Chad Griffin
Chad Griffin | |
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Born | Chad Hunter Griffin[1] July 16, 1973[2] |
Occupation | Political strategist |
Known for | Founding American Foundation for Equal Rights |
Title | President, Human Rights Campaign |
Term | June 11, 2012 – present |
Board member of | American Foundation for Equal Rights, Make It Right Foundation New Orleans |
Chad Hunter Griffin (born July 16, 1973) is an American political strategist best known for his work advocating for LGBT rights in the United States.
Griffin got his start in politics volunteering for the Bill Clinton presidential campaign, which led to a position in the White House Press Office at the age of 19. Following his stint in the White House and his graduation from Georgetown University, he led a number of political campaigns advocating for or against various California ballot initiatives, as well as a number of fundraising efforts for political candidates, such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Following the 2008 passage of California's highly publicized Proposition 8, which barred the recognition of same-sex marriage, Griffin founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) to overturn the law. AFER's challenge, Perry v. Brown was ultimately successful following a decision by the United States Supreme Court in June 2013. In 2012, Griffin was appointed president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT rights organization in the United States.
Early years
[edit]Griffin was born in Hope, Arkansas, and grew up 45 miles to the northeast in Arkadelphia. While attending Ouachita Baptist University, he volunteered for the 1992 presidential campaign of Bill Clinton, and, following the election, received a job offer from Dee Dee Myers to join the transition team and administration. Griffin dropped out of college and became, at the age of 19, the youngest-ever member of a presidential staff. He worked as a White House Press Office manager for two years. There, he also acted as White House liaison to the 1995 film The American President, where he met producer Rob Reiner. Griffin went on to lead Reiner's charitable foundation and to work with Reiner on numerous political efforts, including the founding of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). AFER is a nonprofit organization formed to challenge the federal constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which limited legal recognition of marriage in California to opposite-sex couples. After leaving the White House, Griffin entered the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, from which he graduated in 1997.[3]
LGBT rights activism
[edit]Griffin, who is himself gay, is best known for his work advocating LGBT rights, often citing the elevated rate of suicide among gay teens as motivation. In 2008, Griffin was selected as one of The Advocate's People of the Year, and in 2013, Griffin was placed 16th on Out magazine's "Power 50" list of the 50-most powerful LGBT individuals in the United States, moving up from 20th, 28th and 29th positions in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.[4]
American Foundation for Equal Rights
[edit]Griffin and Reiner founded AFER in 2008 to challenge the federal constitutionality of California's Proposition 8. Prior to AFER's founding, Griffin had raised funds and produced television ads for the "No on 8" campaign. This was Griffin's first professional work on LGBT rights. Following Proposition 8's passage in 2008, Griffin and Reiner reflected on the No campaign's failure, and the possibility of mounting a federal legal challenge. An acquaintance of Reiner's suggested speaking to conservative lawyer Theodore Olson, who supported the challenge and soon began research on the case. Griffin saw the case and Olson's support as an opportunity to frame the same-sex marriage debate in nonpartisan terms. It was Olson who later suggested recruiting the contrastingly liberal David Boies as co-counsel, the two had previously litigated opposite sides of Bush v. Gore. Griffin approached Boies, who quickly accepted.[5][6]
Meanwhile, Griffin began discussing the potential case with other LGBT rights organizations. Many of those organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights opposed a federal lawsuit, seeing it as "reckless" and expressing fear that a loss at the Supreme Court could be "devastating". These same groups would later ask to intervene in the lawsuit, an attempt which Griffin fought and which was ultimately unsuccessful. In a letter to the leaders of those organizations, Griffin wrote "You have unrelentingly and unequivocally acted to undermine this case even before it was filed. In light of this, it is inconceivable that you would zealously and effectively litigate this case if you were successful in intervening."[citation needed] Griffin also expressed concern that intervention would complicate the trial, making it less efficient and would, as a result, ultimately weaken their case.[5][7]
In May 2009 AFER announced its creation after filing their lawsuit, now styled Hollingsworth v. Perry, which argued that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional on equal protection and due process grounds. The lawsuit's plaintiffs are two same-sex couples, Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo. Governor of California Jerry Brown and other state officials are listed as defendants in their official capacities. Perry was successful at district court and at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In December 2012, the Supreme Court agreed to review the 9th Circuit ruling, and held in June 2013 that the proponents of Proposition 13 had lacked standing for their appeals to the 9th Circuit and Supreme Court, which left the district court ruling intact. On June 28, California resumed marrying same-sex couples.[5][8][9]
