PFLAG National Elects Rabbi David M. Horowitz as National President

WASHINGTON and AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National proudly announced the election of Rabbi David M. Horowitz of Akron, OH, as its new board president this week.

"As the family voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)struggle for equality, I hope I can help to boost our outreach to straight allies even further -- especially in the faith communities where their voices are incredibly powerful," said Horowitz after the election. "And I want to involve every one of our chapters in our mission of support, education, and advocacy more deeply than ever before because we know that our family voices inspire change."

"Rabbi Horowitz has been an integral member of PFLAG's National Board, leading our organization in implementing its mission and helping us focus on the incredibly important issue of bringing our message of family acceptance and unconditional love to faith communities. His background as a PFLAG dad, an advocate for equality, and a religious leader will be integral in strengthening PFLAG's work across the country," said Jody M. Huckaby, PFLAG's executive director.

Rabbi Horowitz has been a part of PFLAG Akron, Ohio, since 1990, when his daughter came out as a lesbian. He has been continually active in that chapter and currently serves on its Board of Directors. He joined the PFLAG's National Board of Directors in 2002. He has since served as its secretary and vice-president.

He is the rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel, Akron, OH, serving the congregation from 1983-2001. Prior to that post, he served congregations in Indianapolis, IN and Hammond, IN. After he retired from Temple Israel, Rabbi Horowitz served a congregation in Gold Coast, Australia for almost a year.

Rabbi Horowitz has served, among others, as a member of Jewish Community Board of Akron, of the Community Relations Council (Chair), the National Committee on HIV/AIDS for the Union For Reform Congregations, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (member of the Community Relations Committee). In 2000, he was on the televised panel at President Clinton's first Town Meeting on Race Relations.

Horowitz was the topic of a chapter entitled "Every Day the Rabbi Helps Gays," in Dan Woog's Friends and Family/True Stories of Gay America's Straight Allies, and authored the chapter, "David" in A Family and Friends Guide to Sexual Orientation, edited by Bob Powers and Alan Ellis, and has contributed an article entitled, "Praise God all the Earth," in Alive Now magazine.

Rabbi Horowitz has been married to his wife, Toby, since 1963 and has two children, Wendy (married to her life partner, a transgender man, Julian) and Daniel and three grandchildren.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation's foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of LGBT people. Founded in 1973 by mothers and fathers, PFLAG has more than 200,000 members and supporters in over 250 chapters throughout the United States. To learn more, please visit www.pflag.org.

SOURCE Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)