Chad Griffin, the political consultant behind the legal challenge to Proposition 8, has been named the next president of the Human Rights Campaign.
This may help explain why The Recorder couldn't track him down a couple weeks ago for a story looking at his group -- the American Foundation for Equal Rights -- and its funding of the fight against Prop 8.
Griffin's biography offers some irresistible copy, with his Clinton-esque background of being born in Hope, Ark., the nearly unbelievable part where he was tapped at age 19 (and while still closeted) to work in the Clinton White House, and how he helped bring together celebrity lawyers David Boies and Theodore Olson for the Prop 8 case.
He started AFER specifically to sponsor a federal suit against Prop 8.
In June, he will take helm of the HRC, the organization with the yellow equal sign logo, when current president Joe Solmonese move on.
Griffin's new gig shouldn't affect anything with the Prop 8 litigation at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Gay-marriage foes are seeking rehearing after losing last month. Griffin will step aside as president of AFER but remain a board member at the L.A.-based nonprofit.
"No change at AFER -- our board, legal team and staff will continue the fight for marriage equality for all Americans," AFER executive director Adam Umhoefer wrote in email.
Boies and Olson gushed praise in prepared remarks.
"I cannot think of anyone better to take the helm of the Human Rights Campaign than my dear friend and colleague Chad Griffin," Olson said. "There is no one more passionate, more resourceful or more effective than Chad. His brilliant and visionary leadership makes me confident that one day, very soon, every American will be treated equally under the law."
Boies' turn: "Time after time over the past several years, Chad has proven that he is easily one of the most skilled strategists and tacticians in American politics today. That is a rare combination of skill sets for one person to have. His diplomacy, his intellect and his passion for issues of equality are second to none. I cannot think of a better person to lead HRC into the future."
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