Washington, DC

(Washington, DC) -- Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the appointments of Sheila Alexander-Reid, as Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs, and Terrance Laney, as Deputy Director of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs.

“I am happy to lead an administration that is reflective and inclusive of the District’s population, said Mayor Bowser. “Our administration is committed to equality and social justice, and that is reflected by the work we do and the causes we fight for every day.”

Today’s announcement took place at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, where Bowser announced the administration’s intentions to transition the Office of GLBT Affairs to the Office of LGBT Affairs, to better align with the community’s embrace of the term LGBT. Mayor Bowser also recommitted the District to Mayors for Marriage Equality, allowing the District to stand in solidarity with cities across the nation in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.

Alexander-Reid was formerly the Director of Strategic Engagement at the Washington City Paper, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Washington Blade, founder and former Executive Director of the Women in the Life Association, as well as host of Inside Out, DC’s only FM, LGBTQ, radio show which aired Tuesdays on WPFW (89.3 FM). In addition, Sheila formerly served as the Vice-President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, and represented Stein on the DC Democratic State Committee. Sheila has championed causes for young people, women of color, the LGBT community, survivors of domestic violence and the list goes on.

Terrance Laney is a civil rights activist and community organizer for progressive causes, particularly LGBTQ equality and racial justice.  He joins the Bowser Administration after serving as an aide to Congresswoman Maxine Waters in the US House of Representatives.

Terrance is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, DC’s leading Democratic organization within the LGBTQ community.  He is a former fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Center for Progressive Leadership and Young People For.