Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf 2007

RAD History

The Beginning of...........
.....National Rainbow Society of the Deaf

..........Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf

The Rainbow Alliance began as a vision of Roy Parker, Ft Lauderdale, Florida. He wanted gays and lesbians from all over America to gather as new and old friends to become acquainted. He called a group of deaf friends together to establish an organization first known as National Rainbow Society of the Deaf (NRSD) which was later changed to Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf. Co-founders were: Roy Parker, Herbert Fradin, Michael Hagerty, Edward Schwarz (deceased), Guy Wonder, James Dunne, Richard Thrash (deceased) and Dick Hill (deceased).

NRSD was born on April 30, 1977 as a nonprofit organization in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. The first convention was held at Oceanside Holiday Inn (now demolished and replaced by parking lots) and hosted by Coconut City Society of the Deaf (Ft. Lauderdale and Miami). There were 80 people (and one drag queen) in attendance. Herb Fradin became the first President, Mike Hagerty, the first Vice President, and Edward Schwartz, the first Secretary/Treasurer. Coconut City Society of the Deaf presented the bible and pen to be used at every oath of our new officers. At the beginning we had 4 chapters and 4 delegates and 4 alternate delegates. They represented Empire Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (ERAD)-New York City [Ed Schwarz and Guy Wonder], Windy City Rainbow Society of the Deaf (WCRSD)-Chicago [Jim Dunne and Richard Thrash], Illinois, Sir II-Detroit, Michigan [Mike Hagerty and Dick Hill] and Coconut City Society of the Deaf (CCSD)- Ft Lauderdale/Miami, Florida [Herbert Fradin and Roy Parker].

The convention was to be held annually in different places. It was decided that the second convention would be held in New York City with Empire Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf as host in April 1978 and to be followed by Cleveland, Ohio in September 1979. The rest is history.

In 1982 it was decided to change the name from NRSD to Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf to include our Canadian brothers and sisters. It was also decided that the 1985 Convention in Washington, DC would be the last annual convention. In 1987 we began our biennial convention in Ft Lauderdale, Florida on RAD's 10 th anniversary. In 1991 it was decided that we would change the wording convention to conference so that we would be eligible to receive grants and donations.

The purpose of this Alliance is to establish and maintain a society of Deaf Gays and Lesbians to encourage and promote the educational, economical, and social welfare; to foster fellowship; to defend our rights; and advocate our interests as Deaf Gay and Lesbian citizens concerning social justice; to build up an organization in which all worthy members may participate in the discussion of practical problems and solutions related to their social welfare. RAD has over twenty chapters in the United States and Canada.