The
Board of Directors of Lambda Literary announces that Executive Director
Tony Valenzuela will step down in June of 2018, bringing his successful
nine-year tenure to a close.
Under
Mr. Valenzuela's extraordinary leadership, Lambda Literary has become
highly regarded for its educational and cultural programs, and as a
steward and ambassador for LGBTQ literature worldwide.
As Lambda Literary celebrates its 30th anniversary in
2018, it is also a fitting time to celebrate the accomplishments of Mr.
Valenzuela. During his tenure he led the expansion of programs including
LGBTQ Writers in Schools and Lambda LitFest Los Angeles, and brought
greater visibility, diversity, and success to the Lambda Literary
Awards, the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, and the
Lambda Literary Review.
Since
becoming executive director in 2009, Mr. Valenzuela has expanded the
organization's budget fivefold, building a strong, diverse revenue
stream of foundation, government, and corporate grants, individual
donations, fees, advertising, and event revenue. Most of all, he has
worked successfully with the Board of Directors to secure immense
goodwill for Lambda Literary as the premier organization supporting
LGBTQ readers and writers everywhere.
Dorothy Allison, author of the bestseller Bastard Out of Carolina,
winner of the first Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction in 1988,
says, "For almost a decade Tony Valenzuela has been leading Lambda
Literary in doing something vital for all the struggling writers in our
community. His energy and focus have been wonderful to behold."
"Lambda
Literary has had a champion in Tony Valenzuela for the last nine
years," said NYC Council Education Committee Chairperson Daniel Dromm
(D-Queens). "It has been a pleasure to work with him to establish the
LGBTQ Writers in Schools program in NYC public schools. By bringing
LGBTQ authors and literature into classrooms, Tony has helped connect
students with positive LGBTQ role models and stories-something that will
benefit these young people their entire lives."
John
D'Amico, councilmember and former mayor of West Hollywood, which has
been home to Lambda Literary's book club and sponsor of Litfest LA,
declares, "Lambda Literary is an important part of the City of West
Hollywood's commitment to the literary arts and the LGBTQ
community. Working with Lambda Literary and Tony Valenzuela has opened
further the view into who we are and helped the city and the residents
earn the honor of being strong supporters of LGBTQ writers."
"There
is no question that Lambda Literary commands the respect and passion
among its membership and the greater community because of the creativity
and innovation of this director," says Amy Scholder, president of the
Board. "Tony's visionary leadership has attracted many of us to this
organization, to which we now feel an enduring commitment."
Tony
Valenzuela will serve as Executive Director of Lambda Literary until
the end of June 2018. The Board has begun planning for this important
leadership transition and will launch a comprehensive national search
for his successor in January.
