Kate Kendell. | Photo: Wikimedia/NCLR
Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, announced her resignation on Thursday (15 March).
She served for 22 years, ‘with a full and grateful heart’, and will leave the organization at the end of the year. Kendell announced the news via the NCLR blog.
‘I never imagined I would live in San Francisco or lead an organization at the forefront of the fight for LGBT civil rights,’ she wrote.
Kendell grew up Mormon in Ogden, Utah. She then began her career with the NCLR in 1994 as Legal Director. Two years later, they named her Executive Director.
The organization was founded in 1977. Via litigation and policy, the NCLR helps advance civil rights for LGBT people. They were one of the first groups to sue Donald Trump for his transgender military ban.
‘At every stage of this groundbreaking litigation we’ve won and January 1 of this year trans recruits began enlisting in our military,’ Kendell praised. ‘I have innumerable such stories and the impact NCLR has made.’
She continued: ‘I feel enormous gratitude to have been a part of the NCLR legacy, part of the history of the fight, still on-going, for full lived justice for all LGBTQ people. I am forever beholden to you all for making me better. The honor, truly, has been all mine.’
‘With mad love and respect,’ Kendell finished.
Keep fighting
LGBT organizations are sending tweets of praise and admiration for Kendell.
The NCLR vowed to keep fighting both for the community and Kendell.
For the past two decades, @KateKendell, you have been an unstoppable force for our movement. We will keep fighting for our community. And for you. pic.twitter.com/r8lE1Z1449
— National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) March 15, 2018
Equality California also called working with her an honor. NCLR is based in San Francisco.
Working alongside you has been the honor of OUR lives, @KateKendell! Hard to imagine a better partner, friend & advocate for the #LGBTQ community. ❤️https://t.co/UXN6S8jJdu
— Equality California (@eqca) March 15, 2018
Here’s what the Human Rights Campaign said.
Under @KateKendell’s leadership, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) has reached new heights, working to secure national marriage equality and defend the rights of #LGBTQ people before the U.S. Supreme Court. https://t.co/1I27LWSSUf
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 15, 2018
HRC President Chad Griffin called her a ‘fearless and tireless advocate’.
Lambda Legal also added their thoughts.
It has been an honor fighting the good fight alongside you at @NCLRights, @KateKendell! We at Lambda Legal wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 💗 https://t.co/JeV2CPMDAX
— Lambda Legal (@LambdaLegal) March 15, 2018
GLAD did too, calling our her ‘visionary leadership’.
Thank you, @KateKendell, for your visionary leadership and hard work supporting our community. We know you and @NCLRights will keep pushing justice forward and fighting for equality. https://t.co/TU8DU5vMt7
— GLAD (@GLADLaw) March 15, 2018
People who worked with Kendell furthermore shared their memories of her. It clearly moved her and showed how much her work meant to people.
Damn…this is how you last 22 years leading an LGBTQ organization…sniff… https://t.co/09kErp3wMw
— Kate Kendell (@KateKendell) March 15, 2018
Cannot tell you how much this means to me Casey… https://t.co/ncLZ0Cq0Uf
— Kate Kendell (@KateKendell) March 15, 2018
