Landmark Transgender Equality Education Campaign Launched

NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
For Immediate Release - Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005

Contact: Steven Fisher | Phone: (202) 216-1547 | Cell: (202) 431-7608
Contact: Brad Luna | Phone: (202) 216-1514 | Cell: (202) 812-8140


Landmark Transgender Equality Education Campaign Launched

"The more Americans know and understand each other, the more united
we
are as a nation," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign launched the first-ever
advertising and landmark education campaign on transgender issues today
with an ad in Roll Call, the leading publication for Congressional news
and a new handbook designed to educate Americans about transgender
equality. Produced in partnership with the National Center for
Transgender Equality, the ad in Thursday's Roll Call is first in a
series focusing on the stories of hard-working Americans who have been
discriminated against in the workplace because of who they are.

"The more Americans know and understand each other, the more united we
are as a nation," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
"Our new education campaign underscores that employees, many of whom
provide vital national security positions, are being denied opportunity
to do their job purely because of who they are. Most Americans want a
federal law to end discrimination. But no law exists. We're working on
Capitol Hill and across the country to build support for that law, a
law
we unequivocally support."

"These moving ads put this issue in front of Congress in a big way,"
said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for
Transgender Equality (NCTE). "Coupled with the education that many of
us
have been doing for years, these ads will go a long way toward building
the support we need to pass a transgender-inclusive non-discrimination
law. This isn't the beginning and it won't be the end, but it's a big
chapter toward getting this done."

The Human Rights Campaign's new publication "Transgender Americans: A
Handbook for Understanding" will be distributed to every member of
Congress this week. The handbook addresses many of the challenges
facing
transgender Americans without legal protections, including employment
discrimination, health care issues, identity document obstacles and
school issues, and was produced in collaboration with supporting
partners NCTE and the Transgender Law & Policy Institute.

"I'm so proud to be a part of this campaign," said Diane Schroer, a
25-year Army Special Forces Officer who was offered but then denied a
counter-terrorism job when she told her future employers she was
transgender. Diane's story is featured in the Nov. 3 Roll Call ad. "I
had the same skills in counter-terrorism the day they denied me the job
that I did the day they offered it. When it comes to keeping Americans
safe, discrimination can't be a part of the equation."

A new area of the Human Rights Campaign's website,
http://www.hrc.org/transgender, features the ads, the handbook and more
information. Another Roll Call ad will run Nov. 10.

NCTE today also released a new publication entitled "Make Your Voice
Heard: A Transgender Guide to Educating Congress. This publication is
available for free download at http://www.NCTEquality.org.

Today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Human Rights Campaign is also hosting
a briefing on Capitol Hill (Longworth House Office Building 1539) to
highlight workplace challenges for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender Americans.

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.

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