Spectrum Center 40th Anniversary LectureThe University of Michigan

This Moment in the LGBT Movement

1

What are we trying to achieve?

How are we doing?

Where do we find ourselves now?

2

What are we trying to

achieve?

3

Source: Williams Institute, MAP

American adults are LGB (3.5%)

Nearly

LGBT parents are raising about

8 millionAbout

are trans (0.3%) 700,000

2 million kids

4

Women Men

24%

15%

27%

19%

13% 13% LGBHeterosexual

Source: The Williams Institute, 2009 from National Survey of Family of Growth; adults 18-44; National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 2011; 2010 Census Bureau Data

LGBT People Are More Likely to be Poor

Trans Americans

AmericanAdults

5

LGBT People are Racially/Ethnically Diverse

Same-Sex Couples

Latino/a Black Asian Other/ Multi-Racial

11%

9%

2% 2%

5% 5%

2%

11%

9%

7%

4%

1%

Same-SexTransgenderHeterosexual

Source: The Williams Institute, 2010; National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 2011. 6

LGBT

Americans

live in

everyone’s

neighborhood

7

LGBT Americans live in diverse communities

African American same-sex couples(per 1,000 households)

8

Latino/a same-sex couples (per 1,000 households)

LGBT Americans live in diverse communities

9

LGBT Americans seek equal opportunity to

participate fully in American life

What does this mean?

10

Pursue health & happiness

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

• Free from stigma and discrimination

• Equal access to health insurance benefits

• Access to competent and welcoming health care providers

11

Earn a living

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

• Protection from being unfairly fired

• Access to the same benefits and tax credits

12

Serve their country

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

• Military service

• Public service, including running for public office or volunteering

13

Be safe in their communities

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

• Protection from hate crimes

• Welcoming and affirming schools

• Safe places to worship

14

Take care of the ones they love

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

• Marry the person they love

• Secure legal ties between parents and children

• Take leave to care for a sick partner or spouse

15

Pursue health & happiness

Earn a living

Serve their country

Be safe in their communities

Take care of the ones they love

In sum, we aim for equal opportunity in American life

LGBT Americans want the same chance as everyone else to:

16

Securing equality requires work on three fronts:

Change the Culture Change the Laws Change the Lived Experience 17

How are we

doing?

18

Major federal successes in past two years

Federal hate crimes law

DADT repeal

Major administrative successes o DOJ: heightened scrutiny; won’t defend DOMAo Hospital visitationo FMLA includes children of domestic partnerso Census to report same-sex married coupleso Repeal of the HIV-ban on immigrationo Passport gender marker policyo Clarification of schools’ responsibility on bullying

Major judicial successeso Federal court finds marriage ban unconstitutionalo Federal court finds DADT unconstitutional

19

Federal challenges remain

• DOMA

o House defense of law

o Federal legislation to repeal is stalled

• Federal legislation being considered: o Domestic partner benefits for federal employees

o Removing extra taxation on benefits

o Access to COBRA, FMLA

o HIV/AIDS funding

o Addressing immigration challenges

o Safe schools

o Nondiscrimination in adoption and foster care20

Major state successes in past two years

Marriage in DC, IA, NH, NY & VT

Civil unions/DPs in DE, HI, IL, NV, RI & WA

Anti-bullying laws in AR, IL, NC, NH, NJ & NY

Non-Discrimination laws in CT, HI & NV

Supportive parenting laws in DC, NM & WA

Defeat of bans on LGBT parenting in AR & FL

21

State-level challenges remain

• Marriage/relationship recognition efforts stalled in MD

• Marriage amendments passed in IN, MN & NC; pushed in IA & WY; ballot measures in MN & NC

• Non-discrimination legislation didn’t advance in UT

• Politicized judicial retention election in IA

• TN legislation banned local non-discrimination ordinances

22

Sodomy laws (2001)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

17 states with laws

23

Sodomy laws (2011)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

0 states with enforceable laws

24

Non-discrimination laws (2001)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

1 state with trans-inclusive law

10 states + DC with sexual orientation laws

NV

25

Non-discrimination laws (2011)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

15 states + DC with trans-inclusive laws

6 states with sexual orientation laws

NV

26

Second-parent adoption (2001)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

5 states + DC

IL

27

Second-parent adoption (2011)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CTRI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

19 states + DC

ILNV

28

Safe school laws (2001)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CTRI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

1 state with trans-inclusive laws

1 state with sexual orientation laws

29

Safe school laws (2011)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CTRI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

16 states + DC with trans-inclusive laws

2 states with sexual orientation laws

30

Relationship recognition (2001)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

0 states with marriage

1 state with full rights

2 states with limited recognition 31

Relationship recognition (2011)

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CTRI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

6 states + DC with marriage

9 states + DC with full rights

3 states with limited recognition

NV

32

Where do we find

ourselves now?

