Urvashi Vaid (1958 - 2022)

Indian-born American lesbian and community organizing force of nature, Urvashi Vaid was the first women of color to lead a national LGBTQIA organization – the National LGBTQIA Task Force.  Vaid was educated at Vassar College with a law degree from Northeastern University, where she founded the nonpartisan Boston Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance. Among the many events, groups and organizations that she began are a think tank called Justice Work; the Creating Change conference; the Donors of Color network; and the National LGBTQ Anti-Poverty Network. She co-founded the American LGBTQ+ Museum of History and Culture; and spent ten years in global philanthropy, in administrative positions for the Ford Foundation and Arcus Foundation, raising millions for noble causes. The Vaid Group LLC that she founded continues to do exceptional work with social justice movements and organizations.