HRC's Joe Salmonese to Resign: Reports

By Kevin Naff  washingtonblade.com

The source, who spoke on condition of not being identified, said HRC was expected to release a statement on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 27, announcing Solmonese’s decision to leave the organization and plans by the HRC board to begin a search process for his successor.

According to the source, reports by a number of bloggers that Solmonese’s resignation was part of a sweeping staff shakeup initiated by the HRC board and that his departure came about under less than amicable circumstances are inaccurate.

The source characterized as “complete fiction” reports by some that HRC may already have lined up a successor for Solmonese.

It was Solmonese’s decision alone to leave his post as HRC president based on his interest in “moving on” to other endeavors, the source said.

“This is about as normal and straight forward as it gets,” said the source. “He’s giving them six months advance notice. They’re going to launch a replacement process. The organization will go through that and come out with a successor.”

Solmonese has received mixed reviews by LGBT activists during his tenure as head of HRC. Supporters say he has worked well in navigating HRC and its LGBT rights agenda during a hostile Bush administration and during a supportive Obama administration, using behind-the-scenes political skills to prod allies in Congress and the White House to move its agenda forward. Critics say Solmonese and HRC have been too closely aligned with the Democratic Party and Democratic congressional leaders, which they say have failed to adequately advance LGBT legislation, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and LGBT-supportive immigration legislation while Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.