Gay-rights group hires state leader

The Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-equality organization, has hired a director for its Arkansas office as part of its Project One America campaign.

The group, whose president is Arkansas native Chad Griffin, announced in April that it would spend $8.5 million over the next three years in Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi, including hiring 20 staff members and opening offices in all three states.

The first-of-its-kind campaign aims to build alliances in the church, business and housing communities, as well as to advocate for protections against discrimination at municipal, county and state government levels. Organizers are hoping the addition of a director who was born and raised in Arkansas will help with those alliances.

Kendra Johnson, 43, will take over the director's seat Friday.

Human Rights Campaign organizers are to hold a news conference at the state Capitol today to introduce Johnson and to release the results of a statewide demographic survey.

"I'm a mother of two. And my main priority is really making sure that when I teach my children to be fair and respect people regardless of their differences, that they walk out into a world and it reflects that back to them," Johnson said. "It's very important to me that Arkansas be a welcoming and inclusive place for them to grow up in."

Johnson, a former journalist, moved away to go to college at Spelman College in Atlanta.

She spent almost 14 years living abroad in Brazil after she graduated, working for various bilingual financial newspapers.

About eight years ago, Johnson decided to return to America and to Arkansas. She's worked for a half-dozen nonprofit organizations in Little Rock, including tackling world hunger at Heifer International, advocating against sexual and racial bias at the Women's Project, working to prevent HIV/AIDS with the Living Affected Corporation and helping Arkansans sign up for health insurance with the Better Community Development, a faith-based nonprofit.

"I'm excited to work in my backyard for the ideals of fairness and equality, to make those a part of our societal fabric," Johnson said.

In addition to introducing Johnson, the organizers are to discuss the results of their group's survey, which will focus on gays' families, military service and experiences with discrimination.

"The overall goal of HRC Arkansas is to have open dialogue with various leaders of the community to ensure LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] people are treated with respect by changing hearts and minds, advancing enduring legal protections and building more inclusive institutions," said Brad Clark, the director of Project One America.

Metro on 07/28/2014

Upcoming Events