Photo: Nico Lang

The Civil Rights Agenda, a Chicago-based LGBT rights advocacy and policy organization, announced Tuesday it has named an associate director, who will oversee TCRA’s Workplace, Families United and Faith Projects.

Nico Lang, a local activist and blogger, has worked in the position for a number of weeks before the announcement and has been involved with TCRA for about two years now, according to a media release.

“We are very excited to have Nico join our team,” said Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of TCRA in the release. “I have worked with Nico for a few years now organizing throughout Chicago and I know firsthand the ability he brings to the table. He is able to bring together many different types of people, and as any LGBTQ organizer knows that is the main challenge with organizing in the LGBTQ community.”

In addition to his activism work, Lang co-founded In Our Words Blog and contributes to both Huffington Post and Thought Catalog. He intends to use both writing platforms as a chance to spread word on change at both a local and national level. As a seven-year resident of Chicago, the organization said he will carry out its non-profit work in a “unique manner” and bring a fresh perspective on the community.

“In my role as TCRA’s associate director, I hope to continue looking at our community’s problems intersectionally, while also working with populations of the community that often get left behind or ignored in LGBTQ non-profit work,” Lang said in the release. “I hope to use my position to be an ally to the growing Trans, Genderqueer and Intersex Movement. I feel like it’s time for LGBTQ non-profits to start thinking about the community differently, and I hope to be a part of that progression.”