Speakers (2023)
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Chastity Bowick (she/her) is an award-winning activist, civil rights leader, and transgender
health advocate. She led the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts INC
for seven years, which is the leading crisis agency for transgender communities in
Massachusetts. She is now the Community Engagement Director at Massachusetts General Hospital`s CARE Research center. Ms. Bowick launched Chastity`s Consulting & Talent Group, LLC (CCTG) in January of 2023. CCTG vision is to uplift and guide the Transgender and GNC communities to be able to live a
more adequate life with equal protections and opportunities. To educate
everyone who provides services for our community on our needs and wants.
Schuyler Bailar (he/him) is an educator, author, and activist who made history as the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. Originally recruited to swim for the Harvard women’s team, Schuyler made the difficult choice to transition while potentially giving up the prospect of being an NCAA Champion. His story has appeared everywhere from 60 Minutes to The Washington Post. Schuyler’s tireless advocacy has earned him numerous honors, including LGBTQ Nation’s Instagram Advocate for 2020. In 2021, Schuyler released his first middle-grade novel, Obie Is Man Enough. And in 2022, Schuyler created
LaneChanger.com, a learning series that makes gender literacy education accessible to every team, school, and company.
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Dr. Carmen Alvaro Jarrín received their Ph.D. from Duke University and they are Associate Professor of Anthropology at College of the Holy Cross. Their research explores the imbrication of medicine, the body and inequality in Brazil, with foci on plastic surgery, genomics and gender nonconforming activism. They are the author of The Biopolitics of Beauty: Cosmetic Citizenship and Affective Capital in Brazil (University of California Press), which explored the eugenic underpinnings of raciological thought among plastic surgeons, and the aesthetic hierarchies of beauty that reinforce racial inequality in Brazil. They are also co-editor of two collections of essays: Remaking the Human: Cosmetic Technologies of Body Repair, Reshaping and Replacement (Berghahn Books), and Precarious Democracy: Ethnographies of Hope, Despair and Resistance in Brazil (Rutgers University Press).
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Alan Pelaez Lopez is an AfroIndigenous (Zapotec) poet, installation and adornment artist from Oaxaca, México. Their work attends to the quotidian realities of undocumented migrants in the United States, the Black condition in Latin America, and the intimate kinship units that trans and nonbinary people build in the face of violence. Their debut visual poetry collection, Intergalactic Travels: poems from a fugitive alien (The Operating System, 2020), was a finalist for the International Latino Book Award. Alan has been organizing and building with undocumented migrants living in the U.S. for over a decade. More at www.alanpelaez.com
Alicia Roth Weigel (she/they) is an intersex activist working to improve the landscape for marginalized populations through her firm, Intrepida Strategy. A human rights commissioner for the City of Austin and member of Collective Speakers bureau, her work is featured in Focus Features’s film Every Body and a forthcoming memoir Inverse Cowgirl.
Raymond Rea (he/him) is a filmmaker and writer. His film work has screened widely including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Light Field, San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (Frameline), BFI, London; Translations, Seattle; Lost & Found, Amsterdam; Outfest, Los Angeles; Inside Out, Toronto; Mix Mexico; Mix NYC; New Fest, NYC; Out on Screen, Vancouver; Inside Out, Toronto; Reeling, Chicago; Hamburg LGBT Film Festival; Melbourne GLBT Film Festival; Union Docs, Brooklyn, ATA, San Francisco; Flex Fest; and The Nightingale, as well as other national and international venues. His interactive work screened at the Plains Art Museum as part of the ND Human Rights Arts Festival. Ray's writing has been produced at EXIT Stage Left, EXIT Mainstage in San Francisco and at Theatre B in Minnesota.
Donavan Begay Postier (she/her) is an enrolled citizen of the Navajo Nation and a communications expert with a passion for connecting people to resources and organizations. She has over 10 years of experience in digital content creation, marketing, and higher and postsecondary education. She has led the Communications Department for SPEAK MPLS, a member-powered media center that amplifies the voices of Minneapolis residents, and the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, a non-profit health center that provides medical, mental health, and dental care to the local American Indian and Alaska Native communities. She has also served as Academic Success, Student Success, and Retention Specialist for both the University of Minnesota and Arizona State University.
