Cheryl Jacques is a United States politician who, beginning in January 2004, served for 11 months as president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, or GLBT, advocacy organization. It was as the leader of the nation's GLBT communities that Jacques addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
She resigned Nov. 30, 2004, citing "a difference in management philosophy" with her board, following criticism of the HRC's failure to defeat referenda in 11 states banning same-sex marriage and, in some cases, civil unions.
Previous to her work with the organization, Jacques was one of the first openly lesbian members of the Massachusetts State Legislature serving six terms since 1992 in the Massachusetts State Senate. There, she became the first woman and first freshman legislator to chair the judiciary committee. Before her legislative career, she was Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County and Assistant Attorney General of the state.
Jacques graduated from Boston College in 1984 and received her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 1987. Cheryl resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with her partner, Jennifer Wade Chrisler, and their twin sons, Timmy and Tommy.
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Last updated: 05-14-2005 06:55:33
