| Honorary Board of Advisors |
| Matt Foreman |
Matt Foreman has been executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force since May
2003, and has worked for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) rights for 25 years. During his
tenure, the Task Force's budget and staff have
doubled, to over $9 million and over 50, respectively;
more than $2 million has been awarded to state and
local LGBT organizations; the organization's public
profile has increased significantly; and two new
departments, including one focused on federal
affairs, have been launched.
Foreman came to the Task Force from the Empire
State Pride Agenda, where he served as executive
director from 1997. The Pride Agenda is the nation's
largest statewide lesbian and gay political advocacy
and civil rights organization. During his tenure, the
Pride Agenda was the driving force behind a
statewide law banning discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation (2003); a law increasing penalties
for hate-motivated violence, including crimes against
LGBT people (2000); a law repealing the consensual
sodomy statute (2000); four laws extending equal
benefits to surviving domestic partners of those killed
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force since May
2003, and has worked for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) rights for 25 years. During his
tenure, the Task Force's budget and staff have
doubled, to over $9 million and over 50, respectively;
more than $2 million has been awarded to state and
local LGBT organizations; the organization's public
profile has increased significantly; and two new
departments, including one focused on federal
affairs, have been launched.
Foreman came to the Task Force from the Empire
State Pride Agenda, where he served as executive
director from 1997. The Pride Agenda is the nation's
largest statewide lesbian and gay political advocacy
and civil rights organization. During his tenure, the
Pride Agenda was the driving force behind a
statewide law banning discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation (2003); a law increasing penalties
for hate-motivated violence, including crimes against
LGBT people (2000); a law repealing the consensual
sodomy statute (2000); four laws extending equal
benefits to surviving domestic partners of those killed
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in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (2002), and the state appropriating $11.8 million specifically for
LGBT (non-HIV) health and human services (unique in nation) (1998-2002). Other
accomplishments include leading the creation of the September 11 Gay & Lesbian Family Fund,
which raised and distributed $378,000 to surviving domestic partners (2001-2002); winning
equal New York State Crime Victims Board benefits for all surviving domestic partners of
homicide victims (2002); negotiating one of the nation's most comprehensive domestic
partnership laws (New York City - 1998); and local nondiscrimination laws in Nassau, Suffolk and
Westchester counties.
From 1990 to 1996, Foreman served as executive director of New York City Gay and Lesbian
Anti-Violence Project (AVP), building it into the nation's leading LGBT crime victim assistance
agency. Foreman used aggressive case advocacy and street activism to focus attention on hate
violence, organizing anti-violence marches and demonstrations in all boroughs of the city. His
leadership has been credited with galvanizing the community's response to a surge in hate
violence in the early 90's and forcing the police department to devote significantly greater
resources to the crisis. AVP also led the Hate Crimes Bill Coalition, a diverse coalition of more
than 100 organizations working to pass a meaningful hate crimes law in New York State.
Prior to joining AVP, Foreman worked in prison policy and administration for 10 years, including
service as assistant commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Corrections, executive
assistant to the New York City correction commissioner, and as director of a medium/minimum
security facility on Rikers Island.
Foreman is a founder of Heritage of Pride (organizers of New York City's lesbian and gay pride
events), where he originated many hallmarks of the annual celebration, including the lavender
line down 5th Avenue, the moment of silence in memory of those lost to AIDS, and the annual
"Dance on the Pier" and fireworks display. He also served for many years on the board of
Dignity/NY, an organization of LGBT Catholics.
He is a 1982 graduate of New York University School of Law, where he was president of the
Student Bar Association and a lead organizer of the 1979 national conference "Law and the
Fight for Gay Rights." He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1976, where he
was president of the student body and an anti-strip mining activist.
Foreman has been recognized for his work by many groups, including Out, HX and New York
magazines, the Anti-Violence Project, the Log Cabin Republicans, Gay & Lesbian Independent
Democrats, the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Downstate Coalition for
Crime Victims, the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Greater New York, Parents &
Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and the Greenwich Village Chamber of Commerce. He was male
Grand Marshal of New York City's annual pride march in 2001. Foreman is a member of the New
York City Commission on Human Rights.
Foreman lives with his partner of 16 years, Francisco De Leon, in Manhattan. His parents reside
in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.
LGBT (non-HIV) health and human services (unique in nation) (1998-2002). Other
accomplishments include leading the creation of the September 11 Gay & Lesbian Family Fund,
which raised and distributed $378,000 to surviving domestic partners (2001-2002); winning
equal New York State Crime Victims Board benefits for all surviving domestic partners of
homicide victims (2002); negotiating one of the nation's most comprehensive domestic
partnership laws (New York City - 1998); and local nondiscrimination laws in Nassau, Suffolk and
Westchester counties.
From 1990 to 1996, Foreman served as executive director of New York City Gay and Lesbian
Anti-Violence Project (AVP), building it into the nation's leading LGBT crime victim assistance
agency. Foreman used aggressive case advocacy and street activism to focus attention on hate
violence, organizing anti-violence marches and demonstrations in all boroughs of the city. His
leadership has been credited with galvanizing the community's response to a surge in hate
violence in the early 90's and forcing the police department to devote significantly greater
resources to the crisis. AVP also led the Hate Crimes Bill Coalition, a diverse coalition of more
than 100 organizations working to pass a meaningful hate crimes law in New York State.
Prior to joining AVP, Foreman worked in prison policy and administration for 10 years, including
service as assistant commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Corrections, executive
assistant to the New York City correction commissioner, and as director of a medium/minimum
security facility on Rikers Island.
Foreman is a founder of Heritage of Pride (organizers of New York City's lesbian and gay pride
events), where he originated many hallmarks of the annual celebration, including the lavender
line down 5th Avenue, the moment of silence in memory of those lost to AIDS, and the annual
"Dance on the Pier" and fireworks display. He also served for many years on the board of
Dignity/NY, an organization of LGBT Catholics.
He is a 1982 graduate of New York University School of Law, where he was president of the
Student Bar Association and a lead organizer of the 1979 national conference "Law and the
Fight for Gay Rights." He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1976, where he
was president of the student body and an anti-strip mining activist.
Foreman has been recognized for his work by many groups, including Out, HX and New York
magazines, the Anti-Violence Project, the Log Cabin Republicans, Gay & Lesbian Independent
Democrats, the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Downstate Coalition for
Crime Victims, the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Greater New York, Parents &
Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and the Greenwich Village Chamber of Commerce. He was male
Grand Marshal of New York City's annual pride march in 2001. Foreman is a member of the New
York City Commission on Human Rights.
Foreman lives with his partner of 16 years, Francisco De Leon, in Manhattan. His parents reside
in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.