Esther Fallick is a comedian, singer, and musical theater writer based out of Brooklyn, NY. She has been written about in Vulture, Autostraddle, Broadway World, and more. Her one woman show, “Esther Updates Her Book” has played NYC venues including 54 Below and Asylum, and was part of the 2022 New York Comedy Festival. She performs regularly around Brooklyn & Manhattan and you’re just gonna love her :).
Oliver Slayton (they/them) is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and a current student at Harvard College. From a young age, Oliver embraced their genderqueer identity and has fearlessly lived an authentically queer life. Pursuing a dual focus on biology and American Sign Language with aspirations for a career in gender-affirming surgery, Oliver is committed to making a meaningful impact in the field. They are one of the Co-Founders of Queer& (Queerand.org), and are the Co-Director of Communications for Harvard Undergraduate Queer Advocates. Oliver's dedication extends to their involvement in various LGBTQ+ initiatives, including serving on the Healthcare and Mental Health Subgroup of the Harvard LGBTQ+ Student Support Working Group, the Harvard Queer Advisory Council, and interning at the BLGTQ office. Additionally, they engage in research at the Department of Gender Surgery in Boston Children's Hospital, furthering their understanding of this critical field.
Genny Beemyn, Ph.D., (they/them) is the director of the UMass Amherst Stonewall Center and coordinator of Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse. They have published some of the first articles on needs of trans college students. Genny has written/edited The Lives of Transgender People (with Sue Rankin, 2011); A Queer Capital: A History of Gay Life in Washington, D.C. (2014); and the anthology Trans People in Higher Education (2019). With Abbie Goldberg, they edited The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies (2021). They are currently writing Campus Queer: Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ+ College Students with Mickey Eliason. Beemyn is also the associate editor of the Journal of LGBT Youth and an editorial board member of the Journal of Bisexuality, the Journal of Lesbian Studies, and the Journal of Homosexuality. They have a Ph.D. in African American Studies and master’s degrees in African American Studies, American Studies, and Higher Education Administration.
Elliot Marrow
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology
University of Massachusetts Boston
Maya Satya Reddy (she/her) is the Harvard Law School’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic’s Clinical Fellow. Maya is a queer South Asian former professional golfer, LGBTQ+ athlete activist, Athlete Ally Ambassador, founder of the Queer Asian Social Club, and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. During her time as a law student, she co-designed and developed the first ever South Asian Law Student’s Association symposium on the 100th anniversary of United States v. Thind; edited the University of Pennsylvania’s Journal of Constitutional Law; served as co-president of Penn Law Lambda; and authored two pieces defending trans athletes in the University of Pennsylvania Regulatory Review and with Teach for America.
Noah Glick (they/them) is the Youth and Family Coordinator of the Trans Health Program at Fenway Health. Their work is centered on helping trans and gender diverse youth and their families access and navigate gender affirming care. They also support the larger trans and gender diverse community through building resource guides, serving a a notary, conducting training and education for professionals, community event planning, and peer support group facilitation. Noah is especially passionate about helping folks access gender affirming gear, clothing, and name and gender marker changes, and they recently created a program for Fenway Health patients to access free gender affirming gear.
Dr. Anna Baeth is a critical feminist scholar and a cultural studies practitioner of sport. Her research centers on the gendering of sport spaces, the eternally moving body, and social movements and sport. A native of Frederick, Maryland, Baeth has a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota with a concentration in sport sociology. While there, Baeth was a research assistant in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Beyond her scholarly pursuits, Baeth is a perennial coach and advocate for cultural awareness in sport spaces. Holding an M.S. in exercise and sport studies from Smith College, Baeth has been an assistant lacrosse coach at Hamline University, Minnesota, head field hockey coach at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, and assistant field hockey / lacrosse coach at Mount Holyoke College. In 2009, she rode her bicycle cross country with the non-profit Bike and Build to raise awareness of affordable housing issues. Baeth graduated from Pennsylvania’s Swarthmore College with a degree in sociology and anthropology, peace studies, and educational studies, where she also founded the not-for-profit Chester Neighborhood Bike Works.
