DETROIT –
Triangle Foundation announced Bernadette Brown as its new director of policy. Born and raised in Detroit, Bernadette received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and her Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. She is coming to Triangle Foundation from New York City where she is currently the Deputy Director at Childbirth Connection, a research and policy organization that promotes evidence-based maternity care.
Bernadette's passion for the LGBT movement stems from various aspects of her past and her own identity. The product of a politically-active lesbian mother, Bernadette was not only aware of many of inequalities facing the LGBT community, but she lived them. As a teen she was unprotected by her mother's partner's health insurance, a problem that still exists with LGBT families today involving domestic partner benefits.
After coming out eight years ago, Bernadette always wished to work on issues of LGBT injustice. "As an African-American woman, I was never a stranger to discrimination prior to coming out," said Brown. "But I worry about the discrimination that my son will experience with a lesbian mother and grandmother. Something in society is amiss when the amount of violence and hatred toward our community is as high as it is. We have to do something to make Michigan safer for us and future generations."
Sean Kosofsky, the former director of policy and current executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, stated, "Bernadette has an amazing personality and a passion for LGBT work. Her background in advocacy is inspiring and Triangle Foundation will undoubtedly achieve new heights in politics with such an outstanding director of policy."
"Bernadette has highly developed communication skills and a vivacious energy," said Kate Runyon, interim executive director. "Her broad and diverse background makes her agile with many of the policy-focused needs of our community and a powerhouse in the movement. I look forward to working with such an incredibly empowering fellow female community member."
Triangle Foundation welcomes Bernadette Brown
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