Date: Thu, 09 Jan 97 13:34:35 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: Donna Red Wing Joins HRC as National Field Director ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 8, 1996 RED WING JOINS HRC AS NATIONAL FIELD DIRECTOR Seasoned Advocate To Build HRC from Grassroots Up WASHINGTON -- Donna Red Wing, a longtime advocate for lesbian and gay rights who was instrumental in the defeat of Oregon's anti-gay ballot measure in 1992, has been named the national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, Executive Director Elizabeth Birch announced today. "We are very fortunate to add Donna Red Wing's talent and vast experience to the staff of the Human Rights Campaign," Birch said. "Donna's abilities as an organizer, public speaker and committed activist will continue the process of building our movement, and the Human Rights Campaign, from the grassroots up." Red Wing, 46, begins work at HRC's Washington office on Jan. 15, 1997. Before joining HRC, Red Wing was a senior consultant to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Based in Portland, Ore., she created a grassroots network of GLAAD outlets to monitor and respond to media representations of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered community. She is also GLAAD's former field director and community affairs director. Red Wing helped create and manage GLAAD's training programs in dealing with media, violence against gay men and lesbians and organizing against anti-gay initiatives. She was also a national spokeswoman for the organization, delivering scores of keynote speeches within the gay community. From 1989 to 1993, Red Wing was executive director of the Lesbian Community Project in Portland, the largest lesbian organization in the Pacific Northwest. During that time, she helped lead the fight against Measure 9, a virulently anti-gay ballot measure that would have amended Oregon's constitution to declare homosexuality "abnormal and perverse" behavior. As a result of her efforts, The Advocate magazine named Red Wing its 1992 Woman of the Year. Simultaneously, her adversaries on the right proclaimed Red Wing "the most dangerous woman in Oregon." From 1985-1989, Red Wing was executive director of the Child Assault Prevention Project of Central Massachusetts. She holds a bachelor's degree from Assumption College and a master's from Clark University, both in Worcester, Mass. Red Wing and her partner, Sumitra Red Wing, have been together for 10 years. Donna Red Wing's son, Julian, is a professional musician. - 30 -