EQCA Expands to National Work

The statewide lobbying group that has long focused on enacting laws protecting LGBTs in California is expanding to a national scope as a new executive director takes charge.

"Over time, our civil rights protections are maturing in the state," Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur said in a phone interview. "The question is what is the next phase for Equality California, and what is it that's important to our community" now that so much has been achieved legislatively.

Zbur, 56, an attorney who had previously been an EQCA board member, officially started his new post September 1. He replaces John O'Connor, who left in July after a year and a half in the position, citing personal reasons.

EQCA's board decided Saturday, September 20 to update its mission statement to include changes such as a focus on "full equality and acceptance" both inside and outside of California and "ensuring the health and well-being of LGBT Californians," Zbur, who is gay, said.

The expanded focus could help with issues like "employment mobility," he said.

Currently, the "patchwork of rights" that exists "outside the state is not a positive thing for us," Zbur said.

He said with the broader mission statement, EQCA may also pay more attention to areas such as immigration reform and offer increased help to "the most marginalized members" of the community.

Andreas Meyer, EQCA's board president, stated the organization "is evolving to meet the needs of the LGBT community in California."

EQCA, which also includes the educational arm the Equality California Institute, formed in 1998 as the California Alliance for Pride and Equality. Since then, it's worked to bring marriage rights for same-sex couples and to protect LGBT students from bullying, among other legislation. The nonprofit recently saw its 100th piece of legislation pass the state Legislature.

Gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who has worked with EQCA on numerous bills, applauded Zbur and the shift in EQCA's mission.

"I've known Rick for many years and am confident that his track record as an accomplished, dedicated, and articulate community leader will serve Equality California well," Leno said in a statement. "Now that EQCA has sponsored more than 100 successful bills expanding the rights of LGBT Californians, it makes sense for the organization's future mission to expand. I agree with EQCA's belief that where a person lives or travels should not determine whether he or she is a first- or second-class citizen. There is still much work to be done."

Governor Jerry Brown last week signed into law Assembly Bill 1951, which EQCA backed. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) modernizes California birth certificates by allowing each parent to identify as mother, father, or parent, rather than just mother or father.

The nonprofit has also been associated with some failures. Most notably, former Executive Director Geoff Kors was one of the committee members behind the unsuccessful campaign to defeat California's Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban. Voters passed the anti-gay measure in November 2008. The U.S. Supreme Court effectively killed the ban on a technicality in June 2013.

Changes

Although he's officially been on the job only for about three weeks, Zbur, whose selection was announced in April, said he'd worked with the board for most of the summer. Their work included "taking a step back and looking at what Equality California is doing and has been doing, and assessing what it should be doing as we move ahead."

For example, traditionally, EQCA endorsed only candidates for the state legislative and other state offices.

But this year, for the first time, it also has endorsed candidates in local races, including out Oakland City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan in her bid to unseat Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.

The group has also made endorsements in national contests, such as its backing of state Senator Ted Lieu's (D-Torrance) run for Congress. Lieu, a straight ally, worked with EQCA on Senate Bill 1172, the state law that bans state-licensed mental health professionals from attempting to engage in efforts to alter the sexual orientation of LGBT youth 18 years and younger.

Zbur said EQCA isn't going to be going head-to-head with national groups.

"We want to focus on things on which our capabilities give us the ability to have a positive change" that fit with the organization's strengths of political and legislative advocacy, he explained.

The group recently announced that it's partnered with Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) on a joint resolution urging President Barack Obama to compel the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Food and Drug Administration to end the ban on gay and bi men donating blood.

EQCA is "launching an advocacy program" aimed at stopping the ban. The organization plans to engage its 800,000 members. Over the past couple years, EQCA already has worked with the National Gay Blood Drive, part of the Los Angeles-based Love, Don't Hate, by encouraging members to attend events.

"We're not doing something competing with them," Zbur said.

Ryan James Yezak, the blood drive's founder and executive director of Love, Don't Hate, said his group is "looking forward to working with [EQCA] more closely in the future." Yezak's group also supports Bloom's resolution.

On another front, EQCA's looking at enlisting corporations to promote civil rights protections for LGBTs, including in the Southern states. Zbur said the effort could involve the national Human Rights Campaign, but "we haven't talked about a formal relationship."

Spokespeople for HRC, which launched its own Southern strategy this year, didn't respond to requests for comment.

EQCA's budget is about $3 million. Zbur said he "envisions larger budgets over time," and fundraising efforts in support of "specific program initiatives." He added, "We'll add staff as we fund each of these initiatives."

The nonprofit has 14 full-time staff, along with 25 to 30 part-time phone and field staff. Zbur, whose salary is $150,000, is single, and he lives in West Hollywood.

The organization has been run mostly out of Southern California in recent years, but it still has a small office in San Francisco. A new local field manager is being hired.

Zbur has made some trips to San Francisco to meet with donors and elected officials, including gay Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos.

He said he "mostly" spoke with the men to get "their views on the repositioning of the organization." He also spoke with Campos about how the nonprofit could help him in his race against Board of Supervisors President David Chiu for the Assembly seat being vacated by gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who's termed out this year. EQCA previously endorsed Campos in the race.

That's "one of our priority races," Zbur said. "It's important to us that he get elected."

Campos referred to Zbur's hiring as "a stroke of genius."

"I think Rick is exactly what the organization needs at this point," he said. "He, I think, has a vision that recognizes EQCA is the premiere civil rights organization that has to not only expand its reach within California, but also outside California."

Wiener called Zbur "an inspired hire" who "brings enormous experience and gravitas, and I think will be able to elevate Equality California."

The supervisor pointed to statewide issues including LGBT aging, and access to housing and health care, as areas where he'd like to see the organization focus.

More State Work

Although the group has more national plans than before, EQCA will continue to do work specific to California.

In August, it started receiving a $250,000, yearlong grant from the California Endowment to encourage better access to health care for undocumented LGBT Californians, especially those in the Central Valley.

The nonprofit is also considering an HIV-decriminalization bill. Zbur said current law includes "criminal penalty enhancements if HIV is transmitted under certain circumstances."

He said, "The law treats HIV differently than it does other diseases that are similar and also are transmissible, so we're looking at what kind of changes need to be in the law so people with HIV are not treated differently."

Zbur said people in San Francisco may soon have a chance to let EQCA know directly what they'd like to see the organization do.

"We are planning forums toward the end of October or early November" in San Francisco and other places around the state, he said.