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Ontario Legalizes Gay & Lesbian Marriage, s,0ryP.u June 20, 2003 Serving the Carolinas’ Gay & Lesbian Communities Since 1979 Volume 24, Number 13 Change at the Top Challenges for LGBT movement leaders By Robert DiGiacomo Contributing Writer This year, amid the pride season con stants of rainbow flags, parties and parades, some of the nation's leading gay-rights organizations are facing major change. At Human Rights Campaign, the country's Fargest and best-funded group, longtime leader and frequent movement spokeswoman Elizabeth Birch is preparing for her final months on the job, which will include the fall dedication of new $25 million head quarters in Washington, D.C. Her suc cessor has not been named. Meanwhile, veteran activist Lorri L. Jean, after two years spent revitalizing the National Gay and Lesbian Task force, nas turned over tne reins to iviatt Foreman, formerly of New York's Empire State Pride Agenda. Also new to the national scene is Log Cabin Republicans' Patrick Guerriero, a former Massachusetts legislator who has quickly established himself as will ing to take on the White House and his party's conservative leadership. These changes among the top ranks of gay activists — in the context of a potential landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lawrence vs. Texas and a growing number of initiatives at the state level — raise key questions about the future of the gay and lesbian move ment. Will these new leaders help swing the momentum in battles over issues like employment discrimination and same sex marriage? For effective activism, which is more important — years of on the-job experience or a fresh perspec tive? And, as leaders come and go, who keeps track of what methods work and which ones don't? According to Guerriero, a genera tional shift is occurring that will lead to a new level of equality. "This is a dramatic opportunity to create a new strategy in advancing fair ness and equality," he said from Washington, D.C. "The last generation of leadership came in at the tail end of the revolutionary stage. It took tremen dous courage on their part to knock down doors and win frierids and.recbg ... - ; 7 * < » * » # < t i < t r * * • nibon. , , , 4 v » * Moving On: Lorri L. Jean, longtime head of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, is returning there after a two-year stint with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Other gay-rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and Log Cabin Republicans, are experiencing leadership changes. Photo courtesy National Gay and Lesbian Task Force "My read from the new leaders is they're a much more pragmatic, more strategic group that recognizes the next phase of the civil-rights movement is really an evolution and education effort. We still have to hold significant passion, but it's going to be a different approach. We're going to speak in one voice on a lot more occasions." Longevity Among the stronger voices is likely to be longtime leader Joan Garry, execu tive director of the media watchdog Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, who is about to renew her contract for another two years. Her group counts among its success es the campaign against the "Dr. Laura" TV show and managing the media in the aftermath of the Matthew Shepherd attack and the court proceedings of his killers. "I think whether it's me or Elizabeth JBirch] or Kevin Cathcart [of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund] or Kate Kendall [of the National Center for Lesbian Rights], 1 think ... of us as builders," Garry, who has headed GLAAD since 1997, said from her New York City office. "You hire a fstrong builder. You treat them well and stay with them. "I think Elizabeth is a really great example of that. She had a vision she believed in with every fiber of her being, and she built HRC around it. It's impressive and a debt of gratitude is owed to her, not only for what she built for HRC, but what she built for the movement. "I think that that's true about strong leadership regardless of the organiza tion. Clearly, a continuity and consisten cy of vision is critical to any nonprofit. That has served GLAAD extremely well. Institutional stability is a very important component to longevity, [and] reaching the vision." Birch, who is leaving HRC after eight years to spend more time with her part continued on page 24 Mandy Carter, speaking at a “Town Hall” meeting in Washington on June 2. Is There A Gay Agenda? By Bob Roehr Contributing Writer Is there a gay agenda? Eight LGBT national leaders discussed that question before a packed house of more than 300 on June 2. The event, organized bv the local chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, kicked off gay pride activities in Washington, DC. While there were differences on tactics and on fine points of what should or should not be included, the overall tone was more coopera tive than had been seen at some similar events in the past. "Do we have issues on which we can speak in a common voice? The answer is an unqualified yes," said Patrick Guerriero. The panelists had drawn numbers to decide their order of speaking and the executive director of Log Cabin Republicans went first. He sketched out a new policy to "save our firepower...to take on the voices of bigotry" rather than snip ing at other community organiza tions. Their focus includes a push ing a legislative agenda of hate crimes and employment protection, personal privacy, "recognition of our relationships," HTV and breast . ■ ... .oonttnued on page 21
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