Judith Appel Named Executive Director of Our Family Coalition Former Legal Affairs Director Has Strong Record of Civil Rights Activism & Community Organizing For Immediate Release: March 7, 2005 Contact: Linda Jacobson, (415) 601-7945 boardchair@ourfamily.org San Francisco The Board of Directors of Our Family Coalition, the San Francisco Bay Area-based, advocacy and networking organization supporting families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) members, proudly announces the appointment of Judith Appel as the organization's new Executive Director. With more than 500 family memberships, Our Family Coalition is one of the nation's largest LGBT family organizations. Appel will direct and expand Our Family Coalition's education, advocacy, social, and community-organizing activities, and lead the organization's strategic development. "I am excited to be doing this important work during this critical moment in our history," Appel says. "Our Family Coalition has established itself as the premier source of educational, social, and advocacy programs for LGBT families in the Bay Area. I look forward to building on this success and to further creating a rich and secure environment for our families." At this historic period in the struggle for equal rights, Our Family's key priorities are: Moving the rights of our families to the front and center in the burgeoning gay and lesbian civil-rights movement; Building community for our families through the provision of social, educational, and informational resources; and Collaborating with other family-support and LGBT organizations to make schools and childcare facilities safe and welcoming for our youth. "Judy has a respected track record in working for human rights and leveraging the law to effect social change. She's a devoted mom, with roots in the Bay Area's family community," says Linda Jacobson, Chairperson of Our Family Coalition's Board of Directors. "Judy has the vision, energy, parenting perspective, and political acumen that we need to serve Bay Area LGBT families." California State Assemblyman Mark Leno agrees. "In the fight for equal rights for the LGBT community, Our Family Coalition works to ensure that the rights of our children and their families are front and center. I've known and worked with Judy for many years, and she is and continues to be a great asset to the movement." The executive director of COLAGE (Children Of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere), Beth Teper, adds, "I'm very proud of the strong, complementary partnership that COLAGE has built with Our Family Coalition. I look forward to working with Judy Appel to broaden the collaborative spirit and programming that our organizations share." Judy Appel's Background Appel has more than 15 years of experience as a public-interest lawyer involved in policy-based work. A charismatic activist with roots in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Sacramento, Appel previously was Director of Legal Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the harm caused by drugs and drug policies. She serves on the Boards of Directors of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance, and Coalition on Homelessness. Appel and her partner live in Berkeley and have a seven year-old son and a three year-old daughter. The two moms are co-presidents of Oxford Elementary School's PTA in Berkeley. About Our Family Coalition Founded in 1996, Our Family Coalition promotes the civil rights and well being of families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members through education, advocacy, social networking, and grassroots community organizing.