Mason Dunn (he/they), Director of Education & Research at the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce in 2023 and serves as the Director of Education and Research. A lawyer and educator, Mason brings over 15 years of LGBTQ+ advocacy experience to the Chamber. Prior to joining the team, they served as Deputy Director for the Division of Education and Training at the Fenway Institute. Beyond their full time work, Mason teaches at UNH in Manchester in the Communication's Department, is a board member with The Equality Federation, and serves on the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
Rebecca Minor, MSW, LICSW is a neuroqueer femme, clinician, consultant, and educator specializing in the intersection of trauma, gender, and sexuality. As a Gender Specialist, Rebecca partners with trans and gender nonconforming youth through their journey of becoming, and is a guide to their parents in affirming it. Rebecca is part-time faculty at Boston University School of Social Work and always works through a lens that is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and resilience-oriented. In addition to her clinical work, Rebecca has provided cultural humility training and consultation to organizations, schools, and businesses for the past decade.
Julie Thompson (she/her) joined Fenway Health in 2010 and was named the Medical Director of the Trans Health Program in 2016. She is a primary care clinician leader who specializes in LGBTQIA+ health, high-resolution anoscopy, and is an HIV Specialist through the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Julie works to guide Fenway’s multidisciplinary team approach to provide high-quality, informed care to the trans and gender diverse communities. Julie is faculty at the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, providing trainings to health centers nationally and internationally. She is also established as core faculty on TransECHO and TransLINE, both of which are gender affirming medical consultative services for health care providers across the country. In April 2022 she was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the United States Professional Association of Transgender Health (USPATH).
Josué Miranda Quiles, LICSW (he/him) works at the Counciling and Mental Health Services of Harvard University Health Services. As a Latinx and queer mental health professional, he uses his own intersections of diversity to connect with all clients, knowing the importance of being seen, heard, appreciated, and understood. As a gay identified therapist my experience finding my own sense of self-acceptance heavily informs the way I practice.
Theodore V.Z. Longlois (he/him) is an educator, health advocate, writer, and drag king hailing from South Texas graduate of Harvard College. Post graduation, he taught debate at the middle and high school level in Birmingham, AL with Impact America, an AmeriCorps program, and was a coach for Smith College Debate. He also served as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault for nearly a decade and as a HIV counselor. He is dedicated to trauma-informed care and restorative justice, an ethos he developed during the Social Justice Organizing Fellowship with the ACLU of Alabama.
His poetry and essays have been published in Bible Belt Queers, Rainbow Rodeo zine, The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents Edition, Dinner Bell magazine, The Harvard Crimson, and The Crimson White. Under the stage name Tex Miller, he utilizes his decade of classical dance training to perform ballet and tap adaptations of country and classic rock numbers in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New York City. He is currently a Master of Divinity student at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he is pursuing hospital chaplaincy and restorative justice in faith settings.
Dakota Roundtree-Swain is from Brockton, MA. A leader with a holistic approach to mentorship and directorship roles, Dakota is deeply invested in the personal and professional development of every person that touches their life. Deeply rooted in justice and equity, Dakota is dedicated to making sure that DEI is first, not virtue-signaling as a means of meeting the times but entrenched in every single part of program development, implementation, evaluation, and institutional culture and climate. Secondly, with both DEI and their praxis more broadly, Dakota has proven that they will not do any work that impacts historically oppressed populations without putting people from those communities at the forefront of those conversations in a participatory action framework. Dakota teaches Sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and in November 2022, they began their newest role as the Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Harvard Medical School. As of 2023, Dakota has an M.A., Ph.D. ABD in Social Policy from Brandeis University. Their work involves racial disproportionality in foster care, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and systems change more broadly.
Richard Ehrlichman, MD completed his undergraduate education at Emory University, receiving a BS with High Honors in Biology and being elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Dr. Ehrlichman completed a full general surgery residency training at Brigham and Women's Hospital and his plastic surgery training at Massachusetts General Hospital. He achieved board certification in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery.
Following his residencies, he went on to become a staff surgeon in the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. There he was the director of the residency program and head of the melanoma clinic.
