINGS DETAILING THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY WAS AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE RESEARCH, WHICH PULLED 20,000 RESPONSES FROM ADULTS IN THE U.S., WAS USED TO EDUCATE ON TOPICS IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY FROM UNEMPLOYMENT TO VACCINE CONFIDENCE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE CENTER FOR BLACK EQUITY, COMMUNITY MARKETING & INSIGHTS, AARP, FREDDIE MAC AND WILSON MEDIA TO CONDUCT THE 2020 BLACK LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY SURVEY, THE LARGEST EXISTING SURVEY OF THE BLACK LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA: HRCF WORKS TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY BY TELLING OUR STORIES TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THROUGH THE MAINSTREAM PRESS. HRCF ALSO MAINTAINS A PRESENCE IN THE LGBTQ+ MEDIA TO HELP EDUCATE, INFORM, AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY. HRCF WORKS TO SHARE OUR STORIES THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, OUR PUBLICATIONS, AND A VARIETY OF ONLINE OUTLETS, EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

FEDERAL AND STATE ADVOCACY: IN ADDITION TO GENERAL PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ+ INCLUSION IN MUNICIPAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, HRCF MADE A GRANT UNDER SECTION 501(H) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC). THE GRANT FROM HRCF TO HRC ALLOWED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DIRECT LOBBYING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ADVOCATING FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROVIDE EXPLICIT, CONSISTENT PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, CREDIT, EDUCATION, FEDERAL FUNDING, HOUSING, JURY SERVICE, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS (THE EQUALITY ACT) AND LEGISLATION THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

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