born july american political best known work advocating lgbt rights united_states griffin got start politics bill_clinton presidential campaign led position age following stint white house graduation led number political campaigns advocating california ballot initiatives number fundraising efforts political candidates hillary_clinton barack_obama following passage california highly publicized proposition barred recognition sex marriage griffin founded law challenge perry brown ultimately successful following decision june griffin appointed president largest lgbt rights organization united_states early years griffin born hope arkansas grew miles northeast attending volunteered presidential campaign bill_clinton following election received job offer join transition team administration griffin dropped college age youngest member presidential staff worked manager years acted white_house liaison film american president met producer griffin went lead charitable foundation work numerous political efforts including founding nonprofit organization formed challenge federal california proposition limited legal recognition marriage california opposite sex couples leaving white_house griffin entered graduated griffin griffin consulting firm founded communications director lgbt rights activism griffin gay best known work advocating lgbt rights citing elevated rate suicide gay teens motivation griffin selected advocate people year griffin placed 16th magazine power list powerful lgbt individuals united_states moving 20th 28th 29th positions respectively griffin founded challenge federal california proposition prior founding griffin raised funds produced television ads campaign griffin professional work lgbt rights following proposition passage griffin reflected campaign failure possibility mounting federal legal challenge acquaintance suggested speaking conservative lawyer supported challenge soon began research case griffin saw case support opportunity frame sex marriage debate terms later suggested recruiting liberal counsel previously opposite sides bush gore griffin approached quickly accepted griffin began discussing potential case lgbt rights organizations organizations including opposed federal lawsuit seeing reckless expressing fear loss supreme_court devastating groups later ask intervene lawsuit attempt griffin fought ultimately unsuccessful letter leaders organizations griffin wrote acted undermine case filed light effectively case successful intervening griffin expressed concern intervention trial making efficient result ultimately weaken case announced creation filing lawsuit styled perry argued proposition unconstitutional equal protection process grounds lawsuit sex couples governor california state officials listed defendants official capacities perry successful district court december supreme_court agreed review ruling held june proponents proposition lacked standing appeals supreme_court left district court ruling intact june california resumed marrying sex couples lgbt related activism griffin selected succeed president largest lgbt advocacy political lobbying organization united_states appointment received lgbt community including executive director griffin assumed new role june griffin asked question led vice president publicly share support sex marriage meet press appearance recounted private dinner lgbt campaign donors asked feel dinner held home gay couple children told parents wish american look love kids eyes guys wouldn doubt barack_obama announced support days later sitting united_states president griffin executive producers documentary outrage investigated allegations homosexuality series political figures worked lgbt rights griffin selected help raise funds production work prior work opposing proposition griffin involved supporting opposing variety california ballot initiatives hired griffin lead effort pass california proposition proposition created tax cigarettes tobacco products sold california directed income early childhood education efforts commission executive director later named perry brown griffin campaign director california proposition authorized sale billion dollars general obligation bonds fund stem cell research years later griffin led unsuccessful campaign passage established tax oil extraction state funds alternative energy energy efficiency efforts prior initiatives griffin ran successfully advocated wilderness protection upper las canyon open space preserve griffin campaign preparation role head environmental group film heart griffin recent work includes political fundraising candidates clients included hillary_clinton barack_obama member national finance committee obama reelection campaign raised effort griffin sits board right foundation new works build houses lost homes new_orleans hurricane katrina personal life griffin attended white_house dinner began dating longtime friend early
Chad Griffin