Equality Ohio gives Amy Acton a B after calling trans women men. HRC endorses multiple Democratic candidates who have taken major anti-trans votes. EITM investigates.
A vote is one thing. In a democracy one sometimes has to vote for people who have said pretty abhorrent things, because the other candidate is worse. Not voting is also a vote.
But public endorsements are entirely different. The HRC, et al., are under no obligation to endorse *anyone*. That should be earned, and if the candidate hasn't earned it: no endorsement. Otherwise that's a good reason to not endorse the endorser.
These organizations can quietly (behind the "official notice" scene) work for the lesser of two evils. But this just makes their endorsements worthless.
Good point! We’re faced with an authoritarian takeover. It may be that every vote matters. But organizations have power to persuade the candidates to do right by us. Instead, they’re being complicit with moving the Overton Window away from trans-inclusion and into the realm of persecution.
I haven't trusted the so-called "Human Rights" Campaign since the fall of 2007 (a couple months before my own little epiphany) when I read that Barney Frank, in an effort to get an ENDA through Congress, lopped transpeople off the bill, and got the blessing of the "HR"C. Names and faces change, but every time I see the so-called "HR"C speaking about trans rights, trying to pink-blue-and-whitewash its rep, I keep waiting for something like this on the other end. And here you go. 🤬🏳️⚧️🇺🇸
If this isn't a sign that trans people have little to no political power then I don't know what is. How can we have political power when we can't even get equality organizations to mount a full throated defense?
Seems this could be a useful counter point when arguing with bigots who seem to think that trans people are everywhere and driving all of this "identity politics".
The saddest part to me, all these democrats who keep insisting that we should stop the anti-trans campaign to focus on "kitchen table issues" or what ever don't also include a fight to reverse the anti-trans laws. They'd rather just abandon trans folks completely and call that a pro-trans position because at least things aren't getting worse.
When HRC has the chance to support a progressive who supports trans rights like Peggy Flanagan they instead choose to get behind a centrist like Angie Craig. They are comfortable with anti trans centrists as long as marriage equality is safe. I ended my donation to HRC last month
We are all facing terrible choices in the upcoming elections. And I hate the part where we have to choose the lesser of the two or multiple evils. We have to make a choice because our lives depend on it and we can still acknowledge that the choice we select is far from perfect.
I would rather see anti-trans Democrats lose every race than have a Democratic congress that does nothing for us except forestall the next assault on our rights by 24-48 months.
Erin, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and thank you for all of your political reporting. I have been wary of the HRC for some time, even delaying renewing my membership with them this year. This is the final straw. I will not give them any money this year, and I will write to them citing my reason why, with this article as a reference.
Exactly, Marie Véronique. I'll post my comment beneath yours because I think it fits well.
Reading Erin's article I thought, Where do they get their money? A quick search shows revenue, expenses, and key employee and officer compensation by year.
It feels to me like they're ,just running a business and it seems like they make their decisions based on that, not about "Human Rights" or more basically, *human beings*. Like us. The top three officers were paid (from contributors' money) a combined salary of 1,462,601 dollars in 2025. Oh, sorry. That's "compensation." "Other" income brings in another 119 ,766 dollars. Three people.
It makes me feel like they're just running a business. A very profitable business. I don't use foul language any more, but it comes to mind.
Interesting. That link indicates that these people fly first class on the donor dime. I guess their asses are too delicate for the budget-fare seats to which my ass is acclimated. Must be nice,
You are absolutely correct in your assessment. These large orgs are often just businesses - existing to exist, looking busy to keep donations rolling in.
What trans people learned back in the late 1990's is that HRC starts paying some attention when you call them on their BS - especially by protesting their fundraising dinners. Donors work hard for their money, and they don't want to give it to some organization that doesn't support the people they're supposed to support.
The HRC is actively harmful to trans people in its diversion of resources if for no other reason. Seems like Equality Ohio is as well. We cannot hold our noses and vote for those Dems. Just look at labour in the UK. The sad reality is that by abandoning trans people they've given up any meaningful seat at the table. They have sacrificed us and gained nothing.
Well, at least they are bothering generally to say they are bothered by it.
I feel there should be at least as much effort towards moving people where they ought to be, as meeting then where they are . . . if they are so little as in the ballpark. A buzzsaw of unrelenting counterfacts and opposition for who isn't.
It’s very simple. If they do not support transgender people, you don’t support their candidacy. The other option is to throw us under the bus. If they do that, they are not pro equality. They are transphobic hate groups. The end.
If there any ideas of how to message Equality Ohio (and other advocacy groups) more effectively please share. I sent the following to EO today:
Good afternoon,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment in the recent decision by Equality Ohio to award Amy Acton a grade of B despite her insulting remarks about transgender Ohioans and refusal to even clarify them, much less retract them.
