Mon, December 8 2008

Richard Burns Announces Departure as Executive Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City

NEW YORK - Richard Burns, Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, has announced his departure from the Center. The longest serving leader of an LGBT organization in the United States, Mr. Burns has served as Executive Director since December 1, 1986. Mr. Burns has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer at The Arcus Foundation, and will leave the Center in early February, 2009.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, the Center has grown to become the largest LGBT multi-service organization on the East Coast and second largest LGBT community center in the world. Every week, 6,000 people visit the Center, and more than 300 groups meet here. The Center has four programmatic departments: Adult Mental Health and Social Services (including Center CARE and Center CARE Recovery); Youth Enrichment Services (YES); Cultural Programs; and Advocacy. The Center offers programs and activities that provide adult and youth counseling, social services and referrals, educational forums, advocacy, community organizing opportunities, coalition building projects, leadership development workshops, and cultural programs.

Mr. Burns currently serves as the Center's chief executive officer with overall responsibility for the Center and its more than 40 programs and services. He developed the organization from a staff of three into the nation's leading and most comprehensive LGBT community center with a staff of 80 and a budget over eight million dollars. Mr. Burns acts as the spokesperson for the Center and the LGBT community with media, the press and the public. Mr. Burns is a leader and a mentor in the LGBT liberation movement.

The Center's Board and Senior Managers recently completed an in-depth community Needs Assessment and also concluded a comprehensive Strategic Planning Process. This process has further strengthened the focus of the Center in meeting the ever-changing needs of our diverse community. The Center's Board and Senior Managers will provide continuity for the Center during this leadership transition. This is an opportunity for the Center to bring new vision to an experienced and passionate team that will carry the Center into the next 25 years and beyond.

The mission of The Arcus Foundation is to achieve social justice that is inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and race, and to ensure conservation and respect of the great apes.

"Richard Burns has been the driving force of the Center for the past 22 years," said Center Board President Bruce Anderson. "His vision, perseverance and dedication to the LGBT Liberation Movement secures his position as one of the more important social justice leaders in the country today. Although we are sad to hear of Richard's leaving the Center, we are excited for him in his new role at The Arcus Foundation. The Center's Board of Directors and senior management have assembled a team to steer the Center through this transition with grace and strength."

Richard D. Burns Bio & Photo

About the Center

A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to 300,000 visitors each year and we are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs.The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org