PHILADELPHIA, PA – The largest-ever gathering of national and international GLBT Executive Directors will occur at the National Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the GLBT Civil Rights Movement on Sunday, May 1 at Independence Hall as part of Equality Forum 2005 & National Celebration.

“In the history of our movement, there has never been such active collaboration by major organizations and leaders,” said Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “We take pride in the accomplishments of the last 40 years and remain collectively committed to full equality. We will never be pushed back into the closet.”

Two Executive Directors joining the National Celebration are Joe Solmonese, recently named President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and Eric Stern, the new Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats. Solmonese will participate in the National Celebration as Presenter of a 40 Heroes Award at the Gay Pioneers & 40 Heroes Tribute in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center, and in Conversations with Gay Leaders at the National Constitution Center. Eric Stern will present a 40 Heroes Award and attend the State Receptions being held by 30 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico on Saturday, April 30.

“I am delighted to be participating in the National Celebration.” Solmonese said. “It is important that we honor the Gay Pioneers, who started our movement, and pay tribute to the 40 Heroes, who have helped lead our movement from 1965 to 2005. The National Celebration is about all of us, and HRC encourages everyone to attend.”

The first organized and annual demonstration for gay and lesbian civil rights was held in front of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell on July 4, 1965. These “Annual Reminders” were held in Philadelphia, D.C. and New York from 1965 to 1969 and led to Stonewall in 1969. Based on Equality Forum’s application, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recently announced that it will unveil a Historical Marker at the National Celebration designating the area around Independence Hall as the site of the demonstration that launched the GLBT Civil Rights Movement.

Equality Forum 2005 & National Celebration features over 100 programs, including 14 parties and 40 special events. More than 105 state, regional, national and international non-profit organizations will be participating.

The 16-hour National Celebration on Independence Mall includes the Gay Pioneers & 40 Heroes Tribute, the SundayOUT street festival, screenings of the documentary Gay Pioneers, an Interfaith Service with Bishop Gene Robinson at historic Christ Church, a Gay Icons Pavilion at the Independence Visitors Center, Conversations with Gay Leaders at the National Constitution Center, a National Celebration Concert with Cyndi Lauper, celebrities, and parties. Thirty (30) states, D.C. and Puerto Rico will hold State Receptions on Saturday, April 30.

There is no registration fee for Equality Forum 2005 and all substantive events including the National Celebration are free. Twenty (20) Center City hotels are offering lowest rate.

A full list of the 30 Executive Directors attending Equality Forum 2005 & National Celebration is below. For more information, visit www.equalityforum.com or contact Dan Wagner, Communications Associate at dan@equalityforum.com or (215) 732-3378 x10.

National & International GLBT Executive Directors at National Celebration

Selisse Berry, Executive Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Keith Boykin, Board President, National Black Justice Coalition

Toni Broaddus, Executive Director, Equality Federation

Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

Matt Coles, Director, ACLU Lesbian & Gay Rights Project

Kathleen DeBold, Executive Director, Moutner Project

Douglas Elliott, President, International Gay and Lesbian Law Association

Paula Ettlebrick, Executive Director, Intl. Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Coalition

Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Patrick Guerriero, Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans

Eric Hegedus, President, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

Williamson Henderson, Executive Director, STONEWALL Veterans Association

Ariel Herrera, Acting Director, Amnesty USA OUTfront! LGBT Human Rights Project

Dudley Hogue, Interim Executive Director, National GALA Choruses

Kevin Jennings, Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality

Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Tiye Lasley, Executive Director, African Asian Latina Lesbians United

Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum

Bruce McDonald, Co-founder, Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Justin Nelson, Co-founder, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Benjie Nycum, Founder, Young Gay America

C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Clarence Patton, Acting Executive Director, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

Ron Schlittler, Deputy Executive Director, Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)

Andrew Stokes, President, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA)

Joe Solmonese, Executive Director, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Eric Stern, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats

Chuck Wolfe, President & CEO, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund

Evan Wolfson, Executive Director, Freedom to Marry

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