NOM Raised $6.2 Million in 2011 and 75 Percent of It Was from Two Individual Donors

The Human Rights Campaign reports that the National Organization for Marriage saw its fundraising decline by a third in 2011 (from $6.2 million from the $9.1 million in 2010). More interesting to note is the fact that the bulk of the money it raised was from two individual donors, who each put up $2.4 million.

HRC requested NOM’s 2011 990 in person at the organization's offices this morning.

They add:

“The National Organization for Marriage continues to push the notion that there is some sort of grassroots support for their discriminatory anti-gay agenda,” said HRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz. “Last week, that notion was soundly rejected by voters in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State. Now, NOM’s own financial records are serving as the latest proof that support for LGBT equality is common-sense and mainstream. NOM is nothing more than a conduit channeling the anti-gay agenda of a few secretive, wealthy donors.”

The sharp drop in funding is notable also because NOM experienced significant financial growth each year since its founding in 2007, when it was formed to demonize LGBT people in California as part of efforts to pass Proposition 8. 2011 marks the first year in which the anti-gay group’s funding declined.

More at HRC.

HRC Equality Index Shows Record LGBT Inclusion Among Fortune 500

Human Rights Campaign today released their Corporate Equality Index, a rating of the best and worst places for LGBT people to work.

The 11th such report, this year's edition shows that for the first time in history a majority of Fortune 500 companies offer protections and inclusion for sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, 54 new businesses opted to take the survey, bringing the total number of participants to 688 companies, with 252 of them being given a perfect 100% rating.

Here are some more findings:

99% of CEI-rated employers provide employment protections on the basis of sexual orientation.

84% of CEI-rated employers provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity or expression — the highest figure to date.

69% of CEI-rated employers offer a robust set of practices 
(at least three efforts) to support organizational LGBT diversity competency.

83% of CEI-rated employers have an employee resource group or diversity council that includes LGBT issues. Sixty-six percent of rated employers have employee groups, 77 percent have diversity councils and 60 percent of rated employers have both.

80% of CEI-rated businesses report some form of public engagement with the LGBT community, through marketing, advertising and recruitment efforts, philanthropic contributions to LGBT organizations.

Though these numbers are promising, HRC reminds us that it is still perfectly legal in 29 states for an employee to be dismissed for their sexual orientation and it's legally a-okay in 32 states for someone to be fired for their gender identity.

You can read a digital version of the CEI AFTER THE JUMP and a PDF can be downloaded via HRC.

Executive Order on ENDA, LGBT Cabinet Member Among Requests HRC Has for President Obama

An executive order on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act "as soon as possible" is at the top of list of requests Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin has for President Obama now that the election is over, he indicated in phone calls with reporters, Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner reports:

The White House said in April said Obama was declining to sign the order “at this time, but, following the election, Griffin argues that Obama needs to sign it “as soon as possible."

Griffin said he doesn't know if it will happen before the end of the year, but added that he is pushing for that, saying, "Since my first conversations there, it’s something I’ve pushed for, I’ve urged, privately and publicly. We will continue to do that."

Chris Johnson at the Blade adds:

“We need to acknowledge that although we certainly made some gains in the Senate, and potentially some gains in the House, we are still short of having a vote for an inclusive ENDA in the House,” Griffin said. “We need to be realistic about that.”...

“It is my hope and belief that we can get an executive order out of this White House,” Griffin said. “It is something that should be done and we will continue to urge our newly re-elected president to do. That would not be the full solution, but it would be a step toward the end goal.”

Also, Griffin would like to see the apppointment of an LGBT cabinet member, Geidner adds:

"We made historic progress with president Obama in terms of our openly LGBT appointments across the board," he said. "We now have the opportunity, and I hope this president and this White House will seize the opportunity to have the first openly LGBT Cabinet secretary, the first openly LGBT G-8 ambassador, and across the board with administrative appointments and judges as well."

Groups like HRC, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and others, as well as LGBT activists more broadly, have long been pushing for an out LGBT cabinet member, and the urging is likely to continue in earnest as Obama's makes changes for his second-term cabinet.

Among those out gay people whose names are raised most often by advocates for possible appointments are John Berry, the head of the Office of Personnel Management; Fred Hochberg (bottom photo), the head of the Export-Import Bank; and Mary Kay Henry, the head of the Service Employees International Union.

Also on everyone's mind is getting rid of DOMA, which may soon be addressed by the Supreme Court, but given the composition of Congress, has few chances at a legislative repeal.

HRC President Chad Griffin Reacts to LGBT Election Victories: VIDEO

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin recorded a video last night in response to yesterday's LGBT election victories.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

HRC To FCC: Investigate Texts Saying Obama 'Forcing' Gay Marriage

Earlier this week, an advertising company with ties to the Republican Party sent out text messages reading "Stop Obama from forcing gay marriage on the states." These messages, sent as texts from an email address, go around existing Federal Communications Commission rules limiting unsolicited texts, and now Human Rights Campaign is calling for a full investigation.

From Chris Geidner at BuzzFeed:

The company, ccAdvertising, has not admitted to sending the messages. But the dummy sites used to send the messages were registered to company executives.

Additionally, one of those executives — Gabe Joseph — is known for using questionable tactics, according to Republican operatives familiar with his past activities.
…
Although there are rules against sending unsolicited, traditional SMS messages, because they were technically emails, they fall outside current FCC regulations. An FCC spokesperson told BuzzFeed that, for now, the "question is open in front of the Commission."

In addition to calling out the operation's legally hazy tactics, HRC is accusing them of intentionally sending out misleading messages, which HRC lawyer Robert Falk equates with "an attempt to defraud and harm gay-rights advocates."

Fred Sainz, HRC's vice president of communications, said "it’s unsurprising that our opponents are employing such underhanded tactics and trying to attack equality from behind shrouds of secrecy."

"It’s unacceptable to launch these types of despicable attacks from dark corners, and it’s incredibly irresponsible to send out unsolicited messages to people who have no desire to receive this type of vitriol," he said.

Read HRC's entire complaint AFTER THE JUMP.

Human Rights Campaign Given Prime Placement in First LGBT Ad from Lexus: VIDEO

The first LGBT-oriented ad from Lexus for its ES and ES Hybrid features 'The Real L Word' actress Tracy Ryerson and the not-so-subtle shot of her Human Rights Campaign cufflinks.

Says the ad's narrator: "When I make my mark, it leaves a lasting impression steeped in Pride. It inspires a reaction, progressing without ever going back."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...