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Matt Foreman directs the Fund’s Gay & Lesbian and Immigrant Rights programs.

Before coming to the Fund, Matt led a national, a statewide and a local LGBT organization—the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (2003 - 2008), the Empire State Pride Agenda (1997-2003), and the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (1990-1996). During his tenure at the Task Force, the agency’s budget and staff more than doubled to $10 million and 60, respectively, and it re-established itself as a leading voice for LGBT rights in our nation’s capital. At the Pride Agenda, Foreman led campaigns that delivered a statewide nondiscrimination law, a hate crimes law, over $15 million for LGBT health and human services, and several laws extending equal benefits to the surviving partners of those killed on 9/11. At the Anti-Violence project, he focused the city’s attention on anti-gay violence and won important changes in police training, deployment and responsiveness.

Prior to his work in gay rights, Foreman worked 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 as director of a medium/minimum security facility on Rikers Island.

A graduate of NYU School of Law, he is a founder of Heritage of Pride, the organizers of New York City’s annual LGBT pride events, and a former member of the New York City Human Rights Commission.