Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force
A Report to Members and Foundations

January 1996 to April 1997

Executive Summary
With the support of the Board, members, volunteers, and community partners, the Task Force's leadership role in civil and human rights advocacy expanded significantly over the period. Overall, our community-based research efforts in 1996 focused on the organization and publication of The Study of Discrimination and Violence Against Lesbian and Gay People in the City of Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [Larry Gross, Ph.D. and Steven Aurand] in tandem with labor-intensive public information and education efforts focused on:

(1) organizing the Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative to educate the Pennsylvania legislature, in part, and to engage the community statewide in a collaborative effort to support the introduction of an inclusive civil rights bill to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and in education;

(2) maintaining the Anti-Discrimination and Violence Hotline and providing extensive support in selected cases particularly related to education, workplace or neighborhood harassment, and police issues in Philadelphia and various Pennsylvania counties;

(3) supporting the implementation of Philadelphia's Policy 102 [multiracial-multicultural-gender studies], a long and arduous process, and supporting, extensively, the besieged community of Elizabethtown, PA in its principled struggle for fair curricula and instructional policies against a conservative and right wing board;

(4) organizing a mass-media directed No-On-Two Campaign

and obtaining the support of prestigious civil and human rights leaders locally in this effort;

(5) organizing various communication policy briefings; convening, for the first time, a broad array of scholars and diverse minority and feminist community leaders to participate in Civil Rights Roundtable discussions with broadcast and print media CEO's; producing a specially funded 30-second youth-focused television public service announcement (psa) for commercial broadcast; providing information and resources to local and state reporters; and, engaging in crisis-intervention when necessary; and

(6) closing the Broadcast Litigation Project (1989-1996).

In FY 1996, the Task Force raised about $140,000 in revenues comparable to 1995 revenues and significantly less than our average $200,000 budget. Membership remained stable and contributions, largely from United Way donors, decreased by about $10,000. [The audit is available to donors on request and/or is available for review at our offices without an appointment.] [corrected]

The Study

With the support of our members, community partners, and several foundations [most particularly, CoreStates and the FD2 Foundation], the Task Force completed and in June released its Study of Discrimination and Violence Against Lesbian and Gay People in the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [Larry Gross, Ph.D. and Steven Aurand]. The survey was launched, one year earlier, at a high-profile press conference joined by Claudia Brenner, whose lover was murdered on the AppalachianTrail in Pennsylvania.

The Study with 3086 respondents is the largest survey of its kind in the United States. It is informed by race and gender analysis and assesses the current incidence of hate-based discrimination and violence as well as trends over time. Together with our policy and program recommendations, it serves as a primary tool in negotiations with public policymakers and private sector leaders to effect meaningful and long-range socio-legal change on behalf of our many communities.

Overall, the 1996 Pennsylvania-wide study [1746 men and 1340 women] shows that more than one of every two respondents experienced sexual orientation discrimination at some point in their lives. Within a one-year period, discrimination in employment and public accommodations rose. While there were less marked differences among respondents in lifetime discrimination rates, African American women, locally, reported higher levels of employment discrimination than their Philadelphia white counterparts over a one-year period, a level comparable to Pennsylvania women and men.

Across all locations, the majority of the sample reported high levels of fear of discrimination and of concealment to avoid discriminatory treatment. Locally and statewide, men were more likely than women to experience criminal victimization. Respondents, overall, were about one and one-half to three and one-half times more likely to suffer anti-gay criminal violence with higher levels of victimization experienced by Philadelphians. Over a lifetime, white gay men in Philadelphia reported higher levels of criminal victimization than all other respondents; on an annual basis, African American women and men reported higher levels of victimization levels including: physical and sexual assault rates and AIDS-related abuse. Similarly, family abuse and police victimization rates were higher among African American respondents locally. Across the state, lesbian women and most particularly gay men reported high levels of abuse within school settings.

In comparing the Task Force's 1992 and 1996 studies, we found that discrimination increased slightly to moderately, particularly among lesbian respondents, and that criminal victimization decreased slightly, a finding consistent with national crime victimization surveys.

[A copy of the 72-page report is available to donors. A four-page executive summary is available on request, generally.]

[corrected]

The Pennsylvania Civil Rights Initiative

In August 1996 and continuing, the Task Force called on the Pennsylvania community to renew its commitment to a collaborative effort focused on obtaining statewide civil rights protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, and in education. While five cities [Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh as well as Lancaster and York] have expanded civil rights protection to include the category "sexual orientation", nearly one million lesbian and gay people statewide remain subject to unfair discriminatory practices without legal recourse [Philadelphia (1982) is the only 1 of 67 counties, statewide, with full civil rights protections, a campaign led by the Task Force].

