Rev. Richard Lee Nash

The Rev. Richard Lee Nash (August 5, 1935 - August 30, 1997) was a founder of the Unitarian Universalist Gay Caucus (now called Interweave) at the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association held in Washington, D.C., in June of 1971. He became its first coordinator and edited the first several newsletters of the organization. The Assembly had passed a resolution in support of gay and bisexual rights in June of 1970. He and others developed the idea of an office within the structure of the denomination to work on turning around homophobia within and without the UUA and drafted a resolution to establish it. Others led the drive to establish it in 1973 and to fund it in 1974. Its first director was Arlie Scott, a high level leader in the National Organization for Women during the 1970s.

Dick Nash received his ministerial training at Meadville/Lombard Theological School in Chicago and was graduated in 1961. He served churches in the Chicago and Denver areas and was Director of Community Services for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee in 1969 and 1970. In the mid-'70s be began serving the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community in various secular positions in the Los Angeles area until retirement.

(This biographical statement was provided by Frank Robertson.)

Biography Date: December, 2002

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