The National LGBTQ Task Force announced the appointment of Cathy Renna, longtime LGBTQ activist and communications consultant to the position of Interim Communications Director.
“We are thrilled to welcome Renna as our Interim Communications Director. She has been a part of the Task Force family for a long time, working on projects and has been a fixture at Creating Change,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director. “I’ve appreciated her as a trusted partner and colleague for almost 30 years and her leadership and experience will be of tremendous value at such a critical and uncertain time for our community and the world, as we navigate the challenges faced by the LGBTQ movement and beyond,” concluded Carey.
“My relationship with the Task Force goes back to my early days as an activist and frequent consultant on projects, particularly Creating Change,” said Renna. “The first media training I ever attended was in fact at Creating Change in the early 1990’s in Washington, D.C.” continued Renna. “At such a precarious and challenging time, I look forward to helping amplify the Task Force’s important work, from imminent Supreme Court decisions affecting LGBTQ people to the historic ‘Queer the Census’ campaign and ‘Queer the Vote’ in the upcoming November elections,” concluded Renna.
Renna is a veteran in the communications industry, and the Principal of Target Cue, a premiere LGBTQ focused communications firm. Since her time at glaad, Cathy has executed her particular expertise in crisis and strategic communications, playing a central role in shaping many major issues affecting the LGBTQ community, from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality and the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. She recently worked with the team that coordinated historic coverage for WorldPride/Stonewall 50, working with NYC Pride.
In her near 30 years of media relations and activism experience, Cathy has garnered placements in every major media outlet in the U.S. and internationally, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press, BBC, The Guardian and the Washington Post. She continues to be a sought after spokesperson for LGBTQ+ issues. Renna lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her partner Karen.
The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights.
For more information go to https://www.thetaskforce.org