TASK FORCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice President, People and Culture
Alicia Boykins is a Masculine of Center (MOC) Lesbian, a Mother, Dominant Woman, a Leader and one of the most promising LGBTQ Advocates in the field of Human Resources (HR). She is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) & SHRM-CP with more than a decade of experience. She has an active Secret Security Clearance. Alicia has managed organizations with staff as large as 500 and possesses a solid working knowledge in the following fields of HR: Strategic Planning, Organizational Development, Collective Bargaining, Health & Wellness Initiatives, Compliance, Compensation and Benefits, Recruitment and Retention, Employee Development, Performance Appraisals, Federal and State Employment Laws.
As the National LGBTQ Task Force Director of Human Resources and Administration, she has been a public speaker, presenter and trainer on diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace with a focus on LGBTQ and People of Color (POC) communities. She is a member of the executive leadership team and advises management on compliance with Federal and State Laws. Her responsibilities include working to improve the knowledge, understanding, and implementation of National LGBTQ Task Force policies, procedures, and programs; oversees full scale recruiting and hiring and supports employee use of organization's benefits program.
Alicia is a graduate of Grambling State University with a B.S. in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration-Human Resources Management Degree. Alicia is a long-standing member of The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAHR).
At the Task Force, Alicia can merge her passion for human resources and advocacy while supporting diverse communities and showing up as her fully authentic self-every day. She hopes to create change by showing the people that look like herself and her community that we can be in leadership positions, have a seat at the table and not have to dress, look like or be anyone other than ourselves.
Allen (he/his/gladiator) was born and raised in Beaumont, TX. Graduate of Regent University School of Law (M.A.) and Grand Canyon University (B.S.), Allen is a Policy and Government Affairs gladiator with over a decade of broad-based public policy, immigration, criminal, and human rights experience across the legal, corporate, government, and non-profit sectors.
Before serving as the Policy Director, Allen worked in the Immigrant rights movement on various issues, such as ensuring access to legal counsel, permanent protections for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, and pushing Congress to pass comprehensive immigration legislation. Allen's primary goal is collaborating with leaders to implement substantive change to ensure legislation that serves all in need of protection and permanent solutions is achieved. Allen brings an upbeat, positive perspective into the role of being a fearless advocate for directly impacted and historically marginalized people who are often silenced and pushed to the side. In his free time, he likes to watch space/NASA documentaries, The Golden Girls, and cuddling on the couch with his fur son.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Andrea Montanez is a proud transgender woman Colombian immigrant and a dynamic leader with over a decade of experience working within LGBTQ+ communities nationwide. With a master's degree in criminal justice, Andrea has dedicated her career to advancing social justice and equity, particularly for transgender individuals. Throughout her professional journey, Andrea has excelled in leadership and management, demonstrating her ability to lead medium to large-scale advocacy and community-center programs effectively. As the Senior Racial Equity, LGBTQ+, and Immigration Organizer at Hope Community Center, Andrea led all programming related to LGBTQ issues, including clinical and behavioral health programming, pride events, and advocacy initiatives. She has been instrumental in raising awareness about the impact of discriminatory legislation targeting transgender and immigrant communities in Florida, advocating tirelessly for policy changes and strategies to repeal harmful laws. Andrea's commitment to transgender justice extends beyond her professional endeavors. She has actively participated in fellowships and leadership cohorts, including the Human Rights Campaign's ELEVATE fellowship and the ACTIVATE leadership cohort, aimed at empowering transgender leaders of color. Her involvement in the Next Level Program as a community council member further underscores her dedication to community engagement and advocacy. She is the co-founder of the Queer and Transgender Immigrants (QT Immigrants) Group, a grassroots group focused on support for the queer and transgender immigrant community. She also serves on the boards of numerous community-based organizations across the country, all aimed at serving systematically and structurally excluded populations. In her new role as a Field Organizer at the National LGBTQ Task Force, she aims to leverage her previous experiences in community organizing and advocacy to drive policy and community change. Outside of her professional commitments, Andrea enjoys spending time in nature, whether it's walking along the beach, hiking in the mountains, or indulging in her favorite hobby of trying different flavors of ice cream, with rum and raisin being a personal favorite.
