HRC’s Changing Roles
From Funding to Lobbying (cont’d)
Marriage Lobbying
Despite considerable effort, not all of HRC’s lobbying projects were successful. In the 1990s, in its new incarnation as the Human Rights Campaign, HRC fought against the Defense of Marriage Act, which ultimately passed in 1996.
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HRC Press Release. “Anti-gay marriage bill unconstitutional federal intrusion, HRC says,” May 15, 1996. HRC Records. [zoom] |
When President George W. Bush endorsed a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in 2003 and repeated this push in 2006, HRC again lobbied on behalf of marriage equality. So far, this radical step toward amending the U. S. Constitution has not passed. However, a number of efforts to amend state constitutions have succeeded.
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HRC Advertisement. “He’s Not Just Targeting Marriage...” HRC Web site. [zoom] View/download a PDF of this item |
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HRC Advertisement, “We The People...” HRC Web site. [zoom] View/download a PDF of this item |
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“No FMA” [Federal Marriage Amendment] button. HRC Records. [zoom] |
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Human Rights Campaign. “The Human Rights Campaign and the Federal Marriage Amendment,” 2004. HRC Records. [zoom] | Additional images:  "View a larger image")  "View a larger image")
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HRC map. Proposed State Constitutional Amendments, 2005. HRC Records. [zoom] |
HRC used both conservative political figures and rock star Melissa Etheridge to rally opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment.
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HRC Advertisement. “Opposition to the Marriage Protection Amendment: A Conservative Value.” HRC Web site. [zoom] View/download a PDF of this item |
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“Melissa Etheridge, HRC Team Up to Fight Marriage Amendment.” Television advertisement, debuted June 23, 2004. View the press release on the original HRC web page |