Date: Thu, 13 Mar 97 12:12:58 EST From: "ngltf" Subject: D'Emilio Accepts Fellowship; Vaid Returns to NGLTF ********************************************************************* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force PRESS RELEASE Contact: Mark Johnson 202/332-6483 ext. 3314 mfjohnson@ngltf.org Pager 1-800/757-6476 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ********************************************************************* JOHN D'EMILIO LEAVES POLICY INSTITUTE TO ACCEPT PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP; URVASHI VAID APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR Washington, DC---March 13, 1997...John D'Emilio, noted author and historian and director of the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), will step down from his position on March 28, 1997. Urvashi Vaid, former Task Force Executive Director and author of "Virtual Equality," will assume the directorship of the Policy Institute. Dr. D'Emilio will remain with the Institute as a Senior Fellow. He has been awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The one year fellowship will allow him time to work on a biography of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Created in 1995 as the national lesbian and gay think tank, the Policy Institute is the nation's premier center for progressive research, strategizing, thinking and education on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality and civil rights issues. During the past 18 months under D'Emilio's leadership, the Policy Institute produced groundbreaking research, including "Power at the Polls: The Gay/ Lesbian/Bisexual Vote," the first statistically reliable national profile of the voting strength and preferences of openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual voters. Family issues are also a significant focus of the Policy Institute. D'Emilio led roundtables and wrote working papers and op-ed pieces, all aimed at focusing attention on the lesbian and gay perspective on the changing American family. The Policy Institute also produced tools to empower grassroots activists, including the marriage organizing manual "To Have and To Hold: Organizing for Our Right to Marry" and "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Organizing: A Comprehensive Manual." "This transition allows NGLTF's think tank to benefit from the experience and skills of two very talented activists," said Kerry Lobel, Task Force Executive Director. "I'm happy for John and delighted to have Urvashi back in the Task Force family because I know her energy and enormous ability will make the Policy Institute a lively national center of ideas, research and action," she commented. Vaid is an attorney and nationally-known spokesperson on progressive issues. She will develop a long range strategic plan and vision for the Institute, create programs and identify research projects, establish systems for connecting activists and scholars, and continue to cultivate funding sources for the Institute. She will be based in New York, but maintain an office at the NGLTF in Washington. The job of heading the Policy Institute is like a homecoming for Vaid, who served as NGLTF Executive Director from mid-1989 through 1992. She also held the position of Public Information Director for two and a half years before becoming the Task Force head. More recently, Vaid authored "Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay and Lesbian Liberation," a book which discusses the politics and strategies of the gay civil rights movement. She is also a columnist for The Advocate magazine and frequently lectures on civil rights, gay rights, social change movements and politics. One goal of Vaid as Policy Institute Director is the coalescing of communities of color and the women's community along with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. She continues to advocate her message of coalition- building. Individual groups, representing the interests of lesbians and gays, African-Americans or Latinos or Asians, the poor or the elderly or children, have won proud victories, according to Vaid. "But by remaining in single issue groups, we approach social problems piecemeal rather than holistically," she concluded. "There is a sort of harmonic convergence in this new position," Vaid said. "Not only does it feel great to be working with NGLTF, an organization which I love and which has pioneered so many innovations and breakthroughs for our communities, but it's also great to ground the Policy Institute in New York City, where the Task Force was founded nearly 25 years ago." she added. Photos of D'Emilio and Vaid are available by contacting the NGLTF press office at 202/332-6483, or mfjohnson@ngltf.org. -30- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national gay and lesbian group and is a progressive organization that has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national advocacy since 1973. Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the forefront of virtually every major initiative for lesbian and gay rights. In all its efforts, NGLTF helps to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at the state level while connecting these activities to a national vision for change. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. 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