Pride Agenda names new executive director

The Empire State Pride Agenda, a New York State gay advocacy group, announced Wednesday that it has appointed Alan Van Capelle as its new executive director. Van Capelle will begin his new job in May, after serving a brief transition period with current executive director Matt Foreman. Van Capelle will oversee the Pride Agenda's legislative, political action, and community organizing activities as well as the education and advocacy work of the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation. The Pride Agenda is the largest statewide gay civil rights and political advocacy organization in the nation, with a $2.1 million budget and 11 full-time staff members in New York City and Albany. "Alan has an extraordinary record of accomplishment with the Service Employees International Union," said Duffy Palmer, upstate cochair of the Pride Agenda board. "As deputy political director of Local 32BJ, he demonstrated the ability to organize thousands and move major legislation in New York City. He brings to the Pride Agenda the vision, energy, and political acumen we need to press and keep winning in the fight for full equality under the law." Foreman's first term as executive director was from 1997 through 2001. He returned for a second time last September on an interim basis after Joseph S. Grabarz Jr. stepped down to pursue other interests.