Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Cheryl Jacques to Leave Human Rights Campaign
Citing a difference in management philosophy, the Human Rights Campaign’s boards and its president, Cheryl Jacques, announced that she will resign from her position.
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004
CHERYL JACQUES TO LEAVE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
HRC Boards Put Transition Plan in Place
WASHINGTON – Citing a difference in management philosophy, the Human Rights Campaign’s boards and its president, Cheryl Jacques, announced that she will resign from her position.
“Cheryl hit the road almost as soon as she arrived and has been an effective advocate for our community,” said HRC Foundation Board Co-Chair Lawrie Demorest.
Jacques led HRC through the successful defeat earlier this year of the Federal Marriage Amendment in the House and Senate, and through a period of significant growth in fundraising and membership, including a record $30 million budget for 2004, and a membership that now exceeds 600,000.
“My priorities were to defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment, expand the organization’s membership and fundraising capacity, increase our diversity and maintain a strong voice in the media,” said Jacques.
“Cheryl has achieved a great deal as HRC President,” said HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Gwen Baba. “We will miss her leadership and professionalism, but we understand her desire to move on to other challenges. Cheryl was a member of the HRC family before she arrived in Washington, and she’ll remain part of us.”
The boards announced that HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Michael Berman and Hilary Rosen will lead the organization through the transition while a search for a new leader is underway. Berman is president of The Duberstein Group in Washington and Rosen led HRC’s strategic efforts to defeat of the FMA. Rosen will be focused on internal, strategic issues and management.
“HRC has a very deep bench of experienced and talented senior staff who are already working on new strategies in the fight for equality,” added Berman. “In addition to recalculating our political efforts, we will enhance our activities in the corporate world, in the media and, most important, in communities of faith.”
The Board of Directors and the Foundation Board will meet with staff in early December in Las Vegas for their annual winter meeting to prioritize the agenda and organize the transition to new leadership.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
-30-
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004
CHERYL JACQUES TO LEAVE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
HRC Boards Put Transition Plan in Place
WASHINGTON – Citing a difference in management philosophy, the Human Rights Campaign’s boards and its president, Cheryl Jacques, announced that she will resign from her position.
“Cheryl hit the road almost as soon as she arrived and has been an effective advocate for our community,” said HRC Foundation Board Co-Chair Lawrie Demorest.
Jacques led HRC through the successful defeat earlier this year of the Federal Marriage Amendment in the House and Senate, and through a period of significant growth in fundraising and membership, including a record $30 million budget for 2004, and a membership that now exceeds 600,000.
“My priorities were to defeat the Federal Marriage Amendment, expand the organization’s membership and fundraising capacity, increase our diversity and maintain a strong voice in the media,” said Jacques.
“Cheryl has achieved a great deal as HRC President,” said HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Gwen Baba. “We will miss her leadership and professionalism, but we understand her desire to move on to other challenges. Cheryl was a member of the HRC family before she arrived in Washington, and she’ll remain part of us.”
The boards announced that HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Michael Berman and Hilary Rosen will lead the organization through the transition while a search for a new leader is underway. Berman is president of The Duberstein Group in Washington and Rosen led HRC’s strategic efforts to defeat of the FMA. Rosen will be focused on internal, strategic issues and management.
“HRC has a very deep bench of experienced and talented senior staff who are already working on new strategies in the fight for equality,” added Berman. “In addition to recalculating our political efforts, we will enhance our activities in the corporate world, in the media and, most important, in communities of faith.”
The Board of Directors and the Foundation Board will meet with staff in early December in Las Vegas for their annual winter meeting to prioritize the agenda and organize the transition to new leadership.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
-30-
For more information:
http://hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_...
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
HRC, leader Cheryl Jacques part ways
Eric Johnston, PlanetOut Network
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 / 05:11 PM
SUMMARY: Cheryl Jacques is leaving the helm of the Human Rights Campaign over differences with the group's board, but some sources claim she was fired.
Cheryl Jacques is leaving as president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. LGBT political group, over differences with the group's board, but some sources claim she was fired.
HRC's spokespeople were not commenting on reports of Jacques' firing Tuesday, but they did not deny that she had been let go. Tuesday night, however, the HRC put out a press release saying the board and Jacques made a joint decision, based on a "difference in management philosophy."
Board members made the decision to fire Jacques during an emergency conference call Monday night, according to christiangrantham.com, a site run by blogger Christian Grantham. The Web site reported some board members were dissatisfied with Jacques' performance.
The board chose Hillary Rosen and HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Michael Berman to lead the search for a replacement, the HRC press release confirmed. Rosen is the partner of Elizabeth Birch, Jacques' predecessor, who was HRC's executive director for eight years before stepping down.
Jacques has held the job for nearly one year.
With over 600,000 members, the HRC describes itself as the country's largest LGBT organization. Its mission includes lobbying Congress, working to elect fair-minded politicians, conducting extensive research and educating politicians and the public on topics affecting LGBT Americans.
It was unclear if the results of the November general election played a part in Jacques' departure. In addition to the re-election of George W. Bush, which HRC actively opposed, 11 states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.
HRC tends to focus its money and energy on Washington, D.C., where it is headquartered. The group lobbied fiercely and successfully to defeat a federal anti-gay constitutional marriage amendment in the months leading up to the election.
But the results of the Nov. 2 vote indicate that more emphasis needs to be placed at the state and local level, according to Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is focused on gaining marriage rights for the state's same-sex couples.
