Empowering Spirits Foundation

Last updated
Empowering Spirits Foundation
Formation2008
Headquarters San Diego, California, United States
President
 Lisa Kove
Key people
 A. Latham Staples, Chairman
Website web.archive.org/web/20090727074911/http://www.empoweringspirits.org:80/

The Empowering Spirits Foundation (ESF), Inc. is an American non-profit, non-partisan LGBT rights organization based in San Diego, California, United States. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Empowering Spirits Foundation Rally in San Diego, California Esfrally.JPG
Empowering Spirits Foundation Rally in San Diego, California

The Foundation is based in San Diego with chapters in other U.S. states. [5] [6] [7] ESF members engage in service-oriented activities in communities typically opposed to LGBT rights. [2] [8] [9]

ESF programs include neighborhood revitalization, housing builds, canned food drives, and environmental cleanup, causes which allow for both sides to work together in what ESF calls a "positive environment". The programs take place in under-served areas or those conservative in nature, as these are the people ESF is attempting to influence. [10]

Additionally, ESF is active in U.S. politics. [1] [11]

History and leadership

The Empowering Spirits Foundation was established by A. Latham Staples in 2008 after the passage of Proposition 8 in California out of frustration as to how he thought LGBT rights organizations were approaching the gay rights issue. [1] [11] [12] [13]

Staples said, "The day after the passage of Proposition 8, various gay rights organizations attacked Christians, the LDS Church, and minority groups. In my mind, this intolerance only amplified the hate, it didn't create change". [12] Staples, a long time activist, was laughed at when he suggested to one of those organizations that the LGBT community should foster dialogue with such groups instead of attacking them. Four days later, ESF was established. [1] [10] [12]

In 2009 Echoing Green, an angel investor in social entrepreneurial organizations, announced it would fund ESF for two years. ESF was the only grantee selected from the category of "Civil & Human Rights" when Staples was named a 2010 Echoing Green fellow for "enacting innovative solutions that address root causes to social problems." [14] [15]

On March 4, 2013, ESF announced Staples had stepped down as president of the organization as he had accepted the position of chief executive officer at PremloCare, Inc. (later renamed EXUSMED, Inc.), a healthcare company based in San Diego. He remains the chairman of ESF. Today, ESF is headed by Lisa Kove, current president of the foundation and Executive Director of the Department of Defense Federal Globe. [16] [17]

Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine

In May 2009, the Empowering Spirits Foundation filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service to seek revocation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland's tax exempt status. [18] [19] [20] This complaint was filed after Mark Mutty, the Diocese's public affairs director, announced plans for the church to gather 55,087 signatures needed for a state referendum on same-sex marriage in an attempt to overturn Maine's new same-sex marriage law. [21] Mutty is quoted as calling the church's action "one of the biggest grassroots movements in Maine history." [22]

Erik Stanley, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, responding on behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, stated in a letter to ESF that the IRS allows tax-exempt organizations to "engage in lobbying activities, including advocating a position on a public referendum, without violating their tax-exempt status so long as the activity is not a substantial activity of the organization." [23]

Events

ESF volunteers build a new trail in the Gonzalez Canyon in San Diego, California. ESF Proud Hearts Reach Out2.jpg
ESF volunteers build a new trail in the Gonzalez Canyon in San Diego, California.

Empowering Spirits Foundation members engage in service-oriented activities in communities throughout the nation. These events range from small events at nursing homes and food banks, neighborhood clean-up endeavors, and neighborhood restoration projects, to participation in large citywide rallies. [1] [10]

Proud Hearts Reach Out

The Empowering Spirits Foundation held its first annual nationwide service-oriented event to promote LGBT rights called "Proud Hearts Reach Out" in conjunction with National Coming Out Day October 9, 2009. [24] [25] The nationwide event was created in response to the California Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8. Roughly 5,000 volunteers attended the ESF service events held across 36 states, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, MyOutSpirit.com, the American Cancer Society, and the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. [26] [27]

National Equality Rally

The Empowering Spirits Foundation, along with other LGBT organizations, co-organized the National Equality Rally which took place from April 27 through May 3, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [28] The rally featured a series of cultural programs, panels, parties and outdoor events, and a tribute to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is a proponent of gay rights. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ community</span> Community and culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

The LGBTQ community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBTQ activists and sociologists see LGBTQ community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBTQ community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBTQ community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Rights Campaign</span> LGBTQ civil rights advocacy group

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBTQ individuals, including advocating for same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation, and HIV/AIDS advocacy. The organization has a number of legislative initiatives as well as supporting resources for LGBTQ individuals.

