<P> HRC was criticized for its endorsement of New York Republican Al D'Amato in his 1998 campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate . HRC defended the endorsement because of D'Amato's support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". However, many liberal LGBT leaders objected to D'Amato's conservative stances, including his opposition to affirmative action and abortion, and felt that HRC should have taken those positions into account when deciding on the endorsement . </P> <P> HRC has been accused of overstating the number of its actual members in order to appear more influential in politics . Former HRC President Joe Solmonese responded, saying that "(m) embership is about more than contributions...(i) t's about sending e-mails to elected officials, volunteering time or lobbying members of Congress" and more than half of its members made contributions during the previous two years . Earlier, HRC spokesperson Steven Fisher stated that its membership includes anyone who has donated at least $1 . </P> <P> HRC has also been criticized for exceedingly generous executive salaries . </P> <P> Some transgender people have criticized the HRC for its stance on the 2007 version of ENDA, which at the time included sexual orientation as a protected category but not gender identity and expression . Once the legislation was submitted by Rep. Barney Frank, HRC officially neither opposed nor supported it . This followed a speech by former HRC President Joe Solmonese at the transgender Southern Comfort Conference the previous month, where he said that HRC "oppose (d) any legislation that is not absolutely inclusive". HRC later explained that it could not actively support a non-inclusive bill, but did not oppose it because the legislation would strategically advance long - term efforts to pass a trans - inclusive ENDA . However, in a letter to U.S. Representatives, HRC did express support for the bill, stating that while HRC is "greatly disappointed that the current version of ENDA is not fully - inclusive...we appreciate the steadfast efforts of our...allies...even when they are forced...to make progress that is measured by inches rather than yards ." </P>

Blue and yellow equal sign vs red and pink