How do they compare: The Human Rights Campaign v. The Trevor Project
I chose to look into the social problems that plaque the LGBTQ society today. When researching more about the community I came across two major players that are both very involved in different ways but wanting the same results in the end. I came to the conclusion that both agencies are fighting for equality and acceptance. They cover a lot of bases and have grown in size and popularity since their beginnings. While one chooses to address the issues by changing laws, the other listens and creates life-saving measures to keep those marginalized safe in a society that doesn’t see them as equal yet.
History
The Human Rights campaign (HRC) and the Trevor Project (TP) have both been around for a while. The HRC was founded in 1980 and the TP in 1994. Both agencies fight for LGBTQ rights and are advocates for change. The HRC really started as a way to endorse candidates and get laws on the docket that are more inclusive. They now also advocate for other minorities and work solely to bring changes to the legislature and hopefully one day get the Equal Rights Act passed. The TP works mainly with youth and provides life-saving council and assistance when needed with their world’s largest suicide prevention hotline operated by thousands of volunteers world wide.
Client Profile
The HRC leads the fight for LGBTQ rights. Their clientele include all no matter their race, ethnicity, color of their skin, gender, etc. While the TP mainly caters to teens they are also all inclusive as they combine forces with many other agencies out there to make sure anyone who needs their help can get it. Neither agency discriminates as they want equality on all fronts.
Services Provided
The HRC offers many different services. There are links on their website to other organizations that try to achieve the same things they do. Education, research, work-place equality, transgender issues, HIV and health, Youth well-being, and so much more. The TP really has one main focus as they are the largest suicide prevention agency in the world catered to the LGBTQ youth. They do also provide education and training to teachers and allies and they are continually researching new ways and methods to help those that need it.
Staff Characteristics
The HRC has an impressive staff with a lot of diversity. They have staff that cover everything from marketing, training, research, litigation, and so much more. These people all have impressive skills to help further the causes the HRC fight for. The TP is run mainly by volunteers who receive intense training to handle all of the situations they can possibly encounter. They also have full-time staff in all areas of expertise to help them navigate the massive amount of help that is requested daily. They have a board of professionals that are just as dedicated as their volunteers to run the day to day operations and make sure that their agency continues to run smoothly.
Successes
Since both the HRC and the TP have been around for a while they have a lot of successes they can be proud of. Involvement with the passing of the Hate Crime Prevention Act in 2009, winning the fight against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that was finally overturned in 2011, and so much more.
Current Concerns
Currently the HRC is working to get the Equality act passed. There are still places of business that refuse to cater to the LGBTQ community. Those belonging to this community are still being discriminated against when it comes to housing, medical care, and so much more. With all the different bills currently in legislation against the trans community, the TP and the HRC are busier than ever and need to help more youth that don’t see their lives as valuable. The anti-trans bills already passed are damaging to the youth who identify under the trans umbrella and see their lives destroyed by those in power to create new laws and legislations against them.
Controversies
The HRC was in the news in 2022 when they refused to accept money from Disney while they did not fight the controversial “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill currently in Florida. The HRC put out a statement saying they would not accept donations from Disney until they saw Disney’s commitment to fight this injustice instead of staying silent. The TP also is not staying silent when they see others neglect the need for equality. They voice their concerns and let others know that they need to be vocal and not silent when they see the damage the world is currently doing when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
Longevity
The HRC will be around for a long time. They have already been a part of the fight for equality since 1980 and they still have many more fights left in them. While there is still inequality when it comes to the LGBTQ community, they will be there to push for legislation that will make us all more equal. The TP is also a massive agency that will only get bigger over time as more and more youth need help and support especially when legislation is out to eradicate them from the narrative.
References
https://www.hrc.org/about
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/our-team/
https://www.hrc.org/our-work
https://www.hrc.org/about/staff
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/advocacy/
https://www.hrc.org/campaigns/equality-act
https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-refuses-money-from-disney-until-meaningful-action-is-taken-to-combat-floridas-dont-say-gay-or-trans-bill
[Paper written for SOC 1020 class UVU Spring 2023]
Amy Brouwer . 2024 . All Right Reserved
