{"id":250600,"date":"2026-06-01T09:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/250600\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T09:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T09:40:13","slug":"the-2026-pride-trailblazers-city-state-new-york-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/250600\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Pride Trailblazers – City & State New York"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n Louisa Benarbane<\/p>\n

Manager of the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center<\/p>\n

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Louisa Benarbane
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\n Olivia Chung, Milk Makeup<\/p>\n

Louisa Benarbane coordinates the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network, a coalition of 62 nonprofits that provide mental and physical care for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. Benarbane manages the coalition through her work at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, widely known as The Center. She\u2019s also a passionate advocate of LGBTQ+ Muslim communities and hosts an annual iftar event for the community. Last year, the state health commissioner bestowed upon Benarbane the Leanna Thornton Rising Star Award.<\/p>\n

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\n Sundeep Singh Boparai<\/p>\n

Senior Operations Manager, Northwell Health<\/p>\n

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Sundeep Singh Boparai
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\n Saunak Shah<\/p>\n

Sundeep Singh Boparai helped establish and currently manages Northwell Health\u2019s LGBTQ Transgender Health Program, Long Island\u2019s first dedicated center to serving patients who are transgender, gender-nonconforming and nonbinary. Outside of work, Boparai recently became the first queer Sikh to serve on the executive board of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, a notable LGBTQ+ political club. Boparai, who completed a doctorate in healthcare administration at the Medical University of South Carolina, was a 2025 recipient of a Health Advocacy Award given by the national publication Health.<\/p>\n

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\n Derrick Brazill<\/p>\n

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, York College<\/p>\n

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Derrick Brazill
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\n York College<\/p>\n

Derrick Brazill is a champion of students and campus diversity in his role as a top academic affairs official at York College. In 2023, he was named provost and vice president of academic affairs at the CUNY school in Queens, where he has secured over $5 million in federal funding for research infrastructure and faculty scholarship. As interim provost from 2020 to 2023, he obtained funding for the York STEM Academy and helped establish accelerated pathways to graduate degrees. Last year, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards recognized Brazill for \u201cchampioning our LGBTQIA+ community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Taylor Brown<\/p>\n

Director, New York City Mayor\u2019s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs<\/p>\n

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Taylor Brown
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\n Kara McCurdy, Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n

Attorney Taylor Brown is blazing a trail as the first director of the brand-new New York City Mayor\u2019s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs \u2013\u00a0and the first transgender person to lead a city office or agency. Brown was previously an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Bureau under state Attorney General Letitia James and led transgender civil rights litigations at Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union. The new mayoral office builds on the NYC Unity Project, which was launched in 2017, and coordinates initiatives for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers across city agencies.<\/p>\n

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\n Rob Byrnes<\/p>\n

President, East Midtown Partnership<\/p>\n

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Rob Byrnes
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\n Andres Otero<\/p>\n

Rob Byrnes is the longtime leader of the East Midtown Partnership, a business improvement district that spearheads quality-of-life efforts and commercial improvements in the bustling Manhattan neighborhood. The organization provides sanitation, beautification, local business development and homeless outreach, and it recently partnered with Art on the Ave NYC to wrap trash cans with local art. Byrnes is the author of novels, short stories and essays \u2013 his novella \u201cA Streetcar Named Shenanigans\u201d is out this summer \u2013 and he helped launch The Publishing Triangle\u2019s OUTspoken LGBTQ+ Reading Series, featuring more than 100 authors and poets.<\/p>\n

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\n Pia Carusone<\/p>\n

Partner, SKDK<\/p>\n

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Pia Carusone
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\n SKDK<\/p>\n

Pia Carusone is a sought-after campaign consultant in New York and across the nation. Raised in Saratoga Springs, Carusone worked for Gabrielle Giffords in Congress and was the lead strategist for Giffords\u2019 husband, Mark Kelly, in his successful U.S. Senate campaign. Now living in New York City, Carusone is advising Rep. Josh Riley\u2019s reelection bid and supporting Chris Gallant, a gay Black Hawk pilot and Army veteran challenging Rep. Nick LaLota on Long Island. She has helped support other LGBTQ+ candidates too, including Rep. Chris Pappas in New Hampshire and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.<\/p>\n

