August, 1989 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Page 9

Longtime Lesbian Activist Vaid to Head NGLTF

by Lou Chibbaro Jr.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force board of directors voted in June to hire attorney and long-time lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid to replace Jeff Levi as the group's executive director.

Vaid, 30, who has served as NGLTF's public information director since September 1986, was praised this week by board members as an energetic and highly talented staff member who is as comfortable with lobbying politicians in the halls of Congress as she is with shouting through a bull horn in street demonstrations.

Board co-chairman Jim Holm, who also serves as executive director of the National AIDS Network, said the board's selection of Vaid culminated a national recruitment drive that attracted more than 80 applicants. Holm said a board search committee, which included two NGLTF staff members, narrowed the applicants to seven semifinalists and then three finalists before the board voted to hire Vaid.

NGLTF is the nation's second oldest national gay rights group (just months behind the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund). It has just over 17,000 membe and an operating budget of $957,000, according to information released at the group's May board meeting. NGLTF officials have described the group as a national advocate for the gay civil rights movement, with objectives that include lobbying Congress and the executive branch on gay and AIDS-related issues, promoting public education about gay men and lesbians, and providing logistical support for the nation's local and statewide gay organizations.

Levi informed the board in March that he planned to resign from his NGLTF post this summer to work full time on AIDS issues.

Vaid takes the group's helm at a time when Congressional staffers and officials with federal agencies are praising NGLTF for being an effective player in Washington politics. However, Vaid also enters her new job during a period when the group has been forced to curb the pace of its growth because it has failed to meet its own fundraising goals.

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Vaid is known as a fiery orator at public rallies and an avid organizer of street demonstrations qualities that are in marked contrast to Levi's behindthe-scenes and negotiation table approach to politics. Vaid, for example, played an active role in the civil disobedience action in October 1987 against the U.S. Supreme Court where

several hundred gay men and lesbians were arrested while protesting the Court's decision to uphold state sodomy laws. She also organized a local lesbian protest, LIPS, which staged quickly-assembled protests aimed at a number of federal anti-gay policies, such as a Justice Department report, drafted under former Attorney General Edwin, Meese which, among other things, lumped some gay newspapers under the category of pornography.

NGLTF board members say Vaid has demonstrated skills in fundraising and in behind-the-scenes lobbying, enabling her to master the role of political tactician. They also say she has demonstrated an ability to build a rapport with diverse groups within the gay and lesbian community that include les-

Photo by Mary Baldo

The North Coast Men's Chorus performs at the Old Arcade to benefit the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation.

bian feminists, gay businessmen, and Men's Chorus celebrates Pride

members of black, Hispanic, and Asian gay groups.

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Vaid takes over as executive director of NGLTF at the same time the nation's other major national gay political organization the Human Rights Campaign Fund has just hired another Bostonian, gay activist Tim McFeeley, to replace its outgoing Executive Director Vic Basile. McFeeley, a longtime friend of Vaid's from their days in Boston, said this week that he thinks Vaid is an "excellent choice" to head up NGLTF.

Vaid, in a telephone interview, said she plans to maintain and strengthen the programs begun by Levi. But she said she plans to take on more fundraising and membership development tasks, and will delegate to other staff members some of the political activities that Levi currently administers.

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Her first priority, she said, will be to hire a development director to replace the previous director, who resigned earlier this year. Vaid must also hire a new public information director to fill the post made vacant by her promotion, and she hopes to hire another staff lobbyist later this year, if sufficient funds become available.

Holm, the NGLTF board co-chairman, said the board has approved a salary range of between $50,000 and $60,000 for the new NGLTF executive director but has not yet reached a final decision on the exact salary to be offered to Vaid.

Reprinted with permission from the Washington Blade.

The North Coast Men's Chorus celebrated Cleveland's Lesbian-Gay Pride weekend with their spring concert, held June 17, the day before Pride '89.

Concert-goers were treated to a wide range of music, from traditional pieces to Aaron Copland. A small chamber chorus added some jazz with their appearance. Two of the winners of the Men's Chorus Talent Show, Ed Bricker and Dale Bugos, also performed at the

concert.

The talent show was a success itself. It was held at Keys in April with about 300 in attendance. Bricker won first place with his performance of an original piano solo, which brought the house down at the concert as well as at the talent show. Second place was won by vocalist Chris Glaser. Dale Bugos placed third with Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," performed complete with lab coat, lab assistant and chemical chart.

The North Coast Men's Chorus will begin its second full season with a picnic

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Sunday, August 13, for both current members and people interested in joining. Rehearsals, which are held every Sunday, begin August 20, at 7 p.m.

Work will begin for the Holiday Concert, set for Sunday, December 17, at Lakewood Civic Auditorium. Throughout the fall season the chorus has many social activities for members.

The North Coast Men's Chorus has been in existence for 20 months. During that time it has presented two full-length concerts, sponsored a talent show and. appeared at many community events.

The chorus is seeking additional singers. Musical training is not a necessity, just a desire to sing with the chorus. Men interested in joining are urged to come to the picnic at Edgewater Park near the Wagner statue at the west end from 4 to 7 p.m. August 13. In case of bad weather an indoor site will be announced.

For more information, call Bob or Neil at 631-5207, or John at 261-8645. ▼

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