The Human Rights Campaign has just issued the following verbatim new release detailing HRC President Chad Griffin's tour schedule for Project One America next week:
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin will Launch ‘Project One America’ at Events in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, Beginning an Unprecedented Push for LGBT Rights in the South Griffin is also available for satellite television interviews from Little Rock, AR on Monday, May 12 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM (CT)
Washington, D.C. — Next week, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin will travel to Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas to officially launch Project One America, an unprecedented effort to dramatically expand LGBT equality in the South. This substantial and lasting initiative—with a three year budget of $8.5 million, dedicated staff of 20, and new offices in each state—is the largest coordinated campaign for LGBT equality in the history of the South.
On Monday, May 12th, Griffin will kick-off a three-day tour of press conferences and community gatherings in Little Rock, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Montgomery, and Birmingham. He will be joined by local officials, business leaders, clergy members, and members of the LGBT community at each stop along the way.
Griffin will also be available for television interviews via satellite on Monday, May 12, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CT). Please email Nick Morrow at [email protected] and Emily Black at [email protected] to book an interview and receive satellite coordinates.
Download Project One America’s launch video package here, and click here for a high-res Project One America graphic.
Project One America will focus on making progress on three fronts—changing hearts and minds, advancing enduring legal protections, and building more inclusive institutions for LGBT people from the church pew to the workplace. HRC Mississippi, HRC Alabama, and HRC Arkansas will be anchored by full-time local staff and dedicated in-state office space to guarantee a round-the-clock effort. These states have been under-resourced for too long and HRC is making a long-term investment to advance LGBT equality. The program will continue until there is One America.
The first initiative of its kind in the south, Project One America will work to advance equality in areas that do not have existing non-discrimination protections for LGBT people at the state or local level in employment, housing or public accommodations, and where the state’s constitution expressly prohibits marriage equality.
For further information on Project One America, see HRC’s press release and fact sheet.
The full schedule for the Project One America Tour is below. Please RSVP to [email protected] and [email protected] so that we may ensure the necessary space and logistical arrangements are made.
*PROJECT ONE AMERICA KICK-OFF TOUR SCHEDULE *
MONDAY, MAY 12: LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
11:00AM – 12:00PM (CT)
WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Project One America in Arkansas
WHERE: State Capitol, Old Supreme Court Chamber
500 Woodlane Drive, Little Rock, AR 72201
WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; Betty and Butch Hightower, mother and stepfather
of Chad Griffin; Sen. Joyce Elliott; Rev. Leroy James, Christian Ministerial Alliance; Rita Sklar, Executive Director, ACLU of Arkansas; James Rector, Board Chair, NW Arkansas Center for Equality; Tippi McCollough, local teacher; Andrea Zekis, Founder, Arkansas Trans Equality Coalition
1:00PM – 4:00PM (CT)
WHAT: HRC President Chad Griffin will be available for television interviews via satellite on Monday, May 12, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CT). Please email Nick Morrow at [email protected] and Emily Black at [email protected] to book an interview and receive satellite coordinates.
5:30PM – 7:45PM (CT)
WHAT: Community Meet & Greet
WHERE: Arkansas Art Center
501 E. 9th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202
WHO: Chad Griffin will deliver remarks, with an introduction from his mother, Betty Hightower. Additional speakers will be announced later this week.
TUESDAY, MAY 13: JACKSON & HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI
Jackson, MS
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (CT)
WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Project One America in Mississippi
WHERE: State Capitol, second floor rotunda
400 High Street, Jackson, MS 39201
WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; MS Rep. Jim Evans; MS Rep. Rufus Straughter;
Derrick Johnson, State President, Mississippi State Conference NAACP; Joce Pritchett & Carla Webb, local parents; Rev. Stan Wilson, Northside Baptist Church; Jennifer Riley-Collins, ACLU Executive Director; Dr. June Gipson, My Brother’s Keeper, President/CEO
Hattiesburg, MS
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (CT)
WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Project One America in Mississippi
WHERE: City Hall
200 Forrest Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; Councilmember Deborah Delgado; Rep. Percy
Watson; Rev. Brad Corban, United Methodist Church; Brandiilyne Dear, Dandilion Group; Susan Mangum, local business owner, In Motion Fitness
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14: MONTGOMERY & BIRMINGHAM, AL
Montgomery, AL
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (CT)
WHAT: Press Conference Kicking Off Project One America in Alabama
WHERE: Alabama State House steps
600 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104
WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; AL Rep. Patricia Todd; Rev. Kevin Higgs, United Methodist; West Honeycutt, Equality Alabama; Susan Watkins, ACLU Alabama Executive Director
Birmingham, AL
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (CT)
WHAT: Press Conference to Kick Off Project One America in Alabama
WHERE: City Hall
710 North 20th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203
WHO: HRC President Chad Griffin; AL Rep. Patricia Todd; Rev. Kevin Higgs, United Methodist; Rev. J.R. Finney, Covenant Community Church; Ben Cooper, President, Equality Alabama; Rev. Felicia McKinzy, Pentecostal church; Traniesa Caldwell, Founder, CoffeeHouse Poets
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CT)
WHAT: Birmingham Community Event
WHERE: Birmingham Museum of Art
2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35203
WHO: Chad Griffin will deliver remarks, with an introduction from his mother, Betty Hightower. Additional speakers will be announced later this week.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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