Celebrating the life of Nancy Wohlforth

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Pride at Work members from the past three decades and siblings from across many movements, joined together at the AFL-CIO to celebrate the life of Pride at Work founder Nancy Wohlforth, whose organizing and leadership in the labor, LGBTQIA+, anti-war, and civil rights movements have a profound lasting impact on us all. 

Pride at Work shares immense gratitude for OPEIU, the AFL-CIO, and Nancy’s beloved wife Denice Lombard hosting the celebration. AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler shared moving remarks about Nancy’s trailblazing leadership, CWA International President Emeritus Larry Cohen emceed, and the DC Labor chorus led us in song.

Long before the word “intersectionality" was coined or popularized, it was at the core of Nancy’s organizing and worldview. She recognized how deeply interconnected we all are, and how the fight for workers’ rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial justice, and the human right to healthcare, safety, and peace are all one and the same. That perspective tremendously shaped Pride At Work’s founding and lives on in our structure and approach today.

Nancy, the first openly LGBTQIA+ officer of an international union (which she became in 2003), also became the first openly LGBTQIA+ person elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council in 2005. Nancy and Cal Noyce served as the first Co-Presidents of Pride At Work and in 1997 secured the AFL-CIO’s recognition of us as an official constituency group.

Nancy was known for reminding her Pride At Work siblings: “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a sturdy folding chair!” Especially in this time of increased attacks on trans people, workers, and immigrants, we all must look to Nancy’s spirit and example of courage and conviction. She taught us that when we join together to boldly stand up for what is right, we can and will win. 

Thank you for everything, Nancy!