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\n Irak Cehonski-Rivas<\/p>\n

Director of Policy \u2013 New York City, New York State Association for Affordable Housing<\/p>\n

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Irak Cehonski-Rivas
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\n Jeffrey Holmes Photography<\/p>\n

Irak Cehonski-Rivas\u2019 LGBTQ+ advocacy is rooted in his experience facing criminalization of his queer identity as a youth in Tijuana, Mexico. In partnership with other advocates, the Queens-based immigrant helped repeal the \u201cwalking while trans\u201d law that had targeted transgender New Yorkers and locked in funding for LGBTQ+ health navigators at public hospitals in New York City. The former legislative staffer now focuses on downstate policy issues for the New York State Association for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit that advocates for the affordable housing industry.<\/p>\n

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\n Terence Cho<\/p>\n

Vice President of Real Estate, Battery Park City Authority<\/p>\n

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Terence Cho
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\n Jonathan Gross, Battery Park City Authority<\/p>\n

Terence Cho handles the Battery Park City Authority\u2019s real estate portfolio, working with private developers and community members to add affordable housing and manage commercial, residential, retail and park space in Manhattan\u2019s Battery Park City. Driving BPCA\u2019s real estate strategy, Cho helped close Brookfield Place\u2019s ground lease extension, which will generate an estimated $1.5 billion for affordable housing development over the lease term. He was part of the Gateway Plaza transaction that will preserve rent protections for hundreds of residents. Cho is also committed to increasing LGBTQ+ representation in real estate.<\/p>\n

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\n Chris Coffey<\/p>\n

CEO, Tusk Strategies<\/p>\n

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Chris Coffey
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\n Tusk<\/p>\n

Tusk Strategies\u2019 Chris Coffey has had a hand in a number of major campaigns lately, from New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin\u2019s winning leadership bid to Steve Cohen\u2019s successful push for a casino in Queens to a super PAC backing U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico of Texas. Coffey has advised prominent LGBTQ+ officials in New York, including Rep. Ritchie Torres and former City Council Speakers Corey Johnson and Christine Quinn \u2013 whose nonprofit, Win, Coffey now chairs. Coffey also served on the board of the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youths.<\/p>\n

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\n Jose Cotto<\/p>\n

Chief Program Officer, Urban Pathways<\/p>\n

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Jose Cotto
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\n Roger Archer, Phaats Photos<\/p>\n

Jose Cotto is the chief program officer at Urban Pathways, a nonprofit battling homelessness by offering housing and support services. He is responsible for the organization’s programming and operations, supporting Urban Pathways\u2019 housing first approach. His most recent achievement was the opening of a 79-unit building in the Bronx for older adults and people with a history of homelessness. Cotto, an out gay Puerto Rican, teaches social work courses at NYU and serves as a New York City regional director on the Association for Community Living board.<\/p>\n

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\n Carlyn Cowen<\/p>\n

Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Chinese-American Planning Council<\/p>\n

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Carlyn Cowen
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\n Jeong Park<\/p>\n

Carlyn Cowen is a key official at the Chinese-American Planning Council, the nation\u2019s largest Asian American social services organization. They oversee public policy, advocacy, government affairs and community engagement and have helped build an advocacy program that engages over 2,000 staff and community members each year. Cowen, a Filipinx American advocate and activist, also helped secure state funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations. They also serve as a co-chair of the board for Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.<\/p>\n

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\n Yanery Cruz<\/p>\n

Executive Director, New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus<\/p>\n

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Yanery Cruz
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\n Emil Cohen, NYC Council Media Unit<\/p>\n

Yanery Cruz recently took on a new role as the New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus\u2019 inaugural executive director. An Afro-Latina transgender woman and a native New Yorker, Cruz drives the caucus\u2019 fiscal, policy and advocacy agenda. She previously worked with the New York Transgender Advocacy Group and developed programs that contributed to improving foster care for LGBTQ+ youth of color. Cruz is also a vice president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City and received the political club\u2019s Defiant Award last year in recognition of her leadership and impact.<\/p>\n

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\n Jon Del Giorno<\/p>\n

Founding Member, Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno<\/p>\n

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\n Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno<\/p>\n