Over the September 1996 through May 1997 period, The Task Force convened, in cooperation with local organizations and leaders, a series of meetings to brainstorm strategies to guide a successful Pennsylvania Civil Rights Campaign and to debate Core Principles to guide this process. Nearly 150 people, to date, have participated in a total of eight organizing meetings [Philadelphia, 55 participants; Harrisburg, 40; Lancaster, 12; and Pittsburgh, 35]. At a recent Pittsburgh meeting [May 3], activists proposed a statewide conference in August to determine the decision making structure and processes necessary to engage in a collaborative and challenging long-range campaign for full civil and human rights.

[Please see Attachment 1: A Review of USA Civil Rights Statutes and Pennsylvania's Core Principles. For a full copy of the Task Force's Civil Rights Briefing Packet, September 1996 (20 pages), please call. ]

Briefing for Pennsylvania Legislators: Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA

Over a six month period [October through March], the public education component of this campaign centered on the organization of a combined Task Force

Legislators' Briefing and press conference on the Study by co-author Larry Gross, Ph.D. With the labor intensive support of Shae Marconi, Temple University intern; Justin Deabler, Swarthmore College intern, with Dr. Ghazala Anwar, 20 state officials [6 of 50 senators and 14 of 203 representatives] and various staff representatives joined the March 11 briefing at the Mass Media Center in the state capitol building in Harrisburg, PA. Representative Ivan Itkin [D-Pittsburgh], Representative Thomas Michlovic [D-Allegheny], and Representative Benjamin Ramos [D-Philadelphia] each spoke eloquently from the stage in response to reporters questions. Representative Anthony H. Williams [D], Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Delegation, joined members on the stage [an audiotape is available]. To date, Senator Christine Tartaglione [D-Philadelphia] and Senator Allyson Schwartz [D-Philadelphia] have agreed to cosponsor a civil rights bill inclusive of employment, housing, public accommodations, and education, inclusive of the categories sexual orientation and gender identity.

have agreed verbally to cosponsor an inclusive civil rights bill.

Civil Rights Crisis Intervention:

The Discrimination and Violence Hotline...Amendment 2...and Domestic Partnership

Over the period, the Task Force sustained the Discrimination and Violence Hotline and provided general resources and referrals to callers throughout the state. In addition, the Task Force provided substantial support and intervention - at no cost - to people who experienced serious workplace discrimination or hate-based violence incidents (e.g. physical assaults, verbal assault if within school settings, police abuse or negligence, worksite or neighborhood harassment) as well child custody and landowner/tenant disputes).

In anticipation of local officials' continuing hostility to domestic partnership, we convened several meetings between potential plaintiffs and attorneys to examine the feasibility of domestic partnership litigation given the city's then-failure to act; when attacked by the Philadelphia City Council President and religious leaders in the early summer, we responded through mass media and through a community petition drive calling for domestic partnership legislation for both gay and non-gay people.

In May 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court in Romer v. Evans held that Colorado's Amendment 2 violated the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution [litigation led by Lambda LDEF]. In response, the Task Force, in cooperation with Grassroots Queers, organized an Independence Hall Rally to celebrate a victorious No-On-Two Campaign. [On October 10, 1995, as the Court heard oral argument, a broad array of civil rights leaders joined the Task Force at a highly-charged press conference to raise public consciousness about the issues attendant to Amendment 2 and the conservative backlash against civil rights nationwide. ]

Education: In Philadelphia, Elizabethtown, and Pennsylvania

In the early winter and spring of 1996, the Task Force convened a series of collaborative meetings with GLSTN [Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Teachers Network/Philadelphia] and with the Attic Youth Group [Carrie Jacobs, Ph.D.] to reevaluate education equity strategies locally. In order to support the implementation of Policy 102 [Multiracial-cultural-gender education], Larry Gross, Ph.D., CoChair, agreed to serve on a small and select panel under the aegis of a local foundation, to evaluate the Philadelphia School District's compliance with the policy adopted unanimously in January 1994. In the spring, on the request of the District, Kathryn Furano, Co-Chair, participated with 150 people in a first attempt to draft "performance standards" based on the Superintendent's misnamed 'Children Achieving Agenda' which in effect supplants and decenters Policy 102. In Philadelphia, we remain in search of qualified and ideologically progressive women and men willing to serve on the Board of Education, a body appointed by the Mayor.

[An Education Chronology: Post 1993, constructed for evaluation purposes, is available to donors.]

In the winter of 1996 and continuing in 1997, the Task Force played a central leadership role in supporting the Elizabethtown, PA community in a highly organized and principled struggle against a nefarious anti-family diversity policy. The policy defames diverse family forms and prohibits teaching about lesbian and gay people and issues in curricula and coursework. Promulgated by the Concerned Women of America, a multimillion dollar national right-wing organization, this discriminatory policy, despite the extraordinary public opposition of the community, was adopted unanimously by a stealth religious right-wing Board [6 of 9 members] with the agreement of 3 members perceived within the community as "moderates."