Dr. Ehrlichman specializes in plastic surgery of the breast, body and face, especially the eyelids. He has extensive experience in adult and pediatric burn reconstruction and scar treatment with the laser. His practice includes breast reconstruction after mastectomy as well as complex facial reconstruction after removal of skin cancers. In addition, he has extensive experience in cosmetic surgery of the body, breast and face.
As a licensed mental health counselor, Rebecca Nelson has worked in several different settings, including public middle and high schools as an adjustment counselor for students with various mental health diagnoses and in outpatient community mental health serving various age groups. She has worked primarily with adolescents and adults with anxiety and mood disorders, gender dysphoria, and people who have experienced trauma and has worked extensively with LGBTQ+ identifying youth and young adults, including providing support and care for those seeking gender-affirming medical interventions. She frequently utilizes cognitive-behavioral interventions in treatment while pulling from other modalities as well and take a supportive, collaborative approach, with a focus on each person’s individual strengths to facilitate growth and improved well-being.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing and seeing live music, playing and watching sports, running, kayaking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel DiBella (she/her) serves as Associate Director for Strategic Prevention Initiatives in the Office for Gender Equity at Harvard University. In her role, Rachel oversees multipronged efforts to prevent and respond to gender-related violence and harm, and to support gender diversity across the institution. Rachel is currently a Doctoral Fellow in the Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health at William James College, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Psychology, examining leader influence in instances of organizational trauma and community resilience. Rachel is additionally a licensed psychotherapist, group facilitator, and part-time faculty at Boston College. Prior to joining Harvard, Rachel stewarded several LGBT health, violence prevention, and gender justice initiatives in higher education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations.
Neal Peterson (he/him) is a staff physician at Harvard University Health Services and director of the BLGTQ treatment team since September 2022. Prior to his position at HUHS, he was a resident physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Fenway Health, where he trained in gender-affirming medical care. Neal is a proud member of the LGBTQ community.
A member of the queer community herself, Carolyn Emberley (she/her) is committed to and passionate about respect and representation for all, including and especially the most marginalized. Carolyn firmly believes that technology should ease life for people, not hinder them or box them in. She adamantly uses her position as a technology professional to smooth experiences for trans people and others who are marginalized and otherwise left out of technology solutions.
Kris King (they/them) is a nonbinary transmasc Autistic disabled self-advocate and student at Harvard College studying History of Science: Medicine and Society, Women and Gender Studies, and Global Health and Health Policy. Kris was the Director of Community Engagement for the Trans Community of New England. They serve as the President of the nationally competitive Harvard Curling Team and on the USA Curling Divisional Board, with the Autism Society on the Vaccine Education Initiative and Policy Chair of Harvard Athlete Ally. Kris was the lead facilitator of the 2022 Harvard Trans+ Community event and 2021 Conference Autism: Education & Equity - A Public Health Discussion and founder of neurodivergency-focused nonprofit, Pandemic Learning Tutors.
Tre’Andre Carmel Valentine (he/they) is a Black, Indigenous, and South Asian immigrant from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. They have over 10 years of experience in the anti-violence movement supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, and DEI work specializing in LGBTQ+ inclusion. Tre’Andre consults for the Fenway Institute and serves on the Boston Human Rights Commission. He is the first BIPOC Executive Director to lead the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, the oldest active transgender advocacy organization in the United States, solely focused on trans and nonbinary communities.
Taj M. Smith (he/him) is a speaker, transgender educator, and Founder of Rooted Respite, a virtual community serving activists, DEI practitioners, faith-based changemakers, and others committed to creating a more equitable world.
Taj’s explores the spaces where spirituality, justice, and identity overlap. He is a Black transgender man who is deeply curious about the ways faith and identity interact to produce hopeful futures. He has a creative passion for music and literature, particularly sci-fi and fantasy. He holds a BA in Politics from UC Santa Cruz and an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School.
Jesse Freidin is an award-winning queer identified photographer and author focusing his attention on elevating the experience of the LGBTQIA+ community through portraiture and interviews. His photography is part of over 150 private collections nationally. His current series “Are You OK?” addresses the dangerous wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping the country in a passionate attempt to erase stigma and elevate the voices of those most affected. Jesse’s work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Vogue and more. He is the author of two books: When Dogs Heal: Powerful Stories of People Living with HIV and the Dogs That Saved Them, and Finding Shelter: Portraits of Love, Healing and Survival.
