Petrelis Files

IRS Complaint Filed Against HRC
For Non-Disclosure of 990 Report

After being lied to by HRC executives, and their failure to comply with federal law about IRS 990s being made available to the public, I've decided to request an IRS investigation. All gays should be aware that HRC's most current tax filing was ready for public inspection almost three months ago, and the org has chosen to not inform the community of this fact. HRC must be made to understand the law requires them to freely share their tax filings, and right now, they are violating IRS law. Let the sunshine in!

October 25, 2010

IRS Exempt Organization Classification
Mail Code 4910DAL
1100 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75242-1198

Dear Sir or Madam,

I wish lodge a complaint against the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Employer ID # 52-1243457, and its affiliate the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF), Employer ID # 52-1481896, and demand an immediate investigation into their failure to meet IRS law requiring public disclosure of their 2010 IRS 990 forms.

(Source: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96430,00.html )

Both exempt organizations accepted their 2010 IRS 990s from their accountant the week of August 2010, which was confirmed to me in a telephone conversation on October 15, 2010, by the organization's treasurer Mr. James Rinefierd. He also confirmed that his organizations were required by IRS law to make the 990 filings available for public inspection on the day they were accepted in August.

I informed Mr. Rinefierd that on October 15, 2010, I had emailed him a written request for the 2010 IRS 990s, and also made a verbal request for the filings. He promised his organizations would comply with my request.

An HRC colleague of his sent me the following note:

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Guequierre; Paul.Guequierre@hrc.org
To: mpetrelis@aol.com
Sent: Thu, Oct 21, 2010 6:32 am
Thank you for your email. We are in the process of preparing copies of the 990’s for posting on our website. Our plan is to post them by the end of the week and will inform you just as soon as they are on line.

Another HRC colleague made this response to me the following day:

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Cole; Michael.Cole@hrc.org
To: 'mpetrelis@aol.com'
Sent: Fri, Oct 22, 2010 10:36 am
Michael – I do very much appreciate your patience. We’re working on getting them posted and will certainly let you know as soon as they’re up.

Unfortunately, HRC and HRCF has not complied with public disclosure of their 2010 IRS 990s, either by sending them to me via email in electronic format or fax machine, nor have they kept their promise to post the filings on their web site.

(Source: http://www.hrc.org/about_us/who_we_are.asp)

Therefore, with such willful and flagrant non-compliance of IRS law requiring public disclosure, which HRC and HRCF could have easily done on their web site way back in August, I am formally request a full and impartial investigation into their failure to make their 2010 IRS 990s open for public inspection.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need clarification. I can be reached at 415-621-6267. My email address is MPetrelis@aol.com.

Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
[Redacted]
San Francisco, CA 94103