Elizabeth Birch, noted attorney and former executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, will speak at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, in commemoration of more than ten years of service by the Queer Resource Center of The Claremont Colleges. She will discuss An Awakening Planet: LGBT America on the Edge of History.
Lawrence Robinson '04 cites Birch's visit as particularly timely in the midst of the state and national fervor over the issue of gay and lesbian marriages, at which Birch is at the frontlines. "Birch is the undisputed reigning civil rights leader for the LGBT movement." said Lawrence. "CMC promotes leadership in the making, which includes dialogue about the issues that are controversial and timely."
Elizabeth Birch served eight years as executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization. During her tenure, the group's membership quadrupled to 500,000 and emerged from its grassroots founding to a modern corporate model with a 100-person staff. The former worldwide director of litigation for Apple Computer Inc., Birch has also worked with Fortune 500 companies to develop and implement non-discrimination and domestic partner benefits policies.
The QRC, located on the Pomona College campus, has since 1992 provided resources for students, faculty, and staff of all sexual orientations and genders. The center sponsors a variety of social, political, and educational events each semester. The evening with Elizabeth Birch is sponsored by the CMC Dean of Students with support from the James Irvine Foundation, the Queer Resource Center of the Claremont Colleges, and the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum. The event is free and open to the public.