PRESS RELEASE
-For Immediate Release-
September 10, 2008

Contact: Brian Gumm, (202) 683-4812, bgumm@ombwatch.org
Cathy Renna, (917) 757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com

Richard Burns Wins Award for Outstanding Public Interest Work in New York Area

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2008—OMB Watch is pleased to announce that Richard Burns, Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, has won a Public Interest Hall of Fame Award for his outstanding public interest work in the New York City area. Burns is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northeastern University School of Law.

The Public Interest Hall of Fame Awards are part of OMB Watch's year-long 25th Anniversary celebration and honor the "unsung heroes" who have made their mark in making the world a better place and will leave an important legacy. Public Interest Hall of Fame Award winners will be recognized at OMB Watch's 25th Anniversary event in Washington, DC, the evening of Sept. 17.

Burns' peers said he exemplifies the attributes of someone who has dedicated his personal and professional life to serving the public interest of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. Burns' commitment and passion for equality, health, safety, and well-being for all New Yorkers is complimented by his courage, creativity, commitment, and leadership abilities. Colleagues applauded his nomination for this award because, among other things, the programs he has helped create have consistently and successfully responded to the emerging needs of the LGBT communities of New York.

Upon learning of the award, Burns said, "I was delighted and humbled to hear that I had won this award. The honor is especially meaningful because of the fact that The Center is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year."

Gary D. Bass, Executive Director of OMB Watch, offered his congratulations. "Richard's work with the LGBT Community Center is nothing short of astounding. He has engaged local, state, and federal government agencies and has successfully fought for social justice for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people." Bass added, "The organizations' simultaneous 25th anniversaries add to our happiness in being able to present one of seven Public Interest Hall of Fame Awards to Richard."

The full list of award winners is available at /files/25th. There were roughly 100 nominees considered for the award. For more information about OMB Watch, see http://www.ombwatch.org/article/archive/250.

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Richard Burns Bio

Richard D. Burns has served as executive director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City since December 1986. The Center provides mental health and social services, cultural programs, advocacy, youth programming, and meeting space to more than 6,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people each week. Burns previously worked as Managing Editor and later served as President of the Board of Directors of the Gay Community News in Massachusetts. Burns, an attorney, is the past co-chair of Center Link, the community of LGBT community centers, which he co-founded in 1994. Center Link is the national voice for nearly 150 LGBT community centers across the country.

In 1978, Burns was the founding President of GLAD, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, in Boston.

He serves on the steering committee of the National LGBT Executive Directors Leadership Institute and he is a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's National Policy Roundtable. Burns is the founder of the New York State Lesbian and Gay Health and Human Services Network, and serves on the Citizen's Advisory Committee of New York City's Human Resources Administration. Richard also chaired the CAC's Transgender Subcommittee, which was charged with the development of best practices with regard to HRA's transgender clients and staff.

Richard has been a member of the Board of Directors of The Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York since 1994. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northeastern University School of Law.

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OMB Watch is a nonprofit government watchdog organization dedicated to promoting government accountability, citizen participation in public policy decisions, and the use of fiscal and regulatory policy to serve the public interest