www.ambiente.us FEBRUARY / FEBRERO 2008
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman
to step down after five years
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
and a national leader in the struggle for equal rights and social justice, will
step down in April to lead the Gay & Lesbian Program at the Evelyn & Walter
Haas, Jr. Fund. Foreman has led the Task Force for five years and helped
propel the organization to national prominence as an outspoken and
unwavering advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.
The Haas, Jr. Fund, located in San Francisco, provides more grant support to
LGBT organizations than any non-gay-identified foundation in the nation.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude to Matt for his exceptional
leadership over the last five years,� said Mark Sexton, Task Force board co-chair.
“During his tenure, our staff grew to 54 full-time positions and our budget more than doubled to nearly
$10 million. Our programming expanded strategically, our public profile increased dramatically, we’ve
granted nearly $5 million to state and local partners. And most importantly, the Task Force has played an
essential role in building our community’s grassroots strength. He has truly been an inspiration to so
many who believe in equality for the full breadth of our LGBT community.�
Foreman called working for the Task Force “the greatest honor of my life.�
“I will always love the Task Force, our work, our board, and our staff,� he said. “Having served for
18 years as the executive director at three LGBT organizations, I’m incredibly privileged to be able to
continue to work in and for the movement in a new role at the Haas, Jr. Fund. I have no doubt that the Task
Force will continue to be the uncompromising progressive voice of the LGBT movement and to thrive and
help lead our community to complete equality.�
Alan Acosta, Task Force board co-chair, said a national search would begin immediately to find Foremanâ
€™s successor. Foreman will work with his senior executive staff in the interim to ensure a smooth
transition to new leadership.
“We are blessed to have an extraordinarily strong and deep management team,â€� Acosta said. â
€œWorking with Matt, the senior leaders of the team have built a dynamic and well-run organization that is
respected inside and outside the movement. We are in great shape to keep pushing our mission of
building our community’s political power and continuing the outstanding successes of the Task Force
over the last few years.�
Acosta said the Task Force’s programmatic priorities for next year include building congressional
support to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in 2009, defeating an expected
anti-marriage constitutional amendment in California and launching the organization’s new Academy
for Leadership and Action, designed to support skills and leadership development for state and local
activists.
Foreman’s direct speaking style and incisive critiques have helped raise the profile of Task Force and
garnered significant media attention. In speeches, panels and op-eds, he has assailed right-wing leaders
for homophobic actions and opposition to LGBT rights and challenged allies to fight for LGBT equality. At
the same time, he has earned a reputation of working collaboratively with other groups and led the
organization in building broad coalitions. Most recently the organization’s leadership was evident in its
instrumental role in the formation and growth of United ENDA, a coalition of more than 350 national, state
and local organizations opposing efforts to strip protections for transgender people and others from a
federal nondiscrimination bill.
“Matt Foreman’s leadership solidified the Task Force as a home for the entire LGBT community,â
€� said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “As LGBT
people, we might not all look the same, think the same, act the same, or need the same things — but we
all know the Task Force respects all of us, fights for all of us and cares about all of us in the LGBT
community. I look forward to continuing to work with the Task Force that Matt has built, as it continues to
fight on for uncompromised equality for all of us.�
“The Task Force has been a significant partner for us in no small measure because of Matt’s
leadership,� said H. Alexander Robinson, executive director/CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition.
“The Haas, Jr. Fund will have a leader who is unwilling to compromise his principles and fully
committed to inclusion. More importantly his firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities
facing the LGBT civil rights movement and our communities will be an asset in his new role.�
Roey Thorpe, former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon and current director of state services at
Equality Federation said, “Matt has been in the trenches, working for change on every level from local to
national and his leadership reflects that. He understands the power of grassroots organizing as few others
do. What I admire most about Matt is that as a leader he never flinched, consistently bringing a clear,
courageous voice for nothing short of full equality for our entire community. That’s the kind of leadership
our movement needs.�
Foreman has the relatively unique distinction of serving as the executive director of a local, statewide and
national LGBT organization — the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (1990–1996), the
Empire State Pride Agenda (1997–2003), and the Task Force (since 2003). When he steps down,
Foreman will have served as Task Force executive director longer than any prior director.
The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local
organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda
and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy
Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the
struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement,
we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates
opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles,
Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman
to step down after five years
Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
and a national leader in the struggle for equal rights and social justice, will
step down in April to lead the Gay & Lesbian Program at the Evelyn & Walter
Haas, Jr. Fund. Foreman has led the Task Force for five years and helped
propel the organization to national prominence as an outspoken and
unwavering advocate of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.
