Matt Foreman

Matt Foreman has had a distinguished 25-year career in advancing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights especially at the local and state level. In May 2003, Matt was named the Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Matt served as Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda from 1997 to May 2003. During his tenure, the Empire State Pride Agenda was the driving force behind a statewide law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; a law increasing penalties for hate-motivated violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens; repeal of the sodomy statute; enactment of four laws providing equal benefits to surviving domestic partners of those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks; and the state appropriating $11.8 million for LGBT (non-HIV) health and human services.

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 GLBT crime victim assistance agency. Foreman is a founder of Heritage of Pride (organizers of NYC'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, Dance on the Pier and fireworks display. He served for many years on the Board of Directors, Dignity/NY, an organization of GLBT Catholics.