Cheryl Jacques

Cheryl Ann Jacques (born February 17, 1962) is a United States politician who, beginning in January 2004, served for 11 months as president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, advocacy organization. It was as the leader of the nation's LGBT communities that Jacques addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention. She resigned on November 30, 2004, citing "a difference in management philosophy" with her board, following criticism of the HRC's failure to defeat referendums in 11 states banning same-sex marriage and, in some cases, civil unions. Previous to her work with the organization, Jacques was one of the first openly lesbian members of the Massachusetts State...