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 (GLBT) 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 has produced three of Equality Forum’s award-winning documentaries: JIM IN BOLD, Gay Pioneers, and Saint of 9/11. He is the recipient of the 2001 Man of the Year Award from Congregation Beth Ahavah, the 2005 National Education Association’s Creative Leadership in Human Rights Award, the Philadelphia Veterans Advisory Committee Community Service Award, and the US Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award. Before attending Boston University’s School of Law, Malcolm attended Lebanon Valley College, which honored him with their Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2006.

For more on Malcolm Lazin:
56 Years to Get Married
By Malcolm Lazin, Windy City Times
May 21, 2008

Forum Looks at Plight of Gay Muslims
By Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer
May 1, 2008

Philly: The City of Equality
By Alex Irwin, Philadelphia Daily News
April 28, 2008

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