HRC and the Rathskeller

HRC Mission Statement:

As America’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign provides a national voice on GLBT issues.

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_HRC

Why is HRC giving aid and comfort to businesses that support politicians having a clear anti-LGBT agenda?

One such business is the Rathskeller (http://www.rathskeller.com). The Rathskeller is located at the historic 19th century Athenaeum Building in downtown Indianapolis and has been the recipient of many accolades, including voted Best German Restaurant seven years in a row.

HRC and the Rathskeller

It has come to our attention that HRC President Joe Solmonese is visiting Indianapolis and hosting a meet and greet at the Rathskeller.

The Rathskeller has conducted fundraising operations for the Republican Speaker of the House, Brian Bosma, who is a primary instigator of anti-LGBT rhetoric and legislation in Indiana. Already the target of protests, the Rathskeller is now also understood to be planning a fundraiser for State Senator Pat Miller, a head of a national movement against gays and lesbians in the Methodist church, who is attempting to ban gays and lesbians from adoption. Miller also authored the recent "Authorized Reproduction" bill that caught national attention when it tried to ban unmarried women (read: lesbians) from artificial insemination.

There are dozens of LGBT-owned and LGBT-supportive restaurants in Indianapolis, far more appropriate to the function envisioned by HRC. LGBT events held under the current conditions at the Rathskeller risk not only light attendance, but risk sending exactly the wrong message to Indianapolis.

It is our concern that Indiana's fight for civil rights and against a marriage and civil union ban in Indiana do not register as high priorities for HRC's national efforts.

Please take a moment to contact HRC (hrc@hrc.org Attention Joe Solmonese and copy Bo Schuff Indiana field coordinator located in DC or call (800) 777-4723) and advise them of your reluctance to attend an event at their chosen venue. Please ask them to change venues to a more LGBT-friendly location. It is important to call or email by this Mon (10/31/05). Thank you in advance for your help!

PS: While you're at it, please also ask that they spend in Indiana a majority of any money they raise in Indiana instead of just carting it off to DC.

... over the past several years it seems HRC is increasingly out-of-step with the LGBT community.

I had hopes that when Joe Solmonese took over the reins as president earlier this year he would get the organization back on track. He even did a national tour to meet chapters around the country. Alas, once he got back inside the Beltway, it was back to business as usual.

It's too bad, since HRC had some impressive "wins" in its early days, but lately it seems like it's more concerned with raising funds to support itself and not paying attention to what LGBTs who live outside the Beltway think.