Gabe (he/him) is a social and psychiatric epidemiologist who works on research with young LGBTQ+ people, focusing on supportive relationships, interpersonal violence, and social marginalization as they relate to mental health and substance use. He is Principal Investigator of the Whole Selves Project (https://wholeselv.es), a community-engaged research project exploring how trans/nonbinary young adults resist cisgenderism, racism, ableism, sizeism, and heterosexism—and their negative health consequences—through supportive romantic and platonic relationships. He completed his PhD at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2021 and is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the Yale School of Public Health. Gabe has been active in trans/nonbinary communities since coming out as trans more than 15 years ago. He enjoys hiking and camping (often in New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains), rock climbing (but only indoors), and running (but only slowly).
Oliver Williams (he/him), is a queer trans athlete from Portland, Oregon, and currently serves as the Congressional Fellow for the Victory Institute. Oliver is passionate about LGBTQ+ equity and the empowerment of trans athletes. He co-founded the Big Ten Queer Student-Athlete Coalition to advocate for the needs and visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes. Oliver received a Bachelors in Public Policy Analysis from the Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Outstanding Senior Leadership Award for his years in competition and in service to his Rowing team and community. Oliver enjoys trans community organizing, hiking, and is a foodie!
Kasey LeBlanc (he / him) -- author of Flyboy (HarperCollins / Balzer + Bray '24)
Mika Kimmins (she/her) is a former high-performance rower at Canadian national senior and pan-american teams. She has been an avid advocate of transgender inclusion in all levels of sports, contributing to WADA and IOC updated guidances for 2020 Olympic games, as well as Canadian olympic committee and Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport. She holds MS in Engineering and MBA from Harvard University, as one of the first openly trans graduates of Harvard Business School's MBA program. In her professional capacity, she is a published author and educator in Computer Engineering for large scale and hyperscale data systems. In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring early career transgender and poc technology professionals.
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Aren is a librarian, zine maker, and social justice advocate. Their interests include sex positivity, accessible & inclusive education, feminist theory, LGBTQ+ rights, prison abolition, and dogs. Aren has written several zines on the topics of sex education, body positivity, and reproductive justice and is currently running Menstrual Blog (menstrualblog.tumblr.com), an ongoing project that aims to normalize period positivity from a gender-inclusive framework. They also work with the Boston-based activist organization Pleasure Pie (pleasurepie.org) to provide affirming, shame-free sex and consent education.
Kimm Topping, Ed.M. (they/them/theirs) is an educator, writer, historian, and community organizer. They are the founder of Lavender Education, a national education program focused on celebrating LGBTQIA+ history, education, and youth leadership. From founding the first GSA in their hometown as a young person to now mentoring youth leaders and supporting educators, Kimm has always been passionate about building the confidence of others to lead social change.
For over ten years, Kimm has worked closely with schools and organizations on creating more inclusive, liberatory spaces for all LGBTQ+ youth to thrive. Prior to founding Lavender Education, Kimm managed the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students in Massachusetts and taught courses on gender and sexuality at Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2023, they received the inaugural In-Service Award from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition recognizing their decade of service to Boston’s trans community.
Nicole is a sex educator and founder of Pleasure Pie, a grassroots sexual justice organization based in Boston. She is passionate about reimagining sex ed through zines. Nicole aims to create honest, down-to-earth sex education that celebrates the beautiful diversity of gender and sexuality. Her work focuses on consent, overcoming sexual shame, and advocating for sexual rights. You can find more information about Pleasure Pie at pleasurepie.org.
Jeff Brody is an artist/therapist/ gardener/transguy. He is a 66 year old Jewish New Yorker who lives south of Boston with his partner. Jeff came out as a lesbian at 13, went to a women’s college, and lived for decades as an underemployed butch dyke carpenter and graphic designer. He got a masters in art therapy in the early 90s, transitioned in the late 90s, and moved from NY state to New England. Jeff has worked in a variety of inpatient & outpatient clinical settings and has had a solo private practice since 2008, seeing mostly neurodivergent and/or trans clients of all ages. He has been a lifelong activist and organizer.