33

1. LGBT movement is becoming part of a

broader progressive movement

34

Growing ally support across many areas

35

2. There is growing political and judicial support

36

Growing political support

Gov. Andrew CuomoPresident Barack Obama Gov. Lincoln Chafee

37

Judge Joseph TauroJudge Virginia PhillipsJudge Vaughn Walker

Growing judicial support

38

3. There is growing bipartisan support

39

Unexpected high-profile support for marriage

Dick Cheney Laura Bush & Barbara Bush

Ken Mehlman Cindy McCain & Meghan McCain

40

Marriage Civil Unions No Recognition

13%

33%

53%

25%

34%37%

20042010

Growing Republican voter support for marriage

Source: CBS News Poll41

4. There is growing public support

42

Source: Gallup

Increasing moral acceptability of gay & lesbian relations

2001 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 2011

40% 38

44 42

45 44 47 48

49 52

56

53 55

52 54

51 51 49 48

47 43

39

AcceptableWrong

43

Source: Gallup2001 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 2008

85% 86 88 89 87 89 89 89

11 11 10 8 11 9 8 8

YesNo

Strong public support for “equal rights in terms of job opportunities”

44

Equal access to benefits

Remove taxation on benefits

Equal access to FMLA

Sexual orientation shouldn't matter

62%

63%

70%

78%

Strong support for equal treatment in the workplace

Source: 2010 Out & Equal Workplace Survey45

Most Wrongly Believe, “A Person Can’t be Fired Just for Being Gay”

Disagree,33%

No opinion,6%

Agree,61%

Source: Harris poll, 200746

Source: Regression analysis by Nate Silver, fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com, April 2011

• Six national polls since August 2010 show over 50% support: Gallup poll showed 7 point

increase in one year; 54% support up from 47%

• Accelerated support ~4 point gain in each of the

last two years

About double the long-term rate of increase of 1-2 points/year

Majority of Americans now support marriage

47

Marriage, 40%

DPs/civil unions, 30%Unsure, 5%

None, 25%

Source: CBS News Poll, Aug 2010

Almost three-quarters (70%) favor some form of relationship recognition

48

5. Unprecedented media visibility

49

LGBT characters become part of mainstream TV

2001 201150

Portrayals include youth, gay parents and marriage

GleeBullying and romantic kiss

Degrassi HighFirst trans character

Modern FamilyTwo gay dads

Grey’s AnatomyMarriage

51

6. Bullying and suicides spur unprecedented national response

52

Today’s youth are coming out at more vulnerable ages

Source: General Social Survey (GSS), 2008; Williams Institute

Age 45-62 today Age 26-44 today Age 18-25 today

25% 31%

57%

63% 53%

43%

12% 16%Never

18+

Before18

53

Physically harassed (LGB)

Physically harassed (based on GI/E)

Felt unsafe at school

85%

40%

27%

61%

LGBT youth suffer a hostile school climate …

Source: GLSEN, The 2009 National School Climate Survey.

LGBT high school students self report

Verbally harassed (LGB)

54

… contributing to increased risky behavior

Drank before age 13

Currently smoke Have attempted suicide

Sex without a condom

22%

5% 6%

34%35%

17%

25%

59%Non-LGBLGB

Source: WI Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2009

High school students

55

LGBT youth suicide deaths drew unprecedented visibility and response

56

7. While progress is stalled in some states, local progress is still

possible

57

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

28 states show little progress on LGBT equality

28 states with little or no progress

LGBT Equality

58

WA

OR

CA

ID

UT

AZ NM

CO

WY

MT ND

SD

IA

MO

AR

TX

MN

NE

OK

KS

LA

IL IN

WIMI

KY

MS AL

FL

SC

NC

VAWV

OH

PA

NY

NJ

DEMD

VTNH

MA

GA

ME

CT RI

TN

NV

HI

AK

DC

NV

12 states: legislative bans

10 states: constitutional bans

19 states: constitutional “Super DOMA”

41 states have a ban on marriage

Marriage Bans

59

Local progress possible where statewide progress stalled…

Florida 1997 Florida 2010

60

… even on issues that show little state movement

• New TN law prohibits such local ordinances

• Similar law in CO was found unconstitutional

61

In Michigan:

But many cities have non-discrimination protections

Very little state-wide progress

• Huntington Woods

• Kalamazoo

• Lansing

• Saginaw

• Saugatuck & Township

• Traverse City

• Ypsilanti

• Ann Arbor

• Birmingham

• Detroit

• Douglas

• East Lansing

• Ferndale

• Grand Rapids

• Marriage

• Employment Non-Disc

• Housing Non-Disc.

