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Rouse Leaves Mass Equality for HRC
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Rouse Leaves Mass Equality for HRC |
Boston, MA/Richmond,VT – Political consultant and organizer Marty Rouse, a resident of Richmond, is moving on from his leadership of Boston-based MassEquality to a position as field director of the national advocacy and lobbying group Human Rights Campaign.
"The battle for our rights at the statewide level has national implications," Rouse said in a phone interview from Boston. "HRC needs to be involved at the state level."
MassEquality successfully defended marriage equality in the Bay State from several right wing attempts to overturn the 2003 Supreme Judicial Court marriage equality ruling by constitutionally banning same-gender marriages.
Former MassEquality Political Director Marc Solomon accepted an appointment last month by the organization's board of directors to Rouse's former position as Campaign Director.
When Rouse became involved, MassEquality was an all-volunteer loose coalition of grassroots organizations. Rouse and a handful of staff members turned the group into a political and fundraising powerhouse that has prevailed by dint of neighborhood organizing, recruiting candidates to oppose anti-gay incumbents, and turning out voters and volunteers to support pro-equality candidates for legislative office. The Boston-area lgbt weekly Bay Windows reported that the organization took in more than $2 million in fiscal 2004.
Rouse's move to HRC is part of a change of focus for the Washington-based group away from congressional lobbying and presidential campaigns under past leadership and toward more involvement in state struggles as a way to reach members of Congress who have been less than responsive to traditional lobbying.
"ENDA [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act] won't pass by lobbying Congresspeople on the Hill," Rouse declared. "We can have the best lobbyists in the world, but if the legislator doesn't hear the message from his or her constituents at home, we're doomed."
Rouse plans to take the model he successfully developed and showcased in Massachusetts to HRC and make it available to targeted states.
"I want to be part of developing five- and 10-year plans, not just fighting anti-gay legislation," Rouse said, pointing out that responding to anti-gay measures puts lgbt voters and organizations on the defensive. He mentioned Montana as a state on the verge, where lgbt organizations can move forward. HRC President Joe Solmonese cited Wisconsin and California as states facing marriage fights, along with Washington state, which is expecting a court ruling on marriage following the heartbreaking defeat of a gay rights bill by a single vote. "We have to be smart and strategic," Rouse said. "HRC has the responsibility to help state organizations play offense, build political power, and flex their muscles."
Meanwhile, Massachusetts is facing yet another campaign to put a constitutional gay-marriage ban to a vote in 2008. According to press releases, the petitioning group, VoteOnMarriage.org, submitted 170,000 signatures, of which 147,000 were reportedly verified by local town clerks. The measure will reach the ballot if 50 legislators in two sequential constitutional conventions agree to support it.
Rouse, however, isn't worried. "MassEquality has a great board, skilled and experienced lobbyists, and a professional staff. I can now move on, and the need is so urgent nationally."
Elyse Cherry, the president of the MassEquality board of directors, values highly Rouse's skills and contributions to the organization. "He has been both shrewd political tactician and elegant ambassador for our cause. As a central architect of our electoral strategy, Marty knew how to focus resources and message,” she said in a press statement. "He also knew how to solidify support in the community, so that we would have the funds necessary to do our work. We are more prepared for what lies ahead because of Marty's leadership."
Rouse honed his organizing skills in Vermont campaigns beginning in 1996, working on the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign. Following stints in that administration in the departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development, he returned to Vermont to help Democrats retain a majority in the state senate in the civil union backlash election of 2000. He and his partner Scott Sherman (who has written movie and television reviews for OITM) and son Sasha (now six) moved to Richmond in 2002. Rouse began the long commute to Boston to work with MassEquality in January 2004.
While HRC is committed to working with legislators from both parties, Rouse received a ringing endorsement from the Democrats. "I congratulate HRC for bringing Marty's professionalism to the national stage. HRC has chosen an outstanding organizer," said Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean in a press release. "For close to ten years, I have seen Marty's political organizing skills firsthand in Vermont. Today, there are dozens more fair-minded legislators in Vermont because of Marty's personal commitment to fairness, his tremendous work ethic, and his unmatched political savvy."