Bay Windows - November 6, 2003
Laura Kiritsy, lkiritsy@baywindows.com.

Buseck will join Lambda Legal in January, where he will be responsible for managing and administering the legal department, which does litigation nationwide out of offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas. Similar to GLAD's mission, Lambda Legal works to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered people and people with HIV or AIDS.

Buseck stepped into the executive director role in November 1997. However, his history with GLAD goes back to its earliest days. Having graduated from Boston College Law School in 1980, in 1981 Buseck became one of the first board members of the fledgling organization that became known as GLAD. He served on the board until 1989; he also served on the organization's Litigation Advisory Committee and as a cooperating attorney prior to assuming leadership of the organization.

"GLAD has been the 'love of my life' for nearly 25 years," said Buseck in a Nov. 4 statement. "I happen to think that it is one of the finest GLBT organizations in the country with a staff and board that has accomplished great things to make equality a reality in New England and nationwide. I have every confidence that it will continue to do so."

GLAD has litigated some of its most high-profile cases under Buseck's watch, including the groundbreaking lawsuit Baker v. State of Vermont, in which the Vermont Supreme Court held that excluding gay and lesbian couples from benefits and protections of marriage was unconstitutional under state law. The landmark ruling resulted in Vermont's civil unions law. In 2001, GLAD filed Goodridge et al v. Department of Public Health, a similar challenge to Massachusetts' marriage laws. The state Supreme Judicial Court is expected to rule on the case shortly.

Buseck founded one of Boston's first gay law firms, Buseck & Ansolabehere, in 1981. He has a long history confronting challenges to strides gay men and lesbians have made in the courts and in legislatures. Buseck was among the lawyers who helped beat back a challenge filed by opponents to the Bay State's 1989 ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 1996, the Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association honored Buseck with a public service award for his longtime efforts on behalf of the community.

"It is incredibly hard for me to leave all my friends at GLAD and to leave Boston, but the opportunity to work full-time as a lawyer again and to do it in the fight for LGBT equality nationwide was just irresistible. I look forward to continuing to work with my friends - the lawyers at GLAD - to advance our common goals."

GLAD is immediately commencing the task of searching for Buseck's successor. "We wish Gary all the best in his new venture," said GLAD Board President, Barry Field. "These past six years have been a time of remarkable growth and success for GLAD. Gary has been a key player in that growth, and we know that it will only continue in the years ahead."

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