Rich Tafel
Rich Tafel is the Founder of Public Squared, an organization which offers a voice to non-profit causes in the policy arena. For the last seven years, Rich led RLT Strategies LLC, a strategy, advocacy, and coaching company which provided strategic policy advice to nonprofits battling the AIDS crisis in Africa and Latin America and college access for low income students in the US; RLT Strategies also helped organizations working on issues of health care, orphanage, and faith.
Prior to this, Rich founded the national office of Log Cabin Republicans in 1993, where he debated the likes of the Reverend Jerry Fallwell on Larry King Live and other opponents of gay equality. He appeared on most major political TV programs and fought for appropriate AIDS funding and equality for gays and lesbians. He testified before Congress on the need to support the Ryan White Care Act. In 1999, he authored "Party Crasher: A Gay Republican Challenges Politics as Usual" (Simon & Schuster). During his tenure, Log Cabin Republicans went from an unknown entity to a well known brand in American political life.
Prior to his work at LCR, Rich was appointed by Governor Weld (R-MA) to manage the adolescent health programs of Massachusetts. Rich's work in the public policy arena for social justice causes is inspired by his faith: Rich is ordained minister in the Swedenborgian Church.
