Matt Foreman is a program director at the Haas, Jr. Fund, overseeing its work in the areas of gay & lesbian and immigrant rights. A nationally recognized leader in the gay and lesbian movement, Matt brings to the Fund a wealth of experience as a lawyer and activist with a rich background in political advocacy and civil rights work.

Matt joined the Fund in 2008 after serving as executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Under Matt’s leadership, the Task Force’s budget and staff more than doubled, and it reestablished itself as a leading voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in the nation’s capital.

Matt has also served in executive positions at the Empire State Pride Agenda and the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. While working at the Pride Agenda, he led campaigns that resulted in enactment of a statewide nondiscrimination law, a hate crimes law and several laws extending equal benefits to the surviving partners of those killed on 9/11.  Matt’s leadership was also instrumental in the success of measures providing $15 million for LGBT health and human services in New York state. Matt’s tenure at the Anti-Violence project is remembered for focusing the city’s attention on anti-gay violence, resulting in important changes in police training, deployment and responsiveness.

Prior to his work in the gay rights field, Matt was involved in prison policy and administration for ten years, including service as assistant commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Corrections, executive assistant to the New York City correction commissioner, and director of a medium/minimum-security facility on Rikers Island.
A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Matt is a founder of Heritage of Pride, which organizes New York City’s annual LGBT pride events, and a former member of the New York City Human Rights Commission.

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