"It's becoming more and more clear that the battles for equality are being waged on a state-by-state level," he said. "As one of two national LGBT non-legal organizations, HRC has an opportunity to play a major role in helping state organizations build their infrastructure so they can be sustainable for the long-haul, and not starting from scratch, as happened in some states."
Jacques' exit came as no surprise to one prominent LGBT activist, who asked not to be identified. He said word of Jacques' firing was the subject of "endless leaks."
"Everyone knew for weeks, if not months," he told the PlanetOut Network. "Whatever it was -- the board didn't like her or she didn't like them -- it should have been handled differently. It's a disservice to the professionalism of our community."
Elizabeth Birch was simply too tough an act to follow, according to another LGBT activist, who also wished to remain anonymous. "Folks in the movement said whoever came in after Elizabeth wouldn't last long," he said.
Another LGBT political group in a post-election changing of the guard is the National Stonewall Democrats. Executive Director Dave Noble announced on Nov. 19 that he is stepping down, and a search is underway for a replacement. He had led the group for nearly two years.
Eric Johnston, PlanetOut Network
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 / 05:11 PM
SUMMARY: Cheryl Jacques is leaving the helm of the Human Rights Campaign over differences with the group's board, but some sources claim she was fired.
Cheryl Jacques is leaving as president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest U.S. LGBT political group, over differences with the group's board, but some sources claim she was fired.
HRC's spokespeople were not commenting on reports of Jacques' firing Tuesday, but they did not deny that she had been let go. Tuesday night, however, the HRC put out a press release saying the board and Jacques made a joint decision, based on a "difference in management philosophy."
Board members made the decision to fire Jacques during an emergency conference call Monday night, according to christiangrantham.com, a site run by blogger Christian Grantham. The Web site reported some board members were dissatisfied with Jacques' performance.
The board chose Hillary Rosen and HRC Board of Directors Co-chair Michael Berman to lead the search for a replacement, the HRC press release confirmed. Rosen is the partner of Elizabeth Birch, Jacques' predecessor, who was HRC's executive director for eight years before stepping down.
Jacques has held the job for nearly one year.
With over 600,000 members, the HRC describes itself as the country's largest LGBT organization. Its mission includes lobbying Congress, working to elect fair-minded politicians, conducting extensive research and educating politicians and the public on topics affecting LGBT Americans.
It was unclear if the results of the November general election played a part in Jacques' departure. In addition to the re-election of George W. Bush, which HRC actively opposed, 11 states passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.
HRC tends to focus its money and energy on Washington, D.C., where it is headquartered. The group lobbied fiercely and successfully to defeat a federal anti-gay constitutional marriage amendment in the months leading up to the election.
But the results of the Nov. 2 vote indicate that more emphasis needs to be placed at the state and local level, according to Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is focused on gaining marriage rights for the state's same-sex couples.
"It's becoming more and more clear that the battles for equality are being waged on a state-by-state level," he said. "As one of two national LGBT non-legal organizations, HRC has an opportunity to play a major role in helping state organizations build their infrastructure so they can be sustainable for the long-haul, and not starting from scratch, as happened in some states."
Jacques' exit came as no surprise to one prominent LGBT activist, who asked not to be identified. He said word of Jacques' firing was the subject of "endless leaks."
"Everyone knew for weeks, if not months," he told the PlanetOut Network. "Whatever it was -- the board didn't like her or she didn't like them -- it should have been handled differently. It's a disservice to the professionalism of our community."
Elizabeth Birch was simply too tough an act to follow, according to another LGBT activist, who also wished to remain anonymous. "Folks in the movement said whoever came in after Elizabeth wouldn't last long," he said.
Another LGBT political group in a post-election changing of the guard is the National Stonewall Democrats. Executive Director Dave Noble announced on Nov. 19 that he is stepping down, and a search is underway for a replacement. He had led the group for nearly two years.
For more information:
http://planetout.com/news/article.html?dat...
Why did she quit?
I was amazed that she gave up a seat in the Mass. legislature in order to take this job. Will she go back to local politics in MA?
[This reminds me of Kweisi Mfume, who gave up a seat in Congress in order to manage the NAACP. Now he's been fired.]
.................................
Living in SF, I don't pay much attention to national queer groups like HRC or NGTLF or Stonewall Democrats; which seem so distant from SF.
Nor do I read national queer mags; preferring to get national queer news thru SF's local queer weeklies (B.A.R. and Bay Times). I'm NOT saying my localized attitude is correct; I'm just describing it.
Do other IndyBay queers consider national queer groups important?
If so, do you actually donate money or labor to those groups???
-- Puzzled Queer
I was amazed that she gave up a seat in the Mass. legislature in order to take this job. Will she go back to local politics in MA?
[This reminds me of Kweisi Mfume, who gave up a seat in Congress in order to manage the NAACP. Now he's been fired.]
.................................
Living in SF, I don't pay much attention to national queer groups like HRC or NGTLF or Stonewall Democrats; which seem so distant from SF.
Nor do I read national queer mags; preferring to get national queer news thru SF's local queer weeklies (B.A.R. and Bay Times). I'm NOT saying my localized attitude is correct; I'm just describing it.
Do other IndyBay queers consider national queer groups important?
If so, do you actually donate money or labor to those groups???
-- Puzzled Queer
for any of these leaders? given them money? marched at their rallies?
by what conceivable stretch of the imagionation, then, do they represent you? who gave them that?
by what conceivable stretch of the imagionation, then, do they represent you? who gave them that?
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$210.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network