Gay/Labor Pioneer Howard Wallace Elected

One of the most influential organized labor bodies in the U. S. has elected gay/labor pioneer Howard Wallace to the position of Vice-President of Community Activities by acclamation. The Council represents over 81,000 members of more than 140 affiliated local unions and constituency groups. Wallace currently represents Pride at Work (PAW) on the Executive Committee of the Council. PAW serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers and is part of the AFL-CIO. Wallace was a founder and one of its first national co-chairs.

Walter Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Council, called Wallace "a highly effective organizer who has always been there for us and has definitely made history." He will have a voice and vote of all standing committees of the organization. Howard retired from the 90,000-member Health Care Workers Local 250 last year after serving on staff for 14 years. Prior to that, he was on the national staff of the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO. Wallace promised to "launch joint projects of many progressive segments of San Francisco."

Wallace has been a civil and human rights activist since he was a junior in high school 50 years ago. He launched numerous coalitions of mutual support between the lgbt community and the labor movement beginning in the early '70s. He was a leading organizer of national boycotts of Florida orange juice, Coors Beer and Shell Oil Co.


In 1975 he organized Bay Area Gay Liberation, a large mass action organization. He has received numerous community awards of recognition.