Andrea N. Durojaiye, also known as Andy, is the Membership Manager at the National LGBTQ Task Force. Andy is dedicated to helping our staff and community partners provide the tools and resources needed for LGBTQ+ communities to build grassroots power. She comes to this work with over ten years of outreach and fundraising experience within the LGBTQ+ movement.
Job Titles:
- Director of Conferences and Events
Andy (he/him) has over 30 years of experience working for queer liberation and social justice, with a particular passion for directing conferences and events that build power for LGBTQ people across the country. He spent the first 15 years of his career doing LGBTQ youth work at both the national and local level, first at the National Youth Advocacy Coalition and later at the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (BAGLY). His long history of designing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives includes positions at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Massachusetts Legal Services, and the LGBTQ Pipeline Project. He also did policy work, program implementation, and conference planning for both the Equality Federation and Point Source Youth. Prior to returning to the Task Force as Director of Conferences and Events, Andy served in two consecutive roles at the National LGBTQ Task Force: Director of the Creating Change Conference and Director of the Advocacy and Action Department. In his personal time, Andy enjoys exploring the world through travel, music, books, and food. He holds a BA in Psychology and Women's Studies from Cornell University. A native of New Jersey and Miami, FL, Andy has also lived in Boston and Brooklyn. He's currently based in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor for Community Affairs / Denver, CO
Anthony Aragon joined the Office of Mayor Michael Hancock in August, 2011 as the Director of Boards & Commissions. He manages over 130 different civic boards and commissions and makes recommendations to Mayor Michael Hancock who to appoint to the various boards and commissions.
Prior to joining the Mayor's Office, Anthony worked for the State of Colorado as a member of Governor John Hickenlooper's transition team and helped coordinate the Governor's inaugural events. On January 11, 2011 he was named Chief of Staff to First Lady Helen Thorpe. Anthony also served as Governor John Hickenlooper's GLBT Liaison. Prior to that, he worked at the Mayor's Agency for Human Rights & Community Relations (HRCR) as the Director of the Denver Office on Aging & Community Relations on August 18, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of Boards & Commissions for Mayor John Hickenlooper and also served as the Mayor's Director of Scheduling for several years.
Anthony is a Denver native and has been a proud member of Denver's GLBT community for over 25 years. He is a long-time Democratic activist having worked for former Mayor Federico Pena, Governor Roy Romer and Ambassador Swanee Hunt. He has also been honored as the Colorado Pride Guide 2005 Coloradan of the Year and the 2006 Colorado Business Council Professional Man of the Year. Some of Anthony's civic engagement includes serving as a Commissioner on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, having been appointed by Governor Bill Ritter in July, 2007. Anthony was also on the board of One Colorado and is a past President of the Board of Directors for Equal Rights Colorado. Anthony lives with his partner of 16 years, David Westman & their doggies Andale & Arriba in Stapleton.
Job Titles:
- Communications Marketing Campaign Manager
- Creative and Digital Strategist
Benjamin Coy is a charismatic fashion creative and digital strategist with a strong academic and tactical background in digital communication management, event logistics, content strategy, and brand development.
Through collaborations with both private and nonprofit entities, Coy's expertise is centered on pivotal issues such as Black queer liberation, representation, intersectionality and education equality. Currently serving as the communications marketing campaign manager for the National LGBTQ Task Force, Coy's professional portfolio includes notable partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the National Black Justice Coalition, the Anacostia Arts Center, Harlem's Fashion Row, as well as other prominent political and entertainment figures.
As a thought-leader, Coy has been featured in publications such as Vogue Club by Vogue, Fashion Bomb Daily, BlaqueOUT Magazine, Voyage Baltimore and on-air with "Living Local DMV" on The CW. Along with being a co-host/moderator with Team Rayceen Productions, Coy is the co-host of the "Cocktails and Culture Podcast" and host of The National LGBTQ Task Force's Instagram Live series "X is a Queer Issue" discussing intersectional topics that hinder queer folx ability to thrive.
