In its early history, the group found it difficult to find politicians willing to accept campaign contributions from a gay PAC.

[10] In 2000, the HRC launched its Capitol Campaign to raise the funds to purchase a suitable headquarters in the nation's capital.

In 2002, the HRC acquired a medium-rise office building in Washington, DC, from B'nai B'rith International to use as its national headquarters.

Joe Solmonese, the Executive Director of HRC, has said that Terry Bean was instrumental in acquiring the building.

"[13] In 1991, Terry Bean and Vic Basile, the first executive director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, founded the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Political Action Committee (PAC) to raise money for gay and lesbian candidates.

[5][6] In 1989, Bean co-founded the Equity Foundation, a Portland-based philanthropic organization that gives grants to LGBT community groups and programs as well as academic scholarships.

[6] He is currently a member of the board of advisors, along with Portland Mayor Sam Adams and former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts.

[18] In 1992, Bean helped raise over $1,000,000 in the successful campaign to defeat the anti-gay Oregon Measure 9,[19] which would have amended the state constitution with a provision declaring homosexuality "abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse".

Referring to his Mormon heritage, Smith said of Bean, "When you grow up as part of a group that has suffered discrimination, it is easier to listen with feeling to the stories of others, like Terry, who have felt the jackboot on the back of their neck.

Smith regularly read incidents of anti-LGBT hate crimes into the congressional record to raise awareness of this issue.

[9] In comments on the Senate floor to mark the successful passage of the Ryan White Care Act, Smith referred to Bean as "...a highly valued advisor on issues affecting the gay and lesbian community in Oregon".

[26] After the case continued for over a year, lawyers for Bean and the youth reached a civil agreement,[27][28] which the judge ultimately rejected.

[34] On January 14, 2022, all criminal charges against Bean were dismissed because the alleged victim declined to participate in prosecution.