M. Joyce-Anderson (they/them) is a queer and trans clinician who specializes in
supporting LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Currently in private practice, M brings a wealth of clinical experience to their work. Their history includes emergency service program management, serving as Director of Social Work for a system of inpatient psychiatric hospitals, providing outpatient therapy including intensive child and family therapy and most recently working as Co-Director of a gender care clinic for children and adolescents. M has also developed agency policy and trainings on culturally
responsive care for trans and gender diverse individuals in acute care settings.
AC Goldberg (he/him) is a physically disabled intersex/transgender DEI consultant, SLP and Professor whose mission is to cultivate affirming spaces for people of all neurotypes, races, genders, ages, religions, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and (dis)abilities. AC’s work centers around empathy, humanity and intersectional cultural responsiveness. He delivers high impact keynote speeches, facilitates transformative workshops and provides consulting around strategic initiatives and policy. His continuing education nonprofit, The CREDIT Institute, is dedicated to advancing equity in educational and healthcare settings. AC is the 2022 recipient of the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Outstanding Service Award and the 2023 recipient of BU Sargent College's Alumni Special Recognition Award. If you’d like to get to know him, he's @transplaining and @CREDITsInstitute on Instagram.
Jameson P. Grey-Gagne (he/him) is an educator, writer, and activist. He earned his M.A. degree in English and Creative Writing in 2021 and recently began teaching at Southern New Hampshire University. As a teenager, he established a Gay-Straight Alliance at his high school, organized a National Day of Silence with over 300 participants, and facilitated, led, and/ or participated in various workshops and conferences. Since then he took a break from activism and focused on transitioning. He is now working on a memoir and looking to use his newly found voice to speak out.
MG Xiong (they/them) is a Hmong transmasculine non-binary Bostonian who was born and raised in Alaska. They have organized community engagement on trans leadership, gun violence in underserved neighborhoods, and anti-racist education. MG has served transgender youth and adults alike, building community between generations, cultures, and identities. They currently serve as the Director of Programs for the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, developing and directing community programs to build trans power.
Logan McCarty (he/him), Asst. Dean for Science Undergraduate Education and Lecturer on Physics
Diane Gorman (she/her) is Greater Boston PFLAG’s Member Services & Engagement Manager.
She joined the staff in March 2023, after volunteering and being a speaker for the organization for several years. The proud parent to a 21-year-old trans male and a 19-year-old cis male on the autism spectrum, Diane’s professional life has centered around program development and organizational design, with a DEIB lens and a passion for helping individuals find roles where they can shine and bring as much of themselves as they wish to the workplace. Her role at
GBPFLAG allows her to bring her professional skills and her activist streak together, supporEng
our volunteers and hopefully never again hearing the words “but that’s just not how we do
things here”. In her spare time, Diane laughs at the idea that she has spare time, but also loves
running, antiquing, and practicing the saucy hair flip it took her decades to master.
Tate Duffy (he/him) is a queer speaker and LGBTQIA+ advocate. His scope focuses on youth empowerment and creating inclusive communities. As Education and Training Manager at
Greater Boston PFLAG, Tate has led iniEaEves for the nonprofit’s educational programming and
outreach. The educator role allows him to meld his personal, professional, and academic
passions. Tate is currently a graduate student within TuOs’ DEIJ Leadership Masters Program. His academic experience coupled with his understanding of program development, facilitation, and public speaking has developed Tate’s expertise as a LGBTQIA+ educator.
Jimmy Morgan (he/they) is a coach, choreographer and professional figure skater based in Boston. He focuses on empowering his students by placing value in the whole skater including their long-term emotional and physical well-being. He holds a Mass Communication degree from Boston University. In his spare time, Jimmy is a Pro Ambassador for Athlete Ally, an organization committed to the fair inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in sports. He loves reading, traveling, dancing, and watching too much Netflix. He can usually be found making Tiktoks in the corner of a rink or playing ball with his rescue pup, Cali.