I wonder whose equality your organization represents. If any of us are treated as unequal then we all suffer. What am I supposed to tell my trans son when he asks why Equality Ohio thinks misgendering transgender Ohioans deserves a “passing”’grade.
If you think there is too much at stake not to support imperfect candidates, think again. We have seen candidates win in other states without resorting to the demonization which Acton has exhibited. We have seen Seth Moulton lose a primary because he said things just as egregious as Acton.
This is not a time for timidity and cowardice. You are rewarding bad behavior instead of pursuing your mission. If you don’t hold weak Democrats accountable and withhold your support when they spit on you, I question whether you have much of a mission at all.
Meeting people where they are? So trans people should go down the dem platform, find issues that don’t impact us as much, and meet rightwingers in the middle on them? Gotcha!
Even in Blue California, EQCA endorsed Xavier Becerra in the primary despite his ambiguous statements about trans girls in sports, while Tom Steyer was appearing at events with AB Hernandez and being unequivocal in his support. Will we have another mess in California for an Equality org to clean up if Becerra tacks to the right in the general?
What is so frustrating is that every turn presents a step backward. Instead of being able to focus on the problematic politicians, energy and time has to now be spent holding the advocates accountable.
One of the more frustrating things I’ve encountered as I familiarize myself with this work is how unsupportive many gay and lesbian Americans are. It reminds me of the homophobia of so many in the Black family I married into. Oppression is no guarantee that you will stand up for other oppressed people or won’t oppress them yourself. The irrationality feels bottomless at times.
This conversation is months too late. The time to worry about this and make insightful endorsements was in the primary.
These orgs are making the right decisions. This is the time for damage control, and taking our ball and going home (i.e., not voting, or suggesting that voting doesn’t matter) only helps the people who want us dead and gone work faster.
I wanted a more progressive candidate to vote for in November, but the shittiest Democrat available and the lone republican won the primary (we have top two primaries). The only thing to do now is vote for the shitty democrat because at least they won’t vote for Mike Johnson to be speaker; that would at least allow better representatives to do better work. They also won’t rubber-stamp funding the president’s private army rounding up trans people when they run out of immigrants.
A vote is one thing. In a democracy one sometimes has to vote for people who have said pretty abhorrent things, because the other candidate is worse. Not voting is also a vote.
But public endorsements are entirely different. The HRC, et al., are under no obligation to endorse *anyone*. That should be earned, and if the candidate hasn't earned it: no endorsement. Otherwise that's a good reason to not endorse the endorser.
These organizations can quietly (behind the "official notice" scene) work for the lesser of two evils. But this just makes their endorsements worthless.
Good point! We’re faced with an authoritarian takeover. It may be that every vote matters. But organizations have power to persuade the candidates to do right by us. Instead, they’re being complicit with moving the Overton Window away from trans-inclusion and into the realm of persecution.
As an 84 year old gay man I am appalled by HRC. I have been disappointed by them for a long time. I'm ashamed of them.
I haven't trusted the so-called "Human Rights" Campaign since the fall of 2007 (a couple months before my own little epiphany) when I read that Barney Frank, in an effort to get an ENDA through Congress, lopped transpeople off the bill, and got the blessing of the "HR"C. Names and faces change, but every time I see the so-called "HR"C speaking about trans rights, trying to pink-blue-and-whitewash its rep, I keep waiting for something like this on the other end. And here you go. 🤬🏳️⚧️🇺🇸
If this isn't a sign that trans people have little to no political power then I don't know what is. How can we have political power when we can't even get equality organizations to mount a full throated defense?
Seems this could be a useful counter point when arguing with bigots who seem to think that trans people are everywhere and driving all of this "identity politics".
The saddest part to me, all these democrats who keep insisting that we should stop the anti-trans campaign to focus on "kitchen table issues" or what ever don't also include a fight to reverse the anti-trans laws. They'd rather just abandon trans folks completely and call that a pro-trans position because at least things aren't getting worse.
When HRC has the chance to support a progressive who supports trans rights like Peggy Flanagan they instead choose to get behind a centrist like Angie Craig. They are comfortable with anti trans centrists as long as marriage equality is safe. I ended my donation to HRC last month
We are all facing terrible choices in the upcoming elections. And I hate the part where we have to choose the lesser of the two or multiple evils. We have to make a choice because our lives depend on it and we can still acknowledge that the choice we select is far from perfect.
I would rather see anti-trans Democrats lose every race than have a Democratic congress that does nothing for us except forestall the next assault on our rights by 24-48 months.
They won't even forestall it. But it will teach other Dems to follow suit.
