Congressional Lobbying Groups Merge

Two major Washington based national lesbian/gay political groups have merged. The Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), which has specialized in raising funds for Congressional candidates who are supportive of lesbian/gay rights, has taken over the operations of the Gay Rights National Lobby (GRNL), which has coordinated Congressional lobbying.

"The goal of both organizations is to encourage Members of Congress to support our issues," said Nancy Roth, former GRNL Executive Director, "It makes sense for these complimentary efforts to share the same roof."

GRNL's lobbying work will be carried out by a new division of HRCF known as the "Gay Rights National Education Project." The project will seek to build a grassroots national lobbying network on lesbian/gay rights and AIDS issues.

GRNL, which has been facing severe financial difficulties for several years, earlier this year was engaged in serious merger talks with the National Gay Task Force. Those talks fell apart when the two organizations were unable to reach agreement on a number of key issues.

The HRCF/GRNL merger happened quickly, and took many observers by surprise.

Pointing to "very full, very challenging political agenda" in light of the AIDS crisis and right-wing backlash, Vic Basile, Executive Director of HRCF said "I am more confident than ever that this newly-strengthened organization will be able to meet those challenges."