Jon Del Giorno has been with the top 10 government relations firm Pitta Bishop and Del Giorno since it began two decades ago. He has vast experience in government relations and advocacy and has been an LGBTQ+ rights advocate for decades. Most recently, he helped secure full capital funding for the new American LGBTQ+ Museum in Midtown and increased funding for the NY LGBT Network\u2019s youth services and gender-affirming care programs. Del Giorno was a recipient of Project Hospitality\u2019s Catherine & Pearse O\u2019Callaghan Memorial Award for Social Justice last year and the Stonewall Community Development Corp.\u2019s Cornerstone Supporter Award.<\/p>\n

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\n Matthew Di Taranto<\/p>\n

Vice President, Reputation Management, Avoq<\/p>\n

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\n Khoi Nguyen, Avoq<\/p>\n

Matthew Di Taranto last year took on a new challenge as vice president at Avoq, a digital advertising and public affairs consultancy with a growing footprint in New York. He has 15 years of corporate communications experience, including senior roles at Foot Locker and the New York City Economic Development Corp. Di Taranto was previously senior director of public relations and communications at Out & Equal, where he led storytelling and community engagement for this group of LGBTQ+ and allied professionals. At Avoq, he founded the firm\u2019s LGBTQ+ employee resource group.<\/p>\n

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\n Jacqueline Jamin Drohan<\/p>\n

Partner, Drohan Lee<\/p>\n

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Jacqueline Jamin Drohan is a partner at Drohan Lee, a law firm representing investment advisers, financial institutions, government agencies and other clients. Drohan serves on the New York State Bar Association\u2019s Executive Committee and co-chaired its Task Force on the Treatment of Transgender Youth in Sports. She has authored or co-authored amicus briefs on matters ranging from LGBTQ+ rights to bank fraud. She is also president of ACI America, a financial markets trade association. Drohan is author of the LGBTQ+ historical novel \u201cThe Seas Come Still.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Stephanie Fox<\/p>\n

President, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn<\/p>\n

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Stephanie Fox
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Since Stephanie Fox became president of the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, she has sought to boost gender and racial representation while collaborating with other LGBTQ+ political clubs and organizations to increase their collective political power. Fox, the first transgender woman to lead the Lambda Independent Democrats, recently led a rally in support of healthcare for trans youth amid opposition from the federal government and moves by local hospitals to curtail gender-affirming care.<\/p>\n

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\n Ben Garcia<\/p>\n

Executive Director, American LGBTQ+ Museum<\/p>\n

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\n Scott Fabianek<\/p>\n

Ben Garcia is the inaugural executive director of the American LGBTQ+ Museum, where he leads the Manhattan institution in preserving and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. For 25 years, he has helped transform museums into places of acceptance and belonging. Garcia led efforts to create structural equity in museums and to return Indigenous ancestral human remains and belongings at museums in California and Ohio. Under his guidance, the American LGBTQ+ Museum launched the Queer Justice exhibition, developed the Queer Legacies Project and collaborated with the Up Until Now Collective on the Lavender Names Project.<\/p>\n

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\n Ethan Geto<\/p>\n

Principal, Geto & de Milly<\/p>\n

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Ethan Geto is a principal of Geto & de Milly, a public affairs firm that specializes in public policy, community relations and government affairs. His firm helped advance the Willets Point, Queens, redevelopment that will provide 2,500 affordable apartments, a hotel, public school, retail, open space and a soccer stadium. Geto previously served at the city, state and federal government levels and has been involved in seven presidential campaigns. He has also helped launch LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, such as PFLAG and the Human Rights Campaign, and helped pass legislation to protect gay people from discrimination in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

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\n Mar Henriquez<\/p>\n

Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, The Legal Aid Society\u2019s LGBTQ+ Law and Policy Unit<\/p>\n

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\n Spencer Gallop<\/p>\n

Mar Henriquez is an active defender of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, both through their work at The Legal Aid Society and through various outside campaigns and advocacy organizations. The Legal Aid Society\u2019s LGBTQ+ Law and Policy Unit provides inclusion training for the organizations\u2019 staff members, advocates for incarcerated transgender people, and helps advance policy and legislative reform efforts. Henriquez is also active with the Trans Prisoners\u2019 Rights Coalition of New York and has served on the executive board of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.<\/p>\n