Coy holds a B.A. in mass communication (PR/Advertising) from Bethune-Cookman University and an M.A. in strategic communication (digital communication strategies and analytics) from American University. In 2024, Benjamin was added to PR Week's Pride in PR list of 30 inspirational LGBTQ PR practitioners in the world.
Job Titles:
- Consultant, Multicultural Organizational Development / Minneapolis, MN
Beth Zemsky MAEd, LICSW, currently works as a consultant specializing in intercultural organizational development with non-profits, educational institutions, foundations, social change, and faith-based organizations. She has 30 years experience as a community organizer, educator, psychotherapist, and organizational leader including serving as founding staff at Minnesota's statewide LGBT civil rights organization (OutFront MN), founding Director of the GLBT Programs Office at the University of Minnesota and former co-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
Beth is also adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota where she has taught in Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies, Social Work, and Family Social Science. In 1996, Beth was chosen to be Grand Marshall of the Twin Cities GLBT Pride. In 2000, Beth was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship to study organizational development of social movement organizations, and in 2008 she was awarded Quorum's Lifetime Achievement Award for service to Minnesota's LGBT community.
Brian Marone first became involved with the Task Force in 2017 volunteering as a member of the marketing committee for Winter Party Festival. Brian joined the Task Force full-time in 2021 as the Events Manager overseeing logistics for the Task Force gala, as well as Winter Party Festival, the event that brought him into the organization nearly four years ago.
Brian has over 8 years of nonprofit administration and development experience at various institutions throughout the New York tri-state area, including Storm King Art Center, Americans for the Arts, and NYC Pride.
Brian graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz in beautiful upstate New York where he earned a degree in Organizational Communications.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Associate at the National LGBTQ
- Development Operations Coordinator
Cary Webb is the development associate at the National LGBTQ Task Force. She comes to the Task Force with nearly 20 years of nonprofit, event, and fundraising experience with time spent at organizations such as the ACLU, Pace University, and The Feminist Press. An avid table-top gamer, Cary is also resident host of Gayme Nights at Creating Change. For the past four years she has sought to make gayme nights a haven for attendees who want to have a moment to decompress during a full week of learning and networking. She holds a BA in Music from Baruch College and currently resides in New York City.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
- Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University
Cathy Renna joins the National LGBTQ Task Force as Communications Director but is no stranger to the organization. As a longtime supporter and contractor on projects over the years and a regular presence at Creating Change, she has been part of the Task Force's extended family for decades.
Renna is a veteran in the communications industry and serves as the Principal of Target Cue, an LGBTQ+ focused communications consultancy. Since her time at GLAAD through the 1990's, Cathy has executed her particular expertise in crisis and strategic communications, playing a central role in shaping nearly all major issues affecting the LGBTQ community, from the beating death of Matthew Shepard in 1998 to the fight for marriage equality and the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell". She most recently worked with the team that coordinated historic coverage for WorldPride/Stonewall 50, working with NYC Pride, the emerging visibility of transgender and non-binary people and is thrilled to elevate the visibility of the Task Force as a strong, inclusive and intersectional voice in the queer movement and a queer voice in the progressive movement.
After leaving her position at GLAAD as National News Media Director, Cathy joined Fenton Communications, where she served as its New York office Media Director from 2004 to 2006 and worked with clients ranging from MoveOn.org to the American Lung Association to Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai.
She went on to found Renna Communications and then Target Cue in 2013. In her near 30 years of media relations and activism experience, Cathy has garnered placements in every major media outlet in the U.S. and internationally, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press, BBC, and the Washington Post. She continues to be a sought-after spokesperson for LGBTQ+ issues.
Renna lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her wife Karen and their ornery but lovable cat Winston. Renna is currently an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, teaching "The Role of Media, Public Relations, and Communications Strategies for LGBTQ+ Equity and Advocacy." She is the proud Mom of Mars, who attends HSPVA High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX.
Chad Richter served as chair for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Winter Party Festival from 2009 to 2012. He currently serves as a Board member of Miami Beach's LGBT business enhancement committee where he makes recommendations to city commissioners to ensure the welfare of the Miami Beach LGBT community. He helped found Miami Beach Gay Pride and served as president in 2012. A Miami native, Chad is dedicated to his community and an advocate for human rights.
