Pride @ Work Salutes Linda Chavez-Thompson,

[Omaha Steve]

PRIDE @ WORK, AFL-CIO

WE ARE LESBIAN, GAY,BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER

Sept. 11, 2007

For immediate release



Pride @ Work Salutes Linda Chavez-Thompson,

Wishes Her Well as She Moves on From AFL-CIO Executive Vice-Presidency



WASHINGTON -- Pride at Work voiced heartfelt appreciation today for the work of Linda Chavez-Thompson, Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO, who has announced her resignation effective next week.

“Linda has been our most stalwart advocate in the labor movement,” said Pride at Work co-president Nancy Wohlforth. “She provided crucial support when Pride at Work applied to become an official constituency group of the AFL-CIO, long before most unions recognized their LGBT members. She has always walked the walk, not just talked the talk, when it comes to the rights of LGBT workers. Several years ago, we bestowed upon her the title of honorary lesbian and Godmother of Pride at Work. She is a true friend and a true champion of diversity, and she will be sorely missed.”

“Linda's outstanding work to raise the consciousness both inside and outside the labor movement on issues affecting women and people of color has raised the bar for all of America's union leaders. However, no one has made more of a positive impact to move lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers' equality into the mainstream of union politics,” said T Santora, Co-President of Pride at Work. “Her staunch and unflagging support for equality paved the way for Pride at Work to be fully recognized as an

AFL-CIO constiuency group. We will miss her terribly, but wish her success and happiness in this next chapter of her life.”

Pride at Work also congratulated Arlene Holt-Baker on her nomination to succeed Chavez-Thompson as Executive Vice-President, and pledged to work with her to insure that the gains made by LGBT workers, as well as all women and minority unionists, are secured and expanded.

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