Press

Newly Consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire to Receive Leadership Award at March 15 event in New York City

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
media@theTaskForce.org
646.358.1465

New York City, February 11, 2004 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will honor V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to be named a bishop in the Anglican communion, at the organization's 15th Annual Leadership Awards event on March 15, 2004 in New York City. The event will be held at New York University School of Law and will be the first time Bishop Robinson has been honored since his consecration in November. (Bishop Robinson's bio appears below).

"Bishop Robinson's courage, compassion and quiet perseverance in the face of vilification by his opponents worldwide and threats of violence against him has been an inspiration to us all," said Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman. "We are incredibly proud that he is honoring us with his presence."

Bishop Robinson said, "I am deeply honored to be recognized by one of the preeminent social justice groups working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. I look forward to celebrating with those at the Task Force Leadership Awards event the many advances achieved on so many fronts."

Bishop Robinson's consecration has attracted worldwide attention, with some leaders of the Anglican communion moving to sever relations with the Episcopal Church of the United States. Right wing "family" organizations have joined in the chorus of denunciation. In the weeks leading up to his consecration, then-Rev. Robinson was deluged with hate mail and, following threats on his life by Christian fundamentalists, was placed under round-the-clock FBI protection. In the face of all of this, Bishop Robinson has repeatedly called for understanding, love and dialogue with his detractors. At his consecration, for example, he said, "There are faithful, wonderful Christian people for whom this is a moment of great pain and confusion and anger."

The Task Force Leadership Awards pay tribute to community leaders and allies who help pave the way for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, freedom and justice. Past award recipients include Coretta Scott King; then-South African President Nelson Mandela; Senator Ted Kennedy; and Kelli & Rosie O'Donnell. Comedian Kate Clinton will serve as Emcee for the evening. (Ms. Clinton's bio appears below.)

EVENT INFORMATION

What: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards Honoring Bishop V. Gene Robinson

When: Monday, March 15, 2004

VIP & General Reception, including a silent auction 6:30 pm
Award Presentation & Program 7:30 pm

Where: New York University School of Law
40 Washington Square South (corner of MacDougal)
New York City

Tickets: $125 to $5,000

For more event information, go to http://www.thetaskforce.org/events

All proceeds benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation.

BIOS:

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire since 1988, coordinates diocesan staff and ministry of the Office of the Bishop. Since 1983 he has served as Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Province of New England, and since 2001 on the Board of Trustees, General Theological Seminary.

Gene developed and led the "Being Well in Christ" conference approach to clergy wellness in some 20 dioceses. He initiated "Fresh Start," the two-year mentoring program for all clergy in new positions and co-authored the curriculum used in 44 dioceses. Much of his ministry has focused on helping congregations and clergy in conflict and in studying congregational dynamics, conflict, and mediation. Co-author of three AIDS education curricula for youth and adults, Gene has done AIDS work in Africa. Within the diocese and province, he has facilitated anti-racism training. A leader in the diocese's partnership with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund for affordable housing, he is on the board of the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a foundation working for access to health care for the uninsured.

A 1969 graduate of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, he has a B.A. in American Studies/History. In 1973, he completed the M. Div. at General Theological Seminary in New York; after ordination he served as Curate at Christ Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Upon moving to New Hampshire in 1975, Gene co-owned and directed an accredited girls' summer camp and horse farm. As founding director of Sign of the Dove Retreat Center in Temple, New Hampshire, he facilitated spiritual direction and designed programs for a variety of groups. He also managed the diocesan Living into Our Baptism program of spiritual growth and development.

From 1978-1985, Gene was Youth Ministries Coordinator for Province I, serving for two years on the National Youth Ministries Development Team and helping originate the national Episcopal Youth Event. "Most of what I have learned about being a Christian I've learned from young people." He is one of the founders of Concord Outright, a support group for gay/lesbian/questioning teens.

Gene enjoys entertaining and cooking, gardening, music, and running. The father of two grown daughters, Jamee and Ella, he lives with his partner Mark Andrew.

Kate Clinton is respected and sought after member of the "Commentariat," she has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, Entertainment Tonight, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Roseanne Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, Leeza and numerous news and talk shows on Comedy Central, Lifetime, Oxygen, MSNBC, CNN, and C-Span. She hosted In The Life, and The World According To Us. Kate writes monthly columns for The Progressive and The Advocate in which she waxes by turns comical and philosophical about the state of our nation and those who have put us in such a state.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.