Other LGBT-related activism
[edit]In 2012, Griffin was selected to succeed Joe Solmonese as president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT advocacy and political lobbying organization in the United States. His appointment was well received by many in the LGBT community, including Cleve Jones, R. Clarke Cooper, and Transgender Law Center executive director Masen Davis. Griffin assumed his new role on June 11, 2012.[10]
In May 2012, Griffin asked a question which, in part, led Vice President Joe Biden to publicly share his support for same-sex marriage. In a May 2012 Meet the Press appearance, Biden recounted that, at a private dinner with LGBT campaign donors, he had been asked "How do you feel about us?" The dinner was being held at the home of a gay couple and their two children, and Biden told the parents: "I wish every American could see the look of love that those kids had in their eyes for you guys. And they wouldn't have any doubt about what this is about."[citation needed] Barack Obama announced his own support a few days later, becoming the first sitting United States president to do so.[11]
Griffin was one of several executive producers of the 2009 documentary Outrage, which investigated allegations of homosexuality among a series of political figures who had worked against LGBT rights. Griffin was selected to help raise funds for its production.[12]
Other work
[edit]Prior to his work opposing Proposition 8, Griffin has been involved in supporting or opposing a variety of other California ballot initiatives. In 1998, Reiner hired Griffin to lead an effort to pass California Proposition 10. Proposition 10 created a tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products sold in California, and directed that income toward early childhood education efforts under the First 5 California Commission. That commission's executive director, Kristin Perry, later became the named plaintiff in Perry v. Brown. In 2004, Griffin was campaign director for California Proposition 71, which authorized the sale of three billion dollars in general obligation bonds to fund stem cell research. Two years later, Griffin led the unsuccessful campaign for passage of California Proposition 87, which would have established a tax on oil extraction in the state. Funds were to have been used to for alternative energy and energy efficiency efforts. Prior to these initiatives, in 2003, Griffin ran the Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, which successfully advocated for wilderness protection of what became the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. Jason Schwartzman shadowed Griffin during this campaign in preparation for Schwartzman's role as the head of an environmental group in the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees.[13]
Griffin's recent work also includes political fundraising for candidates, his clients have included Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He was a member of the national finance committee for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, and raised over $300,000 in that effort. Griffin also sits on the board of Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation New Orleans, which works to build houses for those who lost homes in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Griffin and his former partner Jerome Fallon attended a White House dinner in 2012.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Geidner, Chris (May 5, 2012). "Rise of the Griffin". Metro Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- ^ Summers, Claude J. (October 10, 2012). "Griffin, Chad". glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ For Griffin's childhood:
- Nuss, Jeannie (July 6, 2012). "Gay Rights Leader Lets Ark. Roots Take the Reins". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- Peacock, Leslie Newell (December 10, 2009). "From Wal-Mart to the White House". Arkansas Times. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- "Up Close ... Chad Griffin". The Beaver County Times. April 27, 1993. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- O'Connor, Anne-Marie (November 1, 2000). "Keeping Stars Bright Politically". Los Angeles Times. p. B1. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ For Griffin's motivations:
- Harmon, Andrew (May 2010). "Forty Under 40: Chad Griffin". The Advocate. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- "Largest LGBT advocacy group names new president". CBS News. March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
- Daunt, Tina (December 20, 2008). "No answer to their prayers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- "Who's On Top: Power List 2013". Out. April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- "The Power List". Out. April 26, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- "Fifth Annual Power 50". Out. April 11, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- "4th Annual Power 50". Out. December 20, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ Martel, Ned (July 25, 2012). "New head of Human Rights Campaign aims to stop losing streak for gay marriage". Washington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ For attempts to intervene in Perry:
- Greenesmith, Heron (Fall 2010). "Futile Arguments: Lawrence v. Texas and the Supreme Court Bar". Am U. Modern Am. 6 (47): 51. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- Griffin's letter opposing intervention, July 8, 2009, archived by the Daily Journal, Retrieved December 6, 2012.