Erin, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and thank you for all of your political reporting. I have been wary of the HRC for some time, even delaying renewing my membership with them this year. This is the final straw. I will not give them any money this year, and I will write to them citing my reason why, with this article as a reference.
Exactly, Marie Véronique. I'll post my comment beneath yours because I think it fits well.
Reading Erin's article I thought, Where do they get their money? A quick search shows revenue, expenses, and key employee and officer compensation by year.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521243457
It feels to me like they're ,just running a business and it seems like they make their decisions based on that, not about "Human Rights" or more basically, *human beings*. Like us. The top three officers were paid (from contributors' money) a combined salary of 1,462,601 dollars in 2025. Oh, sorry. That's "compensation." "Other" income brings in another 119 ,766 dollars. Three people.
It makes me feel like they're just running a business. A very profitable business. I don't use foul language any more, but it comes to mind.
Interesting. That link indicates that these people fly first class on the donor dime. I guess their asses are too delicate for the budget-fare seats to which my ass is acclimated. Must be nice,
You are absolutely correct in your assessment. These large orgs are often just businesses - existing to exist, looking busy to keep donations rolling in.
What trans people learned back in the late 1990's is that HRC starts paying some attention when you call them on their BS - especially by protesting their fundraising dinners. Donors work hard for their money, and they don't want to give it to some organization that doesn't support the people they're supposed to support.
The HRC is actively harmful to trans people in its diversion of resources if for no other reason. Seems like Equality Ohio is as well. We cannot hold our noses and vote for those Dems. Just look at labour in the UK. The sad reality is that by abandoning trans people they've given up any meaningful seat at the table. They have sacrificed us and gained nothing.
Well, at least they are bothering generally to say they are bothered by it.
I feel there should be at least as much effort towards moving people where they ought to be, as meeting then where they are . . . if they are so little as in the ballpark. A buzzsaw of unrelenting counterfacts and opposition for who isn't.
Thank you Mrs. Reed.
It’s very simple. If they do not support transgender people, you don’t support their candidacy. The other option is to throw us under the bus. If they do that, they are not pro equality. They are transphobic hate groups. The end.
If there any ideas of how to message Equality Ohio (and other advocacy groups) more effectively please share. I sent the following to EO today:
Good afternoon,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment in the recent decision by Equality Ohio to award Amy Acton a grade of B despite her insulting remarks about transgender Ohioans and refusal to even clarify them, much less retract them.
I wonder whose equality your organization represents. If any of us are treated as unequal then we all suffer. What am I supposed to tell my trans son when he asks why Equality Ohio thinks misgendering transgender Ohioans deserves a “passing”’grade.
If you think there is too much at stake not to support imperfect candidates, think again. We have seen candidates win in other states without resorting to the demonization which Acton has exhibited. We have seen Seth Moulton lose a primary because he said things just as egregious as Acton.
This is not a time for timidity and cowardice. You are rewarding bad behavior instead of pursuing your mission. If you don’t hold weak Democrats accountable and withhold your support when they spit on you, I question whether you have much of a mission at all.
Meeting people where they are? So trans people should go down the dem platform, find issues that don’t impact us as much, and meet rightwingers in the middle on them? Gotcha!
Can we discuss the Foster Care system entitlements issue for queer kids?
https://thistleandmoss.com/p/rot-at-the-top-ice-at-the-bottom-and-kids-left-holding-the-fucking-bag#queerisms-where-are-we-today
Even in Blue California, EQCA endorsed Xavier Becerra in the primary despite his ambiguous statements about trans girls in sports, while Tom Steyer was appearing at events with AB Hernandez and being unequivocal in his support. Will we have another mess in California for an Equality org to clean up if Becerra tacks to the right in the general?
What is so frustrating is that every turn presents a step backward. Instead of being able to focus on the problematic politicians, energy and time has to now be spent holding the advocates accountable.
One of the more frustrating things I’ve encountered as I familiarize myself with this work is how unsupportive many gay and lesbian Americans are. It reminds me of the homophobia of so many in the Black family I married into. Oppression is no guarantee that you will stand up for other oppressed people or won’t oppress them yourself. The irrationality feels bottomless at times.
This conversation is months too late. The time to worry about this and make insightful endorsements was in the primary.
These orgs are making the right decisions. This is the time for damage control, and taking our ball and going home (i.e., not voting, or suggesting that voting doesn’t matter) only helps the people who want us dead and gone work faster.
I wanted a more progressive candidate to vote for in November, but the shittiest Democrat available and the lone republican won the primary (we have top two primaries). The only thing to do now is vote for the shitty democrat because at least they won’t vote for Mike Johnson to be speaker; that would at least allow better representatives to do better work. They also won’t rubber-stamp funding the president’s private army rounding up trans people when they run out of immigrants.