Ashlie Grilz (She/Her) helps brands that want to grow with intention. She is a skilled facilitator and keen entrepreneur who understands the intersection between social change and business goals. She's currently the Brand Director for the LGBTQIA+ owned/operated clothing brand, Peau De Loup where she has led growth in engagement and sales YoY through corporate collaborations, grassroots partnerships, and creative initiatives. Seeing the need for more inclusivity in product and retail to meet consumer demands, Ashlie established her consulting practice (AG Group) as an extension of her deep understanding of community, consumers and their journey.
Delia Sosa (they/them) is a second-year medical student, a transgender advocate, and an LGBTQIA2+ educator. As part of the inaugural cohort of the Medical Education Medical Student Scholars Program at their medical school, Delia is working to incorporate LGBTQIA2+ representation in the preclinical phase of medical school. They are a Director on the National Leadership Team of the Medical Student Pride Alliance, a member of the GLMA Health Professionals in Training Curricular Reform Committee, Co-Chair of the American Medical Association Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS) Committee on LGBTQ+ Affairs, and a leader of their local chapters of the Medical Student Pride Alliance, Latinx Medical Student Association, and American Medical Association. Delia and their peers co-authored and testified on behalf of a resolution for the American Medical Association to strengthen protection for gender-affirming care across the United States, which was passed into policy in June of 2023. Delia was featured in an NBC News piece on LGBTQIA2+ health in medical education. Delia spends time creating educational resources and social media educational tools for healthcare providers and staff on how to care for LGBTQIA2+ patients, as well as working as a guest artist for the health equity clothing company Riot Healers. They have been recognized for their work by The Point Foundation, The Latino Medical Student Association, Tufts University School of Medicine, Them magazine, and the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Luke Lennon (they/he) is a white transmasc nonbinary queer (sag/pisces/pisces, fwiw) who struggles to write these bios(!). Much of Luke’s work has revolved around pushing for equity in the startup space, including in their current role at Visible Hands, where they lead fellowships for underrepresented entrepreneurs. He is also the founder of Namesake Collaborative, an organization that helps trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive folks navigate the legal name and gender marker change process. Luke has a BA from Middlebury College and MBA from Boston College, and they love hiking, writing/reading poetry, and good food with good company.
Cassidy (they/he) is a psychotherapist, advocate, and educator with a focus on LGBTQIA+ health and gender affirming care. They received their bachelor's degree in Psychology and Public Health from State University of New York at Albany, and Masters in Social Work with a focus in Clinical Mental Health from Boston College. He completed a residency at Harvard University's Massachusetts Mental Health Center, and fellowship at Harvard Vanguard Behavioral Health. Cassidy has experience working inpatient, in partial hospitalization programs, and in outpatient mental health. In addition, Cassidy has volunteered at numerous suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotlines, and worked in leadership at a national suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQIA+ youth. In their advocacy, education and training work, they are the current Director of Community Outreach for the Transgender Community of New England, and have experience with consultation, training and public speaking including at behavioral health startups, behavioral health clinics and organizations, and at mental health and suicide prevention related conferences. He is also neurodivergent, a proud parent, and enjoys writing, making art and spending time outside.
Ben Greene (he/him) is a transgender advocate and educator who has spoken internationally on topics surrounding transgender inclusion. After coming out at 15 in a small town, Ben has devoted his career to spreading empathy, education, and storytelling around the trans experience, and has spoken for companies, hospitals, schools, religious organizations, and government entities sharing what it means to be transgender and how to show up as an ally. He is a fierce advocate for transgender youth, regularly speaking in their defense at the Missouri State Capitol, and is publishing a book for parents and families of transgender youth. He is passionate about educating others from a place of compassion—no matter where they’re starting from.
DeeDee is a trailblazing trans woman with a resolute spirit and a passion for creating positive change.
Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment has inspired numerous individuals who she meets.
As a transgender activist, DeeDee has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and acceptance of
trans individuals. Through her eloquent expression and powerful speeches, she sheds light on the
challenges faced by the transgender community and strives to dismantle societal prejudices.
Micha manages all inquiries for new and current patients at The GenderCare Center, supporting comprehensive health care including behavioral health, surgical services, primary care, and much more. Micha facilitates collaborates between treatment teams and community organizations to increase patient access to various resources. Micha’s focus with the team at Boston Medical Center is the integration of medical and behavioral health care for the gender diverse community, and reducing obstacles that impact culturally competent care. He is an independently licensed social worker with a Master’s Degree from Wheelock College and provides counseling, consultation and assessment.