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\n Omar Herrera<\/p>\n

Senior Events and Outreach Manager, Columbia Climate School<\/p>\n

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At the Columbia Climate School, Omar Herrera spearheads outreach and helps orchestrate events that communicate the urgency of the climate crisis via large-scale, engaging programs. Herrera has a career spanning public relations, event planning, advising and government. The longtime LGBTQ+ advocate has also organized and promoted Pride commemorations at Columbia Climate School to celebrate inclusion. He previously served on Equality New York\u2019s board and also was a social media manager for the National LGBTQ Task Force\u2019s Winter Party Festival.<\/p>\n

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\n Jordyn Jay<\/p>\n

Founder and Executive Director, Black Trans Femmes in the Arts<\/p>\n

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\n Black Trans Femmes in the Arts<\/p>\n

Jordyn Jay is the founder and executive director of Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, a nonprofit focused on providing resources for Black transgender femme artists. Her mission is to promote Black trans liberation through art. Jay has raised $1 million from prominent artists \u2013 such as Neil Patrick Harris, Janet Mock and Indya Moore \u2013 and distributed more than $500,000 in funding. Her organization recently received one of Brooklyn Org\u2019s $100,000 Spark Prizes.<\/p>\n

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\n Tim Johnson<\/p>\n

Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Center for GME, Health Workforce and Population Health, Greater New York Hospital Association<\/p>\n

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\n Greater New York Hospital Association<\/p>\n

When state or federal policies get in the way of bolstering New York\u2019s healthcare workforce, Tim Johnson is often on the front lines advocating for changes. Johnson, a longtime official at the influential Greater New York Hospital Association, has recently been raising alarms about the federal government\u2019s limits on visa-holding physicians and other healthcare workers. He also focuses on graduate medical education, working with government and private partners to support medical training. Johnson has helped develop curricula to support immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities.<\/p>\n

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\n Corey Johnson<\/p>\n

Founder, Cojo Strategies<\/p>\n

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Former New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson left elected office at the end of 2021, but the political insider hasn\u2019t gone far. Through his consulting firm Cojo Strategies, Johnson represents clients such as DoorDash, Bally\u2019s Corp. and Vornado Realty Trust. Johnson, the first HIV-positive person to have led the City Council, represented a district on Manhattan\u2019s West Side long held by gay lawmakers \u2013 with his former staffers Erik Bottcher and now Carl Wilson succeeding him in the seat. He serves on the board of the New York City AIDS Memorial.<\/p>\n

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\n Nicholas Koster<\/p>\n

Vice President for Design, Central Park Conservancy<\/p>\n

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\n Central Park Conservancy<\/p>\n

Nicholas Koster is the vice president for design at the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that manages Manhattan\u2019s iconic Central Park. He is also executive co-chair of the organization\u2019s LGBTQ+ employee resource group. Koster has two decades of experience in New York City, focusing on public projects such as the transformation of Times Square during a previous job. With his help, the Central Park Conservancy received the 2026 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Organization Award for excellence in restoration and stewardship.<\/p>\n

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\n Dirk McCall de Palom\u00e1<\/p>\n

Executive Director, Sunnyside Shines BID<\/p>\n

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Dirk McCall de Palom\u00e1
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Dirk McCall de Palom\u00e1 runs the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District, which brings together businesses, nonprofits and residents in support of the Sunnyside neighborhood in Queens. He has served over three decades in government, nonprofits, political clubs and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, most recently as director of civic awareness for Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. McCall de Palom\u00e1 served as president of the then-Stonewall Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, is on the board of the New Pride Agenda, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, and is active with Out Astoria.<\/p>\n

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\n Diana Moreno<\/p>\n

Assembly Member<\/p>\n

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\n Alexandra Chan<\/p>\n

Last fall, Assembly Member Diana Moreno jumped into the special election for the open Queens seat vacated by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and she coasted to victory with support from a notable trifecta: Mamdani, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Queens Democratic Party. Moreno, who now represents Astoria and Long Island City, was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, and got her start in community labor organizing as an intern with Make the Road New York. Moreno, a queer woman, has introduced state legislation that would allow New York City to raise corporate taxes.<\/p>\n

