HRC, the Human Rights Campaign, is an ardent supporter of marriage equality for same-sex couples. But now, it seems, HRC is supporting marriage equality so both same-sex and opposite-sex weddings can benefit HRC’s coffers. In a new marketing campaign, HRC writes, “Instead of the usual toasters and cake mixers, HRC is partnering with couples across the state of New York and all around the nation to create HRC Wedding Registries where couples can encourage their friends and families to support the work of LGBT equality in honor of a wedding celebration.”
Shameless.
HRC actually wants to use same-sex couples’ wedding registries as their corporate credit card.
HRC knows no shame — and this crosses a very big line.
At The New Civil Rights Movement, we support marriage equality as a concept because it’s the right thing to do, and because we believe in supporting our community. We focus on the morality of equality, not the financial benefits that accompany equality because people marry for love, not tax benefits. Positioning marriages as vehicles to make money is shameless. To have HRC, “the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization,” look at marriage equality as a cash cow, an opportunity to add to their coffers, not a civil rights issue but a money-making opportunity really is offensive.
There are many within our community that like to bash HRC. I, for one, tend to find that counter-productive, but when they cross the line, as they have done here, they need to be told.
HRC’s new site, “Millions for Marriage Equality Wedding Registry” sounds like something their accountants made up. Are the “Millions” people or dollars? The site isn’t even hosted by HRC, but by their marketing partner, Convio.
Convio states, “In 2010 alone, our clients used Convio software and services to raise more than $1.3 billion dollars online, send more than 4 billion emails, power more than 32 million advocacy actions and manage relationships with more than 248 million constituents.”
We have to wonder, is HRC a marketing organization, or a civil rights lobby group?
Had HRC hosted it as a service, perhaps even with the purchase of an HRC membership, and not had their fundraising partner Convio host the site as a temporary money-maker, perhaps it might be easier to embrace the idea. Certainly many couples would like the opportunity to forgo gifts in lieu of a donation made in their name. But this goes to far. It’s not just what HRC has done, but how they did it.
Michael Cole-Schwartz, HRC’s Press Secretary, in an email exchange told me, “Our wedding registry is a voluntary way for couples (both same- and opposite-sex) who are getting married to contribute to the marriage equality fight. Many couples request that in lieu of gifts, people celebrating their wedding by donating to a charity and our program is no different than other organizations including Empire State Pride Agenda that is running a similar program. We have had a wedding registry feature available for years and it has been tremendously successful judging by the reaction we get from couples who were thrilled to be able to contribute in this way.”
He adds, “Secondly, winning these fights takes resources. HRC spent $1 million on our NY effort including employing 30 field organizers around the state that helped generate more than 150K constituent contacts to Senators. Resources are going to be required in other places facing these fights and for those that wish to use their wedding as an opportunity to fund future equality efforts, our wedding registry provide an easy opportunity.â€
Yes, it takes money to move equality forward, especially when our anti-equality opponents are spending oodles of cash from unnamed donors and from the very deep pockets of the religious right and the Catholic Church. But when you try to use my wedding for your credit card, that takes the sanctity out of marriage and tells me it’s not about marriage, it’s about cash.
HRC needs to drop this campaign and apologize to the LGBT community for treating our weddings and our marriages so callously. A wedding and a marriage are not marketing opportunities. They are solemn, often spiritual occasions that deserve more respect than HRC has shown them.
And you know, right now, I’d rather give my money to Williams-Sonoma than to Solmonese & Co.