In February 1997, Deborah Sieger, Ph.D. participated in one of two Task

Force organized press conferences. Joined by a wide range of non-gay parents, teachers, students, and academics as well as several lesbian and gay clergy, the conferences were intended and were successful in promoting public discourse about the debilitating and sometimes brutal impact of discrimination in the lives of both gay

and non-gay children [an audiotape is available]. The Task Force is proceeding with various organizing strategies to effect the policy's elimination and to implement state education regulations and equity policies adopted as a result of our 1993 education campaign. In tandem, we are assessing the feasibility of litigation in cooperation with Lambda, NY. The community is engaged in identifying equity-driven Board of Education candidates for the spring primary election and in supporting local education equity organizing efforts. The Board has obtained the pro bono legal support of the Rutherford Institute, a multi-million dollar right-wing litigation firm [10 million/annual budget].

In July 1997, we will be meeting with the Pennsylvania Governor's Cabinet to discuss various civil rights and education issues. Eugene Hickock, a Heritage Fellow [a right-wing think tank] who has been appointed Secretary of Education by Republican Governor Thomas Ridge, will participate in this briefing.

[Please see Attachment 2: Abstract of Pennsylvania Education Policies and Regulations. In addition, an extensive education equity documentation packet is available at cost. Summary documents are also available on request.]

Mass Media: Local, State, and Federal

In 1996, media outreach focused on preparation for the release of (1) the 1996 Study, (2) preparations for the U.S. Supreme Court's release of its decision in Romer v. Evans [Colorado Amendment 2], and (3) a Task Force funding alert. We sustained our commitment to engage in educational briefings with senior level editors and managers [Westinghouse-10, formerly CBS/WCAU- 10 as well as Knight Ridder's Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News]; we participated in various news and public affairs programs where such venues still exist and provided extensive information and resources to reporters on request.

In 1996, the Task Force restructured and expanded its standard briefing schedule and format with communications policymakers. For the first time, we invited

non-gay community leaders [and many agreed] from a diverse range of organizations to participate in Civil Rights Roundtable discussions to support our common social justice goals. In February, we convened an executive level meeting between a diverse public interest panel and Max King, executive editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer with his editorial and feature editors. In October, we organized and hosted a first-time briefing between 15 broadcast CEOs [ten television and five radio CEOs] with ten diverse civil and human rights leaders joined by mass media scholars from the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, locally. [These formal 2 hour collaborative briefings will be organized on a biannual basis. The next television meeting is planned for June/July 1997.

In 1996, the Task Force closed the Broadcast Litigation Project [1989-1996]. Over the period, the Federal Communications Commission [Commission] granted unconditional license renewal in 21 of 24 programming petitions to deny license renewal applications and granted conditional renewal in 3 of 6 EEO challenges. Conditions included increased reporting requirements and the levy of fines between $12,000 and $14,000 each [Westinghouse WMMR FM; Beasley Broadcast WXTU FM; and Spectacor WIP AM]. Not unexpectedly, community-based attempts to halt corporate license transfers in 1995-6 failed [e.g. locally, the transfer of Paramount Communications to Fox re: WTXF TV and the Westinghouse/CBS partnership merger]. In sum, the Commission granted broadcasters the right to maintain a free license to operate the public airwaves absent any public interest standards or public accountability.

The promise of citizen participation in the license renewal process [the 1935 Communications Act] remains empty rhetoric. Each of the Commission's decisions consciously ignored extensive documentation of and community-based opposition to broadcasters' neglect of its public trusteeship role and its failure to reach race and gender parity. In 1996, the Commission's betrayal of its mandate to protect the public interest has been echoed by the U.S. Congress in its adoption of the Telecommunications Act which has cemented the deregulatory process and by the Department of Justice which has refused to initiate anti-trust suits against unprecedented media mergers/partnerships between and among U.S. based multinational corporations. Overall, the Act has and will promote the increasing concentration of wealth, power, and information control in the hands of a few corporate elite with no public interest quid pro quo.

[Please see Attachment 3: Summary Grid of FCC Decisions, Excerpt from the Broadcast Litigation Project Review: Petition to Deny license Renewal Applications of Commercial and NonCommercial Broadcasters in Philadelphia, PA [1989-1996].

