Clark will lead LGBTQ advocacy group

After a nationwide search, the Gill Foundation has selected local Brad Clark as president and CEO of the national organization that funds LGBTQ causes.

Clark is taking the helm of the Denver-based foundation from Courtney Cuff, who announced her departure in July, at a time when advocates say LGBTQ rights are under attack.

“There’s no mistaking the fact that the progress that we’ve seen over the past several years is under attack by the current administration,” Clark said. “But I’m optimistic. We’ve come through harder challenges.”

As an example, Clark pointed to the federal government’s support of a Lakewood baker who refused to bake a Denver couple a wedding cake because he did not support same-sex marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case Tuesday.

He also noted that 31 states still allow firing and housing discrimination based on a person’s sexuality or gender identity. Growing up in smalltown Iowa, Clark said coming out in rural parts of the country is still not easy despite the growing support of LGBTQ people across the nation.

Clark has experience working in LGBTQ advocacy. He has been the Gill Foundation’s vice president of partnerships since 2015. He was the first executive director of One Colorado after working as a campaign director in his home state for One Iowa. He also developed the Human Rights Campaign’s Project One America.

“My vision (going forward) is really clear, it’s to defend the gains that we’ve made in recent years,” Clark said. “No rollbacks in protection LGBT families currently have and really inch ever closer to full equality for LGBT Americans.”