PFLAG is the United States' largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people and those who love them. PFLAG National is the national organization, which provides support to the PFLAG network of local chapters. PFLAG has nearly 400 chapters across the United States, with more than 350,000 members and supporters.

The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) is an organization affiliated with the Republican Party which advocates for equal rights for LGBT+ Americans, by educating the LGBT+ community and Republicans about each other.

National LGBT Chamber of Commerce American not-for-profit advocacy group

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is a U.S. not-for-profit advocacy group that aims to expand the economic opportunities and advancement of the LGBT business community. Its headquarters are in NW in Washington, D.C. NGLCC is the exclusive certifying body for LGBT-owned businesses known as LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs), and advocates for LGBT business inclusion in corporate and government supplier diversity programs. In October 2017, the organization changed its name from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to better reflect the entire LGBT business community it serves.

Cristina E. Martinez is a nationally recognized community activist, business owner and non-profit volunteer and the CEO of Mad Clik, Inc., a corporation in Texas. Openly lesbian, she is the owner and publisher of Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages, President of "MD Marketing & Advertising", and co-owner of Rainbow Graphics, a graphic design firm whose focus is to produce effective ad campaigns that cater to and target the LGBT community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodhull Freedom Foundation</span> Non-profit organization advocating for sexual freedom

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation, also known as Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, is an American non-profit organization founded in 2003 that advocates for sexual freedom as a fundamental human right. The organization is based in Washington, D.C., United States. Named after an influential member of the American woman's suffrage movement, Victoria Woodhull, its focus includes analyzing groups and individuals that seek to perpetuate a culture of sexual repression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsham Parsi</span>

Arsham Parsi is an Iranian LGBT human rights activist living in exile in Canada. He is the founder and head of the International Railroad for Queer Refugees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT movements in the United States</span>

LGBT movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied social movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century. A commonly stated goal among these movements is social equality for LGBT people. Some have also focused on building LGBT communities or worked towards liberation for the broader society from biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia. LGBT movements organized today are made up of a wide range of political activism and cultural activity, including lobbying, street marches, social groups, media, art, and research. Sociologist Mary Bernstein writes: "For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family (heteronormativity). Political goals include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections from harm." Bernstein emphasizes that activists seek both types of goals in both the civil and political spheres.

The Miss USA 2009 controversy centered on Miss California USA 2009 Carrie Prejean's answer to a question regarding same-sex marriage. On April 19, 2009, during the ceremony of Miss USA 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the five finalists were all asked about political issues such as how to fight domestic violence, whether to use taxpayer money to bail out corporations, whether to give immigrants access to health care, and whether or not the United States should donate money to the government of Afghanistan to fund its elections. Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993, has stated that the questions were "far too political and it's divisive as well".

A. Latham Staples is a San Diego, California, community leader, a corporate executive, and an American civil rights activist. He's the Chief Executive Officer of EXUSMED, Inc., a healthcare corporation based in La Jolla, California, and Chairman of the Empowering Spirits Foundation, Inc. (ESF), a national LGBT civil rights organization he founded in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Californians Against Hate</span> American non-profit organization

Californians Against Hate (CAH) is an American non-profit organization public-benefit corporation which works as a political watchdog organization. It was founded in 2008 to draw attention to the major donors to qualify and pass California’s Proposition 8. As the organization has grown, Californians Against Hate has evolved into leading boycotts of companies whose owners gave large contributions to Proposition 8. They have also filed complaints with two state ethics commissions that have led to investigations of the LDS Church in California and the National Organization for Marriage in Maine. Californians Against Hate has repeatedly called for a Congressional Investigation of the National Organization for Marriage due to its late and non reporting of its federal 990 income tax returns.

