Tiffany McClain is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Public Policy Coordinator of the ACLU of Alaska. She is the first permanent full-time staff member dedicated solely to the advancement and protection of LGBT rights in the state of Alaska. 

“I feel privileged to have been offered an opportunity to work on such an important project—protecting the equality and civil rights of LGBT people—in a state for which I have so much respect and affection.” McClain, who earned an MA from the University of Michigan on the politics of gender and race in U.S. history, came to Alaska for a working vacation last summer.

“Get Busy. Get Equal” is the National ACLU project to provide organizing tools for LGBT equality on relationships, discrimination, parenting, schools, and transgender issues. 

“It’s a great guidepost for how to go about organizing local campaigns, and I can’t wait to put some of the suggestions to use here in Alaska,” said McClain. “We should have educational and promotional materials available to the public in time for Anchorage PrideFest.”

Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Alaska said about Tiffany’s appointment, “In fulfilling our mandate to protect the constitutional rights of all Alaskans, the ACLU is particularly pleased to make this long term commitment to ending discrimination in our state, including ensuring legal protection for LGBT Alaskans. Tiffany has both the intellect and passion to step into this needed role.” 

Mittman was the Deputy National Field Director of the ACLU prior to taking the Alaska position, and he is no stranger to LGBT issues. Before joining the ACLU, he was the Special Projects Manager for Equality California, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, managing the marriage equality and non-discrimination campaigns in the Southern California region.

The ACLU of Alaska brought two LGBT cases to victory in the last decade. In 1999, they challenged the denial of employment benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian employees of the State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage. In October 2005, the Alaska Supreme Court agreed and ordered the implementation of benefits plans that provide equal benefits. 

In the summer of 2001, the ACLU of Alaska filed suit when Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch ordered the removal of a staff-approved Gay Pride Month exhibit at Loussac Library called “Celebrate Diversity Under the Midnight Sun.” The U.S. District Court agreed with the ACLU and issued an order allowing the sponsors of the exhibit to reinstall it. 

Tiffany McClain took the time to answer a few questions about herself and the new LGBT Coordinator position:

As the ACLU of Alaska’s LGBT Public Policy Coordinator, these are my primary responsibilities:

The first goal will partially be achieved by surveying employers and obtaining copies of their revised benefits policies, but we’re also going to need the help of LGBT employees who will be able to help us find out what’s actually happening on the ground level, regardless of what policy the booklets state. So if you work for a state or municipal agency or a public school, please feel free to contact me and share your experiences and opinions. (tmcclain@akclu.org, 258-0044).

Actually, cultivating a relationship with the LGBT community is a huge priority for me—I don’t think I can be successful without it. I believe that finding out the community’s concerns is crucial to building a long-term organizing strategy. We want to make sure that we’re addressing the local community’s needs while we work to advance the larger goals of the ACLU’s national LGBT & AIDS Project. It’s not always helpful to go forward with an agenda without getting the input of other community members and leaders—especially when you’re the new person in town. 

So for the first couple of months, I plan to meet with the point people of all the organizations and networks in the state to get a sense of who they are, what are their current concerns and projects, and to share with and get feedback from them regarding the ACLU’s plans. 

One of the first things we plan to do is distribute a community interest survey (which we’ll be encouraging people to complete at Anchorage PrideFest, so stop by our booth) but we’re also working on making it available to those of you who live in other parts of the state.

I was drawn to this position because it was an opportunity to work on a project that I’m passionate about in a state I’m passionate about. 

I did seasonal work in Alaska last summer and was considering the possibility of moving here long-term. I’ve spent a lot of time studying civil rights history and politics and I wanted to find work that was somehow related to what I’d learned as an undergraduate and graduate student. It was quite a surprise to find out that the ACLU of Alaska was looking for someone to work on LGBT issues and I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. 

Even though I’m no longer officially a student, I will always love learning. What is great about this job is that I get to actively contribute to the LGBT movement for equality while continuing to learn about law and activism.

ACLU of ALASKA: http://www.akclu.org/

National ACLU’s “Get Busy. Get Equal” project: http://gbge.aclu.org/

National GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network): http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html