- ^ For appeals:
- Gullo, Karen (July 31, 2012). "Gay Marriage Opponents Ask Supreme Court to Review Case". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- Liptak, Adam (December 7, 2012). "Supreme Court to Take Up Gay Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- Reporting., Adam Liptak; Scott Shane Contributed (March 27, 2013). "Justices Say Time May Be Wrong for Ruling on Gay Marriage". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ Liptak, Adam (June 27, 2013). "Supreme Court Bolsters Gay Marriage With Two Major Rulings". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
- ^ For reception of Griffin's appointment:
- Bajko, Matthew S. (March 15, 2012). "Griffin wants to leave HRC's past behind". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- Bajko, Matthew S. (August 3, 2012). "HRC pick largely praised". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- "Will New HRC President Be a Game Changer". The Advocate. April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- Scott, Lauren (June 11, 2012). "Anti-bullying press conference at state capitol". KTHV. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ^ For Biden and Obama's support of same-sex marriage:
- Eggen, Dan (May 9, 2012). "The Influence Industry: Same-sex marriage issue shows importance of gay fundraisers". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- Yellin, Jessica (May 10, 2012). "Reports Biden Floated Trial Balloon on Same Sex Marriage Policy Disputed". CNN. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- Lee, Carol E. (May 10, 2012). "Obama Says He Supports Gay Marriage". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- "May 6: Joe Biden, Kelly Ayotte, Diane Swonk, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd - Meet the Press - Transcripts". NBC News. May 6, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- ^ For Outrage:
- Daunt, Tina (May 8, 2009). "Politics behind naming names". Los Angeles Times. p. D1. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Anderson, John (April 27, 2009). "Variety Reviews - Outrage". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ For Proposition 10:
- Svetvilas, Chuleenan (January 2010). "Challenging Prop. 8: The Hidden Story". California Lawyer. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- York, Anthony (September 2, 1999). "Life of the party?". Salon. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- "First 5 California announces new executive director (press release)" (PDF). First 5 California Commission. June 23, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- Peacock, Leslie Newell (December 10, 2009). "From Wal-Mart to the White House". Arkansas Times. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Calvan, Bobby Caina (March 1, 2004). "$3B Sought in Calif. for Stem Cell Research". The Boston Globe. p. A3. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
- "Hollywood playing huge election role". ScrippsNews. October 30, 2006. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- Harmon, Andrew (May 2010). "Forty Under 40: Chad Griffin". The Advocate. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- Hirsch, Jerry (January 1, 2003). "Ahmanson Ranch Protesters Turn Up the Heat on Sizzler Chairman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- Russell, David O.; Baena, Jeff (November 17, 2004). I Heart Huckabees: the shooting script. Newmarket Press. ISBN 978-1-55704-656-7. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
He went and spent time with activists like Chad Griffin, who was fighting to save a huge tract of land in the Santa Monica mountains. Jason gave himself to soaking up everything he could to become this character.
- ^ For Clinton as client:
- Johnson, Ted (July 18, 2007). "Clinton, Obama draw most donors". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- O'Donnell, Norah (May 10, 2012). "Same-sex marriage move may help Obama raise cash". CBS News. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- Carlson, Erin (October 31, 2012). "Brad Pitt Donates $100K to Human Rights Campaign". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
- ^ For Jerome Fallon:
- Weiner, Rachel (May 10, 2012). "A gay marriage advocate with ears in the White House". Washington Post. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- Emmrich, Stuart (April 22, 2012). "The Head Table at the White House". The New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
External links
[edit]Human Rights Campaign | ||
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Preceded by Joe Solmonese |
President June 11, 2012 – present |
Incumbent |
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