Reverend Alia Shinbrough (they/them) is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a passionate activist, and a collaborative community builder. They earned a Master’s of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, graduating in the Pandemic Class of 2020. Rev. Alia believes in the liberating potential of queer-normative and trans-expansive spaces, and they look to unconventional and unapologetically queer sources of wisdom to guide us through the uncertain times we’re living through. Outside of ministering in a variety of places and liminal spaces, they can often be found reading science fiction, traveling to connect with friends and family, fighting for a more just world, and spending time in the great outdoors.
Burhan is a highly acclaimed multi-media trans and non-binary artist, innovation expert, and community organizer, renowned for their exceptional work in promoting sustainability, celebrating South Asian culture, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and skillfully exploring the intricate connections between these crucial themes. Their expertise as a captivating speaker and activist from Pakistan has made them a sought-after figure, delivering impactful presentations at prestigious institutions worldwide, including MathWorks, Them, and Pink News.
Atlas (he/they) is a senior at Harvard College from Ottawa, Canada, concentrating in Psychology with a secondary in Women, Gender and Sexuality studies. On campus, he is the co-president for the Queer Students Association and a Peer Advising Fellow. Atlas is really passionate about psychological research and has been involved in four different labs during his time in college. Most of this research has been centered around social perceptions of LGBTQ+ people, the relationship between implicit bias and racial health disparities, clinical intervention work for people with severe mental illness, and improving education and psychotherapy outcomes for transgender youth. When not doing one of a million research projects, you can spot Atlas on his skateboard around campus. In his spare time, he loves to meditate, work out, go out to concerts and basketball games, dance, and of course, thrift. Beyond graduation, he would like to pursue a PhD in Social or Clinical Psychology and work directly on research and applications concerning LGBTQ+ youth mental health.
Byron Gonzalez (he/him) is a dedicated junior at Harvard College hailing from California, concentrating in Psychology and a secondary focus on Global Health and Public Policy. He is the co-president of the Queer Students Association and is a Peer Advising Fellow. His unwavering commitment lies in direct community service, community organizing, and bridging diverse perspectives. As the Co-Programming Chair for Phillip's Brooks House Association, he spearheads initiatives and manages his afterschool program within the housing projects of South Boston. Byron is very passionate about cross-cultural education research within hospital settings, particularly in addressing racial biases. His involvement in research projects at MGH has been centered on enhancing care for marginalized individuals affected by such biases. In his leisure moments, you'll find him cycling along the river, staying active, and indulging in thrift shopping.
Looking beyond graduation, Byron aspires to pursue a MD&MPH, enabling him to directly work with marginalized communities.
Julien Craig holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Simmons University, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Massachusetts. Currently, Julien serves as an outpatient therapist at Boston GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services), a program of JRI Health. In that role, Julien provides weekly talk therapy to LGBTQ+ youth of color ages 16-29. Julien also facilitates client access to GLASS resources, including free STI testing and safer sex supplies, a drop in space, food, gender affirming clothing, programming such as Vogue Hour and Prisms (a trans support group), and community resources, including housing. It was partially due being a part of GLASS that they felt safe and comfortable enough to come out as non-binary, and to change their name and pronouns. As someone who holds multiple marginalized identities, Julien is grateful for the opportunity to give back to their community in such a meaningful way. Outside of work, Julien is also part of a trans rights activist group. In their free time, Julien enjoys CrossFit, going to the movies, listening to audiobooks, doing puzzles, and spending time at home with their fiancée and their two cats.
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Gabby Jonas (she/her) is the Network Prevention Coordinator and a Behavioral Health Therapist at Boston GLASS. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Gabby, a Trans-Woman of Asian heritage, focuses her therapeutic efforts on delivering behavioral healthcare services to LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families. In addition to her role as a therapist, Gabby takes charge of GLASS's outreach initiatives and works to cultivate and maintain relationships with other organizations and individuals. Gabby leads PRIMS, a support group for trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming individuals.