Malcolm Lazin

Malcolm Lazin
Founder and Executive Director
Equality Forum

Malcolm Lazin understands that before politicians will change public policy affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights, public opinion must change. His solution to both challenges is a combination of initiatives designed to promote self esteem among the GLBT population and generate cultural awareness of the need for equality for GLBT individuals in the workplace, in schools, and as human beings. Through his varied efforts to gain equal rights for GLBT individuals, he has seen the GLBT movement undergo a period of transition, as the American public begins to show greater recognition of the need for full GLBT civil rights. In fall 2003, Malcolm collaborated with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to contact CEOs of Fortune 500 companies that did not include “sexual orientation” in their hiring and employment non-discrimination policies. Three years after confronting 177 companies, 93.4 percent of Fortune 500 companies now offer sexual orientation protection. In October 2006, Malcolm introduced GLBT history month to school calendars for the first time, allowing students to learn about 31 GLBT leaders who have shaped the history of the nation. Through these, and other efforts, Malcolm hopes to see a world where “in principle, people should be treated equally.” Malcolm founded PrideFest Philadelphia in 1993, formerly an annual weekend event focused on GLBT pride. Since then, he has leveraged his connections with worldwide GLBT movement leaders to transform the forum into a weeklong conference featuring over 100 national and international organizations. The forum features gay role model awards, youth panels, and a country applauded for its GLBT civil rights successes.

Malcolm Lazin is the executive director of Equality Forum, a national and international gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization with an educational focus. As a federal prosecutor, Malcolm led federal grand jury investigations and taught white-collar crime investigation techniques to United States attorneys' offices nationwide. He has served as the president of the Waterfront Developers Corporation and the Penn's Landing Development Corporation, was a partner at Rubin, Quinn, Moss & Patterson for 15 years, and was the assistant United States attorney from 1970 to 1974. In 2005, he was the recipient of the National Education Association's Creative Leadership in Human Rights Award, and in 2006, he was honored by his alma mater, Lebanon Valley College, with the distinguished alumnus award.

For more on Malcolm Lazin:
Equality Forum Draws Tens of Thousands
By Michael K. Lavers, Edge Boston
May 4, 2010

More than 50,000 Expected at 'Global GLBT Summit'
By Christine Fisher, Philadelphia Daily News
April 28, 2010

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