• Joint Adoption

• Second-Parent Adoption

• Stepparent Adoption

• Safe Schools Law

• Hate Crimes Law

• Ability to Change Gender on Birth Certificate 62

8. Marriage remains a significant battleground

63

Perry v. Schwarzenegger

Marriage litigation cases show promising early results

Gill v. Office of Personnel Mgt

Windsor v. United States

Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Mgt

Massachusetts v. HHS Golinski v. OPM

64

Significant resources invested in marriage campaigns and litigation

$41 million for “No on 8”

campaign alone

65

9. Anti-gay activists are well-resourced but have mixed results

66

LGBT groups have $0.6 billion in revenue

Health & Human

Services

Community Centers

Advocacy Issue Advo-cacy

Legal Arts & Cul-ture

Social & Recre-ational

Research & Public Ed-

ucation

Total

$172

$574

$127

$102

$90$35 $20 $16 $13

Source: GuideStar, MAP analysis

More than 550 LGBT nonprofits collectively had $574 million in

revenue in 2009

Revenue$ millions

67

Top 10 opponents triple revenue of top 10 LGBT groups

Top 10 LGBT Groups Top 10 Opponents

$94.3

Focus on the Family (C3/C4), $141.1

Alliance Defense Fund, $30.1

Heritage Foundation, $69.2

HRC, $40.5

Lambda Legal, $11.8

Task Force, $9.7

Equality CA, $8.0

GLAAD, $5.0

GLSEN, $4.5

SAGE, $3.9

Empire State Pride, $3.7

GLAD, $3.6

Victory Fund, $3.6

$337.0

American Family Assn, $21.4

Coral Ridge Ministries, $17.3Concerned Women For America (C3/C4), $14.6

American Center For Law & Justice, $12.1Family Research Council (C3/C4), $14.0

Traditional Values Coalition (C3/C4), $9.9Nat’l Org for Marriage (C3/C4), $7.4

Source: MAP analysis of 990 data and annual reports

Revenue,$ millions

68

Anti-gay activists can be effective …

69

…but their stridency leads to mixed results

“If there is an disbelief surrounding my newfound support for civil marriage equality, it is disbelief from those who surround me. … I soon realized that there I was surrounded by hateful people, propping up a cause … I had begun to question.”

– Louis Marinelli NOM “Summer for Marriage” Organizer

“For me the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one… What I witnessed from the opponents… was appalling. Witness after witness demonized homosexuals, vilified the gay community, and described gays and lesbians as pedophiles.”

- James Brochin Maryland State Senator 70

LGBT advocates offer effective affirmative messages

These and more available at www.lgbtmap.org

71

Impact

72

• Since 1999, David Bohnett and the David Bohnett Foundation have contributed more than $14 million to LGBT organizations

73

Top Priorities

• LGBT Leadership Programs– David Bohnett Leadership Fellows at the Harvard Kennedy School– HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program

• Diversity – National Black Justice Coalition– Transgender Law Center– Immigration Equality

• David Bohnett CyberCenters

74

David Bohnett CyberCenters

75

National Organizations

76

So where does that leave us?

77

State & local initiatives

Federal administrative initiatives

Safe schools laws

Non-discrimination laws

Litigation

Public education

Engage LGBT community

Engage allies

Opportunities

78

LGBT Campus Centers Are a Growing Part of the LGBT Movement

79

Opportunities for You to Make a Difference

• Federal legislation: Congress needs to hear from you– Particularly on the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-

Harassment Act

• Get involved– State efforts (Equality Michigan; contact your state representative)– Efforts in your local home communities

• Support LGBT organizations– Volunteer– Donate (only about 4% of LGBT people donate to LGBT causes)

• Reach out– People more likely to support LGBT equality when they have talked

about the issues with someone they know 80

Questions?

81

Spectrum Center 40th Anniversary LectureThe University of Michigan

This Moment in the LGBT Movement

82