[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E188-E189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MR. RICHARD D. BURNS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Mr. NADLER of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Mr. Richard D. Burns, Executive Director of New York City's Lesbian, 
Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Community Center. Mr. Burns proudly 
serves as the longest-serving Executive Director of any LGBT 
organization in the United States.
  A graduate of Hamilton College and the Northeastern University School 
of Law, Mr. Burns has built a long and distinguished career of public 
service, diligently leading a number of important service and advocacy 
organizations through the years.

[[Page E189]]

  This year, while celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Center has 
grown to become the largest LGBT multi-service organization on the East 
Coast and the second-largest LGBT community center in the world. More 
than 6,000 people and 300 groups meet there every week. As a mark of 
his achievements, Mr. Burns was inducted into OMB Watch's Public 
Interest Hall of Fame at their 25th Anniversary celebration in 
September 2008.
  Before joining The LGBT Center in December of 1986, Mr. Burns acted 
as President of the Board of Directors and as Managing Editor of the 
Gay Community News in Massachusetts.
  Mr. Burns has served on the Board of Directors of the Non-Profit 
Coordinating Committee since 1987. In addition, he is an active member 
and past Co-Chair of CenterLink, an association of LGBT Community 
Centers which he co-founded in 1994. Today, CenterLink is the national 
voice for nearly 150 LGBT community centers across the country as a 
result of his dedication.
  Mr. Burns also serves on the Citizen's Advisory Committee of New York 
City's Human Resources Administration and is the founder of the New 
York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network. And Mr. Burns is a 
member of the Steering Committee of the National LGBT Executive 
Directors Leadership Institute, a member of the National Gay and 
Lesbian Task Force's National Policy Roundtable.
  Today I rise to recognize and congratulate Richard D. Burns for 22 
years of outstanding and dedicated service to the lesbian, gay, 
bisexual and transgender population of New York, and for his 
groundbreaking work as Executive Director of The LGBT Center.

                          ____________________