HRC’s Changing Roles

“Let’s Send ’Em A Message”

In December 1986, Steve Endean created the Fairness Fund, a gay rights organization focused on grassroots political lobbying through constituent sponsored mailgrams. By joining the Fairness Fund, individual members gave permission for telegrams to be sent on their behalf to members of Congress at the discretion of the Fund.

Fairness Fund Button, “Let’s Send ’Em A Message.” HRC Records. [zoom]

In March 1988, the Fairness Fund merged with the Human Rights Campaign Fund, and the mailgram initiative was renamed Speak Out. Steve Endean returned and worked with HRCF’s newly created Field Division for grassroots organizing.

This mailing, created shortly after the merger, invites people to sign up to send mailgrams to help “fight Jesse Helms and the anti-gay forces in Congress.”

	“Agreement between the Human Rights Campaign Fund and the Fairness Fund.” Feb. 22, 1988. HRC Records. [zoom]
	“Speak Out! Activist Tools for GLBT Equality.” November 17, 2006. HRC Web site. [zoom] View/download a PDF of this item
	Mailing from the Fairness Fund, a Project of the HRCF. Is Jesse Helms Public Enemy Number Two?, ca. 1988. HRC Records. [zoom] | Additional images:

SpeakOut’s method of political lobbying further enhanced the influence of HRCF, presenting members of Congress with a politically active and informed constituency concerned with gay, lesbian, and AIDS related legislation.

SpeakOut Advertisement. “Look What You Get By Becoming a Part of Speak Out...” HRC Records. [zoom]

Decisions concerning SpeakOut mailgrams were always strategically determined by the leadership of HRCF, from the specific legislator to be addressed to the precise wording and timing of the message. This enabled HRCF to pressure Congress from multiple directions simultaneously.

Human Rights Campaign Fund. Speak Out Message Report, May 1992. HRC Records. [zoom]

This postcard enabled those interested to sign up to receive general updates and information from HRC as well as action alerts, which called for letter writing on urgent matters.

Postcard. “Take Action for Equality” HRC Records. [zoom] | Additional images:

Today, HRC mobilizes grassroots responses electronically at the “Take Action” section of its web site, shown here.

The marriage petition shown here is one example of the way HRC now captures public support for various issues and conveys those opinions to Representatives, Senators, and the President at crucial moments.

	“Take Action.” November 17, 2006. [zoom] | View the original HRC web page
	Web page, “MILLIONforMARRIAGE.org... Sign this Petition...” HRC Web site. [zoom] | View the original HRC web page

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