GOProud was an American tax-exempt 527 organization supported by fiscally conservative gay men, lesbians, and their allies. GOProud advocated for "free markets, limited government, and a respect for individual rights" and worked at the federal and state levels to build strong coalitions of liberal conservative and libertarian activists, organizations and policy makers to advance their shared values and beliefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Maine Question 1</span> Referendum on same-sex marriage

Maine Question 1 was a voter referendum conducted in Maine in the United States in 2009 that rejected a law legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. The measure passed 53–47% on November 3, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisexuality in the United States</span>

The first English-language use of the word "bisexual" to refer to sexual orientation occurred in 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of gay men in the United States</span>

This article addresses the history of gay men in the United States. Unless otherwise noted, the members of same-sex male couples discussed here are not known to be gay, but they are mentioned as part of discussing the practice of male homosexuality—that is, same-sex male sexual and romantic behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ culture in San Francisco</span>

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community in San Francisco is one of the largest and most prominent LGBT communities in the United States, and is one of the most important in the history of American LGBT rights and activism alongside New York City. The city itself has been described as "the original 'gay-friendly city'". LGBT culture is also active within companies that are based in Silicon Valley, which is located within the southern San Francisco Bay Area.

In LGBT culture, red dress parties are events in which people wear red dresses, regardless of gender. The Red Dress Party fundraising event began in Portland, Oregon in 2001, with only 75 people in attendance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About ESF". Empowering Spirits Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  2. 1 2 Wiser Earth Organizations: Empowering Spirits Foundation Archived December 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "– Empowering Spirits Foundation". Idealist.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  4. ↑ "Philadelphia.com". Philadelphia.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  5. 1 2 "Washington DC.com". Washington DC.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  6. ↑ "Los Angeles Gay". Losangeles.com. 2014-04-16. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  7. ↑ "San Francisco.com". San Francisco.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  8. ↑ "Seattle.com". Seattle.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  9. ↑ "Minneapolis.com". Minneapolis.com. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  10. 1 2 3 "Empowered to do good". Gay San Diego. 2010-07-03. Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  11. 1 2 "Empowering Spirits Foundation Founded After Passage of Prop. 8". Empowering Spirits Foundation Press Release. 2008-11-11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  12. 1 2 3 "The Empowering Spirits Foundation: Bridging the gap between the LGBT community and non-LGBT neighbors". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  13. ↑ "MyOutSpirit". MyOutSpirit. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  14. ↑ "Echoing Green To Fund Empowering Spirits For 2 Years, ESF President A. Latham Staples Named 2010 Fellow". Empowering Spirits Foundation Press Release. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  15. ↑ "A. Latham Staples - Echoing Green Fellow". Echoinggreen.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  16. ↑ "ESF founding president/CEO steps down, named CEO of PremloCare". LGBTWeekly.com. 2013-03-04. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  17. ↑ "Empowering Spirits Foundation | Lisa S. Kove". Empoweringspirits.org. 2008-11-11. Archived from the original on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  18. ↑ "Maine Church Accused of Tax Law Violation". San Francisco Chronicle. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  19. ↑ "Group Challenges Church Fight vs. Gay Weds". Boston Herald. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  20. ↑ "Maine Diocese in Violation of Tax Law?". Advocate. 2009-05-21. Archived from the original on 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  21. ↑ "Gay Rights Group: Main Diocese Violating Tax Law". Salon Magazine. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-22.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. ↑ "Maine drafts gay marriage ballot question". Dallas Voice. 2009-05-22. Archived from the original on 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  23. ↑ "Complaint Filed with IRS against Maine Diocese". National Catholic Reporter. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  24. ↑ "Freedom Jubilee created in response to Prop. 8 decision". Gay & Lesbian Times. 2009-05-27. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2009-05-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ↑ "Proud Hearts Reach Out Created in Response to Prop. 8 Decision". Empowering Spirits Foundation Press Release. 2009-05-26. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  26. ↑ "5,000 Plus Gays & Lesbians Help Local Communities Nationwide". Empowering Spirits Foundation Press Release. 2009-10-10. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  27. ↑ "5,000 Plus Gays & Lesbians Help Local Communities Nationwide". My So Called Gay Life. 2009-10-12. Archived from the original on 2012-07-07. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  28. ↑ "Equality Forum honors Newsom, the New York Times". Edge. 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  29. ↑ "Mayor Defends Same-Sex Marriages". CNN. 2004-02-22. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.