Elected officials joined more than 100 residents last night at Somerville High School to celebrate the appointment of Dorie Clark, an Adams House non-resident tutor, to the position of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender (BGLT) liaison to the Somerville mayor's office.

Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay said Clark's appointment to the unpaid position, created in 1991, was part of an effort to increase communication with the BGLT community in Somerville and support gay rights.

Clark, a tutor in religion and BGLT issues, said that her job will be "to make sure that gay residents feel that we are behind them and to increase access to the mayor."

While gay rights activists said they see Clark's appointment as a positive step, supporters conceded that the role of the BGLT liaison remains undefined.

Sean Daughtry, a member of the selection committee that chose Clark, said Clark's first task should be to "fine tune her position."

"She needs to streamline her responsibilities," he added.

Interim BGLT liaison, Julie Katz, who held the position while Clark was being selected, said this will be one of Clark's main tasks.

"We hope that Dorie will help us define what the role of liaison is going to be," Katz said during her speech.

Clark said she plans to push for legislation that would allow domestic partners to have the same benifits as married couples, to increase education about homosexuality and to turn the BGLT liaison into a paid position.

While the responsibilities of Clark's post remains undefined, the speakers yesterday expressed confidence in her abilities.

She received unqualified high praises from both those who selected her and those whom she will represent.

Eli L. Diamond '01 and Katherine A. Murphy '01, an Adams House resident, both described Clark as"brilliant."

"She's definitely the right woman for the job," Murphy said.

Speakers at last night's reception also praised the openness and tolerance of the Somerville community.

Clark was particularly complimentary, comparing Somerville to the North Carolina town in which she was raised, where she found a dearth of gay role models.

"I am proud to be from Somerville," she said. "I'm going to stay here."

During her speech, Gay reaffirmed her commitment to gay rights and thanked the BGLT community for their continued support during her recent campaign.

"I could always count on this community," she told the crowd. "And I will always be there for you."

The audience, which contained a number of openly gay elected officials, such as State Representative Jarrett T. Barrios '90 (D-Cambridge), shared Murphy's enthusiasm.

"Dorie kicks butt!" Barrios said.