Christopher Russell has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. During his tenures at Northern Trust, he first serviced high net worth clients in developing their estate planning strategies with an emphasis on their charitable giving. During his second term in the marketing division, he serviced and entertained the clients with his attention to detail, creativity and style while keeping within the standards of the brand.
Since 2007 he has been involved with the Task Force through serving on the Miami Recognition Dinner Committee. He had the honor to serve as Co-Chair of the dinner in 2010 and 2011. He has been with his husband, Mario, for over twenty years and they were married in Toronto, Canada in July of 2008.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer
- Treasurer / Fort Lauderdale, FL
Job Titles:
- Leader
- President / Jordey Group / Dallas, TX
Cordey Lash is a recognized leader in diversity, justice, and equality through his professional work in the hospitality industry and his personal commitment to social activism and philanthropic causes. Born in North Carolina and raised in Philadelphia, Lash is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Communications and Public Relations.
Now based in Dallas, Cordey Lash's career spans over a decade and has focused primarily on gaining a diversity of conference business for Hilton, Intercontinental and Wyndham Hotel Groups. From Asian, Hispanic, and African-American groups to the LGBT community, Lash has achieved professional success by raising diversity awareness for his hotel properties and simultaneously serving multi-cultural client groups. As the President of Jordey Group, Lash utilizes his expertise and innovation in hospitality, non-profit and marketing to continue his pioneering efforts!
Job Titles:
- People and Culture Manager
- Special Assistant to the Executive Director
Dana Riceel is the Special Assistant to the Executive Director. She embraces the pronouns her/she/hers and welcomes affirming epithets.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Marketing / Showtime Networks Inc. Los Angeles, CA
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Dee Tum-Monge is a nonbinary, Latine and seasoned communications professional with a passion for applying the creative impact of narrative-driven digital media.
Over their career in managing communications, marketing and branding, Dee has established themself as a knowledgeable builder of processes and strategies for issue-based organization and firms. They have played a pivotal role in advancing national-scale campaigns for, most recently, the National LGBTQ Task Force, Hispanic Communications Network, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Plantita Power.
Dee believes everyone has something to contribute towards the racial and gender liberation of all. As a digital organizer, they actively work towards building QTBIPOC community power by growing transformative online support networks. Recognizing the need for digital partnerships, Dee has expanded collaborative opportunities with community leaders, social influencers, and intersectionality-forward organizations.
In their professional capacity with the Task Force, Dee leads the organization's Spanish-Language work by ensuring impactful messaging in Spanish-language media and developing language-accessible resources around language justice and LGBTQ inclusion. They actively engage with Latine-serving, trans-led organizations to listen how to best support and collaborate on Spanish-language accessibility solutions, including for initiatives like Creating Change and voting efforts.
Delilah Pierre is a black activist and writer living in Tallahassee, Florida. She has organized for community control of the police after the deaths of Mychael Johnson and Tony Mcdade. She has also fought for the passing of the most inclusive conversion therapy ban in the nation and organizes as a member of the Tallahassee community action committee. She is dedicated to working for the LGBTQ+ community in Tallahassee and across the United States.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Co - Chair / Miami, FL
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Senior Strategist, Creating Change Director
Fernando Z. López is a transformative leader and dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, with over two decades of contributions to human rights, social justice, and community empowerment. Originally from rural El Centro, California, López moved to San Diego as a homeless youth in 1999 and has since emerged as a prominent figure in global LGBTQ+ advocacy.
A former fellow with the National LGBTQ Task Force, López has worked with the organization over the last 19 years, including on the Equality Calls Campaign, Prop 8, and post-election marriage equality initiatives. They have held pivotal roles in organizations such as Equality California (EQCA) and Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA). As the former Executive Director of San Diego Pride, López transformed the organization into a year-round nexus of LGBTQ+ art, advocacy, and education, recognized as the world's most philanthropic Pride organization, contributing over $3.5 million globally.
Internationally, López founded the Orgullo Sin Fronteras Binational LGBTQ Conference and the Pride World Forum. They developed a curriculum for the Fulbright Program and facilitated the 2023 InterPride Conference in San Diego, convening over 500 LGBTQ+ leaders from 40 countries and 190 cities. Serving with the San Diego Diplomacy Council, López has engaged with over 600 leaders from more than 140 countries.
