Wyrick was selected to serve as Executive Director due to her proven management and leadership within the organization and her vision for growing the Stonewall infrastructure for local LGBT Democratic activists at the grassroots level.

"Stonewall Democrats across the country are leading local efforts that are helping to secure equality for our families," said Stephen Driscoll, board co-chair. "Stonewall is a national organization with a local focus. Jo has provided National Stonewall Democrats with the leadership needed to feed our local movements with resources required to create change nationally."

As Deputy Director of National Stonewall Democrats, Wyrick served as the organization's chief financial officer and oversaw the expansion of the NSD's field and development activity. During this time, National Stonewall Democrats encountered its largest growth in the history of the organization. More than 90 chapters now serve LGBT Democrats across the country, including an increased number of chapters on college campuses as well as chapters serving LGBT Democrats living abroad, such as Stonewall Democrats Australia.

"The electoral success of our local chapters now allows our national organization to press Democratic leaders to further support our families through proactive policy," said Wyrick. "National Stonewall Democrats is the vehicle for our community to continue to improve the record of the Democratic Party on LGBT issues while helping our allies win elected office."

As Executive Director, Wyrick intends to invest additional resources and organizational time in growing infrastructure within LGBT communities not associated with traditional Democratic strongholds.

"There are few national organizations willing to place serious resources in states like South Carolina and South Dakota," said Wyrick. "However, we are finding partners within Democratic and LGBT groups who understand that a long-range vision of equality must include a substantial investment within these communities. Winning political victories a decade from now means seeding new efforts today."

As Deputy Director, Wyrick pressed National Stonewall Democrats to develop grassroots programs benefiting rural LGBT communities alongside an increase in organizing efforts in traditional urban areas. During this time, Stonewall expanded its national membership efforts, created new chapters and increased resources delivered to these chapters. Stonewall also developed a strong focus on connecting grassroots activists with local and state Democratic parties, resulting in an increase in the number of candidates and parties supporting full marriage equality for same-sex couples.

"Jo maintains a passion for the growth of effective grassroots organizing that is too seldom seen in the leadership of organizations based in Washington," said Laurie McBride, board co-chair. "Our chapters across the country have had the benefit of meeting and working with Jo over the past year. She is someone that our members are eager to partner with as we win victories at the ballot box this fall and beyond."

Before joining National Stonewall Democrats, Wyrick previously served as Executive Director of Equality North Carolina and as a Senior Field Organizer with the Human Rights Campaign. Jo Wyrick is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jo Wyrick resides in Germantown, Maryland with her partner Amy and their daughter Elizabeth.

National Stonewall Democrats has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years. The organization now boasts more than 90 local chapters across the country. In 2004, NSD launched the Stonewall Young Democrats with a focus on growing LGBT Democratic activism on college campuses. The organization also placed full-time field organizers in 8 key states, and formed the Young Voters Alliance with four partner organizations. Stonewall Democrats United, a separate 527 organization, was launched during this period with a focus on turning out LGBT voters for progressive candidates up and down the ballot.

For a high-resolution image of Jo Wyrick, please visit: www.stonewalldemocrats.org/uploads/images/wyrickjo.jpg

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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