Board and Community Participation and Support

In 1996-7, the Board of Directors welcomed new directors including Tom Patterson, formerly Core States Senior Vice President and Deborah Sieger, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work at Kutztown University; most recently, Allen Model, President of the Model Foundation, joined the Advisory Board. Throughout the year, all Board members participated in various donor meetings; several board members, as well, were featured speakers at significant community events including: Co-Chairs Kathryn Furano and Larry Gross, Ph.D. and members Linda Flood, Deborah Sieger, Ph.D. with former board member John R. Taylor, Esq.

Board Advisors provided counsel and support throughout the year; several Advisers, especially, Nolan Bowie, Esq., Judge John Braxton, Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Paul Thomas, Ed.D. played an important role in mass media, education, and/or civil rights briefings. In concert, advisors, board members, and volunteers played a significant role in accessing foundation grants including: Advisors Reverned Paul Washington and Marvin E. Wolfgang, Ph.D.; board member Tom Patterson; volunteers Debbie Billings and Hugh Dillon, and others who prefer anonymity.

Over the June 1995 - June 1996 period, community organizing efforts attendant to the Study obtained the support of more than 100 organizations and 20 news media, locally and statewide, which enabled the data collection and pre-publicity phase of this comprehensive project [Please see the Community Partnership Acknowledgment 4-page grid which is available on request if not attached]. In 1996-7, more than twenty non-gay allies and ally organizations collaborated in various critical and timely public educational briefings about shared social justice goals [ please see notes 1 - 5].

Gay and Lesbian organizations and news media provided vigorous support over the period, most particularly, Amazon Country, the Attic Youth Group, Core States/Mosaic, Crossroads [Central Pennsylvania], Diversity of Pride [which organizes two highly attended public events annually], GALLOP, Giovanni's Room, Grassroots Queers, LuvGrams, Metropolitan Community Church (Lancaster); Minority AIDS Project, Out Music, Planet Q [Pittsburgh], Pride Weekly, Triangle Interest, and York Area Lambda.

Fund Development: The Task Force Holds the Line

While carrying out labor intensive program commitments and responding to various political assaults, the Task Force endeavored to increase individual giving and to obtain local corporate and foundation funding. We appreciate each donor's gift and particularly those corporate and foundation CEOs who have exercised moral leadership and political will on behalf of human rights. [corrected]

Foundation and Corporate Leaders

In 1996, Core States and the FD2 Foundation each contributed $25,000 to support our civil and human rights work; we obtained, as well, a United Way CDF grant of $10,000 and a number of smaller grants ranging from $2000 to $5,000 [Model, Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust, and the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, respectively]. In 1997, the William Penn Foundation [$39,000] and the Fels Fund [$7,500] generously renewed their support for our civil and human rights work.

In 1996, the Task Force "held the line." We did not succeed in increasing membership. In contrast, membership support remained stable while contributions decreased by about $10,000 primarily among United Way donors [which may or may not represent an effect of unemployment]. Given the establishment of new accounting standards, we did recognize in 1996 a $117,000 bequest by Mr. Robert Whiting, a major gift donor; we hope to receive this generous gift by 1999.

Total revenues in 1996, excluding the bequest, reached $140,000, nearly equivalent to 1995 revenues, representing an equal ratio of foundation to individual giving. Bare-bone expenses were $178,000 compared to bare-bone expenses of $210,000 in 1995, attributable largely to a one-third reduction in staff [2 vs. 3 staff] with substantial decreases in contract services and in communications. The fund balance, year end, was about $23,000. [Please see, 1996 FY Audit attached or available on request to foundations and donors.]

Note:

A summary of attachments as well as cited material and audiotapes available on request follows for your convenience.

Summary of Attachments:

Attachment 1: A Review of USA Civil Rights Statutes and Pennsylvania's Core Principles. For a full copy of the Task Force's Civil Rights Briefing Packet, September 1996 (20 pages) and Core Principles (1 page), please call. ]

Attachment 2: Abstract of Pennsylvania Education Policies and Regulations. In addition, an extensive education equity documentation packet is available at cost. Summary documents are also available on request.]

Attachment 3: Summary Grid of FCC Decisions, Excerpt from the Broadcast Litigation Project Review: Petition to Deny license Renewal Applications of Commercial and NonCommercial Broadcasters in Philadelphia, PA [1989-1996].

Cited Materials Available on Request

1. Study of Discrimination and Violence [1996, 72 pages]

2. Civil Rights Briefing Packet, September 1996... [20 pages]

3. Education Equity Documentation Packet, current [200 pages]

Summary Reports are also available [1-4 pages]

5. Notes from the Field: A Review of the Task Force's Broadcast Litigation Project, 1989-1996 [3 pages and attachments]

6. FY 1996 Audit

Audiotapes

o October 1996 Broadcast Civil Rights Roundtable

o January-February 1997 Elizabethtown, PA press conferences

o March 11, 1997 Harrisburg, PA press conference