The Haas, Jr. Fund, located in San Francisco, provides more grant support to
LGBT organizations than any non-gay-identified foundation in the nation.
“We cannot adequately express our gratitude to Matt for his exceptional
leadership over the last five years,� said Mark Sexton, Task Force board co-chair.
“During his tenure, our staff grew to 54 full-time positions and our budget more than doubled to nearly
$10 million. Our programming expanded strategically, our public profile increased dramatically, we’ve
granted nearly $5 million to state and local partners. And most importantly, the Task Force has played an
essential role in building our community’s grassroots strength. He has truly been an inspiration to so
many who believe in equality for the full breadth of our LGBT community.�
Foreman called working for the Task Force “the greatest honor of my life.�
“I will always love the Task Force, our work, our board, and our staff,� he said. “Having served for
18 years as the executive director at three LGBT organizations, I’m incredibly privileged to be able to
continue to work in and for the movement in a new role at the Haas, Jr. Fund. I have no doubt that the Task
Force will continue to be the uncompromising progressive voice of the LGBT movement and to thrive and
help lead our community to complete equality.�
Alan Acosta, Task Force board co-chair, said a national search would begin immediately to find Foremanâ
€™s successor. Foreman will work with his senior executive staff in the interim to ensure a smooth
transition to new leadership.
“We are blessed to have an extraordinarily strong and deep management team,â€� Acosta said. â
€œWorking with Matt, the senior leaders of the team have built a dynamic and well-run organization that is
respected inside and outside the movement. We are in great shape to keep pushing our mission of
building our community’s political power and continuing the outstanding successes of the Task Force
over the last few years.�
Acosta said the Task Force’s programmatic priorities for next year include building congressional
support to pass an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in 2009, defeating an expected
anti-marriage constitutional amendment in California and launching the organization’s new Academy
for Leadership and Action, designed to support skills and leadership development for state and local
activists.
Foreman’s direct speaking style and incisive critiques have helped raise the profile of Task Force and
garnered significant media attention. In speeches, panels and op-eds, he has assailed right-wing leaders
for homophobic actions and opposition to LGBT rights and challenged allies to fight for LGBT equality. At
the same time, he has earned a reputation of working collaboratively with other groups and led the
organization in building broad coalitions. Most recently the organization’s leadership was evident in its
instrumental role in the formation and growth of United ENDA, a coalition of more than 350 national, state
and local organizations opposing efforts to strip protections for transgender people and others from a
federal nondiscrimination bill.
“Matt Foreman’s leadership solidified the Task Force as a home for the entire LGBT community,â
€� said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “As LGBT
people, we might not all look the same, think the same, act the same, or need the same things — but we
all know the Task Force respects all of us, fights for all of us and cares about all of us in the LGBT
community. I look forward to continuing to work with the Task Force that Matt has built, as it continues to
fight on for uncompromised equality for all of us.�
“The Task Force has been a significant partner for us in no small measure because of Matt’s
leadership,� said H. Alexander Robinson, executive director/CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition.
“The Haas, Jr. Fund will have a leader who is unwilling to compromise his principles and fully
committed to inclusion. More importantly his firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities
facing the LGBT civil rights movement and our communities will be an asset in his new role.�
Roey Thorpe, former executive director of Basic Rights Oregon and current director of state services at
Equality Federation said, “Matt has been in the trenches, working for change on every level from local to
national and his leadership reflects that. He understands the power of grassroots organizing as few others
do. What I admire most about Matt is that as a leader he never flinched, consistently bringing a clear,
courageous voice for nothing short of full equality for our entire community. That’s the kind of leadership
our movement needs.�
Foreman has the relatively unique distinction of serving as the executive director of a local, statewide and
national LGBT organization — the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (1990–1996), the
Empire State Pride Agenda (1997–2003), and the Task Force (since 2003). When he steps down,
Foreman will have served as Task Force executive director longer than any prior director.
The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local
organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda
and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy
Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the
struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement,
we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates
opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles,
Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
| RESIDENTIAL COMMERICAL Licensed Across Florida CGC060449 dructorbuilds.com 305-401-8914 |
| GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION WWW.GLAAD.ORG |
| Gay American Heroes Foundation Honoring LGBT persons who died because of their sexual orientation and gender identity www.gayamericanheroes.com |
| Endulge Yourself... Chocolate Themed Baskets & Gifts www.dulcestore.com |
| Web resource for LGBTQ youth www.matthewsplace.com |
| An online forum on sexual health education for gay and bisexual men www.lifelube.org |
| www.familiasporladiversidad.org |
| LIGA Contra el SIDA - SoFla. League Against AIDS www.leagueagainstaids.org |
