Former Equality California Head Joins NCLR

Geoff Kors, who led LGBT group Equality California during the fight against Proposition 8, has joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights as senior legislative and policy analyst.

Kors will work with state and local groups as well as NCLR's national allies on LGBT-related legislation, according to a press release. "Few people have had a greater positive impact on the lives of LGBT people and their families than Geoff," NCLR executive director Kate Kendell said in the release. "We are thrilled to have such an accomplished strategist and leader on our team. Geoff will play a pivotal role in providing support to state and local groups, with the goal of enacting laws that will benefit millions of people in states and localities across the country."

Kors added, "Having worked closely with the terrific staff at NCLR for years, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the team and work in partnership with state and local groups that are on the front line fighting to advance equality. While our movement has had amazing successes, there is a great deal of work to do, especially in states with limited or no rights."

Kors, who was executive director of Equality California from 2002 to 2011, received some criticism for the unsuccessful campaign against Prop. 8, which rescinded marriage equality in California after voters approved it in 2008. However, when he left the group, he pointed to the many accomplishments during his tenure, with more than 70 pieces of pro-equality legislation being passed by state lawmakers.

Among other things, these bills created domestic partnerships, addressed bullying of students, enacted antidiscrimination protections for transgender people, and established a Harvey Milk Day. The legislature also approved marriage equality bills twice during this period, but both times the measures were vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Kors's background also includes a stint with the American Civil Liberties Union's Illinois affiliate as director of its gay and lesbian rights and AIDS and civil liberties projects. He is a member of Freedom to Marry Action's board of directors and a graduate of Union College and Stanford Law School. He assumes his new post at San Francisco-based NCLR today.