In the News:

Task Force opposes nomination of Dr. James Holsinger
      for U.S. surgeon general
NRLR responds to gay bishop’s exclusion from
      key Anglican gathering
Task Force podcast: From the Long View
New Hampshire governor signs civil unions bill
Revised and updated: Bisexual health report
D.C. City Council honors Frank Kameny
Celebrating Motor City Pride
Task Force San Francisco soiree on June 12

Task Force opposes nomination of Dr. James Holsinger for U.S. surgeon general

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today announced its opposition to the nomination of Dr. James W. Holsinger for U.S. surgeon general.

“With the nomination of Dr. Holsinger for surgeon general, the Bush administration is once again elevating ideology over public policy and once again throwing red meat to its ravenous anti-gay supporters. Dr. Holsinger’s record shows that his own biases will not allow him to look objectively at scientific information. Consequently, he is not qualified to be surgeon general and we call upon the Senate to promptly reject his nomination.”
— Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman

[ Read the full statement ]

NRLR responds to gay bishop’s exclusion from key Anglican gathering

The Task Force’s National Religious Leadership Roundtable responded to reports that Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, has not been issued a formal invitation to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference.

“This struggle in the Anglican Communion serves as a sobering reminder of the deep and serious work before the many households of faith.”
— National Religious Leadership Roundtable

[ Read the full statement ]

Task Force podcast: From the Long View

Today marks the launch of the Task Force’s new five-part audio interview series, From the Long View: LGBT Elders and Experts Speak. The podcast features selected members of the first-ever National LGBT Aging Roundtable, convened earlier this year by the Task Force.

In today’s episode, Loree Cook-Daniels (pictured) discusses the advantages of universal design, lessons that can be learned from the disability rights movement, why aging work matters to transgender people and the unique insights LGBT elders have about improving aging for everyone. She is founding executive director of the Transgender Aging Network and the American Society of Adult Abuse Professionals and Survivors.

For photos, transcripts and downloadable MP3s, check out www.theTaskForce.org/podcast. A new episode will be posted each week.

[ Listen to the interview or read the transcript now ]
[ Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes ]

New Hampshire governor signs civil unions bill

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch signed into law a bill granting same-sex couples in civil unions all of the rights afforded to New Hampshire’s married couples under state law.

“We’ve said it before: what a difference elections make! Just five years ago, few would have believed that New Hampshire would enact a civil unions law, let alone by wide margins.”
— Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman

[ Read the full statement ]

Revised and updated: Bisexual health report

Download a copy of our newly revised and updated version of Bisexual Health: An Introduction and Model Practices for HIV/STI Prevention Programming, a groundbreaking report released by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute in collaboration with the Fenway Institute at Fenway Community Health and BiNet USA.

[ Download the revised report ]

D.C. City Council honors Frank Kameny

The D.C. City Council today adopted a resolution honoring renowned LGBT rights activist Frank Kameny, a founding board member of the Task Force. In its ceremonial resolution, drafted by current Task Force board member Hans Johnson, the City Council hailed Kameny as a “true freedom fighter.”

Pictured: Task Force Deputy Executive Director Rea Carey presents Frank Kameny with a Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s Creating Change. Photo: Linda Kliewer

[ Read the full resolution ]

Celebrating Motor City Pride

Not even a fierce Michigan thunderstorm complete with heavy rain and lightning could keep the Task Force from being at Motor City Pride. Over the weekend, Task Force staff and Creating Change host committee members signed up volunteers and talked up the movement’s annual conference, which is coming to Detroit in February 2008. The LGBT community in Detroit is very excited to play host to the thousands of activist leaders who come to the conference each year. Motor City Pride was a wonderful event, organized by the Triangle Foundation, a Task Force capacity building partner.

Look for us this weekend at Capital Pride in Washington, D.C., and at Christopher Street West in West Hollywood. Stop by and say hello! Photo: Russell Roybal

Task Force San Francisco soiree on June 12

Please join us June 12 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. for our Second Annual San Francisco Leadership Council Reception. Enjoy wine and cheese as you learn about the Task Force’s work in California.

[ Get full details and RSVP today! ]

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