WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden Foundation, created to build on Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s long-standing work in areas such as violence against women, cancer, community colleges and equality, today announced that Emily Hecht-McGowan, longtime advocate for LGBTQ children and parents, will be joining the Foundation’s growing team as Policy Director for Equality.
“We’re so lucky to have Emily on the Biden Foundation team,” said former Vice President Joe Biden. “Her career has been defined by unfailing advocacy and great strides for LGBTQ equality. Her experience and passion will be instrumental in advancing the Foundation’s goals to safeguard human rights and dignity for all Americans.”
Prior to joining the Biden Foundation, Hecht-McGowan spent almost eight years as Family Equality Council’s Chief Policy Officer, where she led the organization’s efforts to ensure full legal recognition and protection for LGBTQ parents and their children through advocacy, grassroots mobilization and public education campaigns. During her tenure, she spearheaded Family Equality’s work in the movement for nationwide marriage equality, worked across federal agencies to expand access to public benefits and programs and advanced pro-LGBTQ legislation in Congress and state legislatures across the country.
From 2006 to 2009, Hecht-McGowan served as a Senior Staff Attorney and then as Legal Director for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, where she assisted service members and veterans in all branches of the U.S. military impacted by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and related forms of discrimination. Before joining SLDN, she was the Assistant Section Director for the American Bar Association’s Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities where she coordinated the ABA’s civil rights, human rights and social justice policy work. In 2013, she was recognized by the National LGBT Bar Association as one of the “Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40.”
The Biden Foundation also welcomes Lauren Thurman as their new Digital Communications Specialist. Ms. Thurman will help maximize the Foundation’s digital impact through web strategy and content development. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lauren worked at the public relations firm Kivvit as a trainee and junior associate, where she helped clients with digital media solutions and regularly ghost-wrote media content for a wide range of organizations.
Ms. Hecht-McGowan and Ms. Thurman join a growing team of Foundation staff, including: Louisa Terrell, Executive Director; Mala Adiga, Director for Higher Education and Military Families; Lynn Rosenthal, Policy Director for the Violence Against Women Initiative; Gautam Raghavan, Advisor to LGBTQ Equality; Greg Simon, Director of the Biden Cancer Initiative; Danielle Carnival, Deputy Director of the Biden Cancer Initiative; Katie Collins, Policy Associate; Katie Petrelius, Director of Development; and Lucy Moore, Special Assistant.
The Biden Foundation is incorporated in Delaware and an operating 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and is eligible to accept tax-deductible contributions for its educational and charitable purposes. The Foundation is funded by donations. The Biden Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
For up to date information about the Biden Foundation, visit: archive.bidenfoundation.org.