López's policy work has advanced LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the arts, education, employment, athletics, and government institutions, with a focus on intersectional QTBIPOC communities. They have spearheaded campaigns promoting LGBTQ+ candidates and ballot initiatives, enhancing voter outreach, and supporting marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ community. López is a respected speaker, columnist, and consultant, known for impactful workshops and training sessions that emphasize storytelling, strategic planning, and the practical application of intersectional social justice.
Personally, Fernando is a self-identified science nerd, pianist, singer, artist, chef, and runner who believes weaving together art and advocacy are powerful tools for change. Professionally, López's dedication to intersectional social justice and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community and beyond have established them as a beacon of leadership and an inspiration to activists worldwide.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Chief Development Officer for the National LGBTQ
Jacqueline "Jacky" Goh serves as the Chief Development Officer for the National LGBTQ Task Force. In this role, Jacky leads the Task Force's fund development efforts and is responsible for strengthening the infrastructure needed to support and grow the organization's budget through foundation, corporate, and individual donors, as well as other vital revenue streams.
As a queer Korean woman, Jacky has long understood the power and necessity of collective liberation. She recognizes the ways that she has benefitted from others who have fought to defend and protect her existence, and she has dedicated her career to paying it forward. In her previous role as Senior Director of Development for the Center for Employment Opportunities, she raised funds to support formerly incarcerated individuals in their reentry into the workforce. She was the Director of Strategic Growth at Define American, a culture change organization that uses the power of narrative to humanize conversations about immigrants. She has also raised funds to advance economic mobility, housing security, and health equity with her work at Restaurant Opportunities Center United, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, and the Center for Youth Wellness.
Job Titles:
- Institutional & Corporate Giving Manager
Jake Arnell manages Institutional Giving for the National LGBTQ Task Force, which includes fundraising from foundations, corporations, and other nonprofit organizations. In this role, Jake develops fundraising strategy, prospect lists, partnership proposals, and various project deliverables, and oversees all aspects of relationship cultivation and management with key organizational partners. Jake began his work with the Task Force in 2014 as an intern to the Director of Communications, and later as the volunteer Marketing Director for Winter Party Festival. Jake joined the Task Force full-time in 2017 so that he could devote his full attention to social justice work. He finds great joy in raising money to protect the rights and improve the lives of the most marginalized.
Prior to joining the Task Force, Jake worked in technical sales for a software engineering firm in Salt Lake City. He holds a Bachelor of English Literature from the University of Utah and a Master of Communication from Johns Hopkins University. Having grown up in a conservative religious environment, he embraces the progressive "BE YOU" mindset the Task Force represents. Jake is a self-proclaimed "plant dad"; he lives in Miami with his plant family and his partner Cristian.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Action Fund Campaign Director
- Campaign Strategist
Kayla is a campaign strategist with over 17 years of experience managing on the ground and digital campaigns nationally. Kayla has managed statewide, county wide and city wide electoral and issue-based campaigns in 10 states. She believes in a people centered approach to power building that centers the voices of queer folxs and impacted communities in a way that honors intersectionality. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Harvard University's Kennedy School. Kayla is also a Returned United States Peace Corps Volunteer serving in The Philippines as an Education Volunteer. Kayla is originally from Harlem, NYC but currently resides in Washington DC and is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. She enjoys hosting dinner parties for her friends and family, because she believes that community is essential to the soul. Kayla is the Action Fund Campaign Director for The National LGBTQ Taskforce where she engages in the virtuous cycle of civic engagement with a focus on the campaigns that matter the most to the LGBTQ community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Director of Advocacy and Action
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- President & CEO / Magpie Software Services Corp. Denver, CO
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- Legislative Affairs Director
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- State Policy Analyst / Counsel
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- Director / Lucy Cross Center for Women
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Co - Chair / Brooklyn, NY
Job Titles:
- Director of Individual Giving
Job Titles:
- Individual Giving Officer
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Strategic Advancement
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Foundation Giving Officer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors