In the News:

Task Force, Inc., urges Congress to reject
      Southwick nomination
National groups call upon Ft. Lauderdale and Broward
      County to repudiate mayor and reaffirm welcome of gays
Submit a workshop proposal for the
      2008 Creating Change Conference!
Upcoming events
Task Force in the News: Blogosphere edition

Task Force, Inc., urges Congress to reject Southwick nomination

“It would be unconscionable for Congress to confirm Leslie Southwick to a lifetime seat on the federal bench.”
— Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., is urging the United States Senate to reject the nomination of Leslie Southwick to a lifetime seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Senate Judiciary Committee last week voted 10–9 to send the nomination to the full Senate for consideration, which it is expected to do following the August recess.

[ Read the full press release ]
[ Read the San Francisco Chronicle story on the issue ]

National groups call upon Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County commissions to repudiate mayor and reaffirm welcome of gay people

The Task Force organized a coalition of 16 national LGBT rights organizations to urge the City Commission of Fort Lauderdale and the Broward County Commission to pass resolutions condemning Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle’s recent anti-gay comments and reaffirming the area’s well-known welcome and support of LGBT people.

The coalition’s Aug. 2 letters, endorsed by the largest and most prominent national LGBT organizations, state that since Naugle made his defamatory comments in his official capacity, it is up to the commissions to officially and formally respond and assure the public that the mayor’s comments do not reflect the views of either Ft. Lauderdale or Broward County.

Photo: Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman speaks out against mayor’s remarks at July 24 rally in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

[ Read the press release ]
[ Download the Ft. Lauderdale or Broward county letter ]

Submit a workshop proposal for the 2008 Creating Change Conference!

The Task Force invites you to submit a workshop proposal for the 2008 Creating Change Conference, the premier political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBT movement. The Task Force and Creating Change will celebrate 20 remarkable years of training thousands of activist leaders when we gather for Creating Change in Detroit, Mich., on Feb. 6–10, 2008. Founding Sponsor — Anita May Rosenstein Foundation.

The Task Force seeks proposals for 90-minute sessions and 3-hour sessions that deliver skills, inspiration and real-world practical learning to strengthen our leaders and organizations. Teach your colleagues your best practices in community organizing, campaigns, legislative lobbying, communications, research and policy analysis, organizational management and building a broad and inclusive movement to win full equality.

[ Find out how to submit a proposal ]

Upcoming events

Ascension, a dance party on the Atlantic Ocean beach in the Fire Island Pines, is coming up! Ascension’s benefit for the Task Force takes place Aug. 19. For information on the event, contact Janice Thom, director of special events, at 646.358.1467 or visit www.AscensionParty.com.

Task Force in the News: Blogosphere edition

Check out these recent highlights from the blogosphere, including extensive coverage of the Task Force’s involvement in speaking out against Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle’s outrageous comments and our “Democrats 2008: Déjà vu, all over again?” commentary.

[ Go to Task Force in the News ]

Contact Us       Donate

www.theTaskForce.org