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Arcelia Hurtado, one of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys, has joined the staff of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) as the new deputy director. Hurtado will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations as well as help lead future planning, strategy and development initiatives.
For the past two years, Hurtado served as the executive director of Equal Rights Advocates (ERA), a civil rights organization for advancing equal opportunity for women and girls through impact litigation and advocacy.
“We are incredibly excited to have Arcelia join NCLR,” NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell said in a press release. “She brings a strong progressive vision and a wealth of organizational and legal experience to this critical role. Her skills, values, and leadership are a great match for NCLR, and her voice and talents will elevate our impact.”
Hurtado, a Texas native who received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, has spent her career advancing and protecting the rights of women, immigrants and criminal defendants. Prior to leading ERA, she was a deputy public defender for San Francisco County and Santa Clarita County, as well as a teacher of constitutional and criminal law at Bay Area law schools.
Hurtado replaces former Deputy Director Kris Hermanns, who left NCLR in December 2011 to lead the Pride Foundation as its new executive director. Hurtado begins her new role with NCLR in April.
“I’m thrilled to join NCLR, where I hope to continue and strengthen NCLR’s legacy of cutting edge litigation and commitment to social justice,” Hurtado said of her new position. “I am very grateful for this opportunity to work on behalf of LGBT equality and inclusion and use the experience and skills I have gained in my past positions to help NCLR continue its great work. I am proud of all that Equal Rights Advocates has accomplished during my tenure and look forward to future collaborations.”
