Task Force appoints Carey as new ED

After a four month national search process to replace former executive director Matt Foreman, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's board of directors hired from within, appointing Rea Carey to serve as Foreman's successor. Carey had been serving as interim executive director following Foreman's departure, and prior to that she served as deputy executive director of the organization for four years. A press release from the Task Force said Carey initially told the search committee she did not wish to be considered for the permanent position.

"Rea proved to be an extremely strong and charismatic leader in the interim position. ... The search committee approached Rea a second time and asked her to serve the organization and the LGBT community at this critical juncture. This time, she said yes, "said Paula Redd Zeman, board member and co-chair of the search committee, in a statement.

Carey said in a statement that she was honored to take the helm of the Task Force at what she described as a pivotal point in the LGBT rights movement.

"The last two years alone have shown astonishing progress in nondiscrimination laws and relationship recognition in the states. And yet, we have a long way to go in tackling other challenges such as economic and healthcare hardships faced by LGBT people, appropriate care for the growing number of LGBT seniors and helping progressive people of faith assert their belief in the humanity of LGBT people," wrote Carey.

Before serving as deputy director Carey worked with the Task Force in a variety of capacities, beginning as a youth leadership trainer in the late '90s and then as a consultant helping the organization develop a strategic plan. From late 2003 to January 2004 she was the Task Force's chief strategist, shaping its national marriage strategy, and in February 2004 she was hired on as deputy director.

Prior to her work with the Task Force Carey worked in a wide range of non-profit settings. She was one of the co-founders of Gay Men and Lesbians Opposing Violence and the founding executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition.