Former Chicagoan Stacey Long, now a resident of Washington, D.C., brings an impressive resume to the table. Newly installed as the director of public policy and government affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), she previously spent two years as the organization's federal legislation director and chief lobbyist. She embodies the old adage "walk softly but carry a big stick."
Her voice is gentle and soothing, but her tone and words are most powerful. She told Windy City Times that her goals are basic—to "shine a light on issues that will surface between now and the 2012 election. We want to empower an informed LGBT electorate."
NGLTF was founded in 1973. In 1978, when former beauty queen Anita Bryant made headlines in her attempts to deny equality to LGBT people, it was the NGLTF who stepped up to the plate to galvanize the troops in what turned out to be a successful campaign to discredit Bryant's efforts.
"Many of the tenets of our early days are still true today," said Long. "We represent the LGBT voice of political progressives. We keep the basic principles that everyone has access to a job, and is not hired or fired based on sexual orientation or gender identity."
An attorney with a bachelor's degree in Africana studies from Vassar College, Long is also a graduate of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's People of Color Media Training Institute.
She's a strong advocate for coalition building, and is very pleased about many laws that are LGBT-inclusive. "I'm encouraged that we can work with civil rights and women's groups. Progress is taking shape in ways that are different from our original scheme of things."
Spreading the word is one way Long's office is helping to insure this continues. "We are doing our very best to let allies know ways we are being attacked, ways in which we need their support. We can't be everywhere all the time, so they can speak up when they see or hear something homophobic."
"I don't take this work lightly," Long stated. "I don't take this moment lightly. Action is hot and power is sexy. We want to give people the tools they need to empower themselves. I worry about apathy. There's been too much struggle to get to where we are today. We have a responsibility to make sure that people who are marginalized are included in our wins in a way that's authentic and not just symbolic."
She's most pleased about the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), and feels that public opinion is trending in the LGBT community's direction. "I'd never have imagined that the hate crimes law would have passed and that DADT would be repealed in our lifetime," she said. "Health care has been an incredible win for the community."
Long has strong words for those on the fence about the re-election of President Obama, some of whom plan to sit out the next election cycle. "Every decision has a consequence," Long said. "Can you live with the consequences of not playing a role in the outcome of this election? Remain engaged. Write letters. Make phone calls."
For all she's done, Long sees a tough road ahead, with much more needing to be accomplished. "It's a huge undertaking to sway current members of Congress to do the right thing and pass ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Some polls indicate that 80-90 percent of those in favor of ENDA think the law has passed. It should be a no-brainer, but we still have not been able to do it thus far."
She won't be giving up the fight anytime soon. As the interview concluded, Long prepared herself for an upcoming meeting. "I'm privileged to be involved in shaping public policy," she concluded.
To support the work of Long and NGLTF, visit www.TheTaskForce.org .