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\n Priya Nair<\/p>\n

Executive Director, New York City Commission on Gender Equity<\/p>\n

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Priya Nair
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\n New York State Executive Chamber<\/p>\n

A seasoned LGBTQ+ advocate, Priya Nair has led the New York City Commission on Gender Equity for the past year. Nair, the first queer, nonbinary and South Asian person to head up the city commission, previously served as deputy chief diversity officer in the Hochul administration, leading initiatives to strengthen equity and inclusion in the workplace and communities. Nair was the lead author of New York state\u2019s guidance on collecting sexual orientation and gender identity demographic data. They were also associate director of gender equity at NYC Health + Hospitals.<\/p>\n

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\n Charles John O\u2019Byrne<\/p>\n

Executive Vice President for Policy, Related Companies<\/p>\n

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Charles John O\u2019Byrne
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\n Related Companies<\/p>\n

Charles John O\u2019Byrne is executive vice president for policy at Related Companies and also supports EnergyRe, an energy company launched by Related executives. O\u2019Byrne has helped Related navigate regulatory, labor and community concerns to advance major development projects that will provide thousands of affordable housing units in Willets Point, Queens, and Hudson Yards West. His experience spans politics, government, academia and religion. O\u2019Byrne, a former Jesuit priest and a trained attorney who was secretary to Gov. David Paterson, also serves on the Citizens Budget Commission board.<\/p>\n

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\n MJ Okma<\/p>\n

Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor Fellow, Governor\u2019s Office of Diversity and Inclusion<\/p>\n

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MJ Okma
\n \/
\n MJ Okma<\/p>\n

As New York\u2019s Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Edie Windsor Fellow, MJ Okma has some legendary LGBTQ+ names to try to emulate. But Okma, a public affairs strategist, is already well on his way, with over a decade of experience with the major LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations like SAGE and GLAAD. He led a coalition that pushed successfully for New York\u2019s bill of rights for LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive long-term care facility residents, supported the creation of a $20 million initiative to incentivize affordable housing for LGBTQ+ older adults and helped pass legislation to prevent death records from misgendering transgender New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

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\n Terence Pleasant<\/p>\n

Director of the Mocha Center, Trillium Health<\/p>\n

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Terence Pleasant
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\n Priscilla Thomas, Inner Glow Photography<\/p>\n

Terence Pleasant oversees community prevention services at Trillium Health, a community health center based in Rochester with a focus on delivering care to LGBTQ+ individuals. He also runs the organization\u2019s Mocha Center, a health and wellness hub in the city\u2019s Susan B. Anthony neighborhood. Pleasant has spent more than 15 years in human services and is passionate about supporting marginalized communities, such as people impacted by HIV\/AIDS. He was honored by the New Pride Agenda last year and the Mocha Center was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign two years ago.<\/p>\n

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\n Roona Ray<\/p>\n

Vice Chair, Physicians for a National Health Program \u2013 New York Metro Chapter<\/p>\n

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Roona Ray
\n \/
\n Ana Djordjevic<\/p>\n

Dr. Roona Ray is a family and public health physician who\u2019s currently vice chair of the New York Metro chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, which advocates for universal, comprehensive, single-payer healthcare and supports the proposed New York Health Act. Ray and her wife were named a 2025 Grassroots Champion for Child Care by New Yorkers United for Child Care, where they are parent leaders. She serves on the New York City Gender and Racial Equity Advisory Board and has been an attending physician at NYC Health + Hospitals, Callen-Lorde and NYU Langone Health.<\/p>\n

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\n Michael Rich<\/p>\n

Executive Assistant, United Way of New York State<\/p>\n

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Michael Rich
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\n Kevin Demassio<\/p>\n

Before Michael Rich became an executive assistant at the United Way of New York State, he spent a decade owning and operating a salon and spa in Albany County \u2013\u00a0honing an entrepreneurial and relationship-building approach that serves him well in the nonprofit sector. At the United Way of New York State, which advocates for policy changes in Albany and supports local United Way chapters, Rich has helped advance initiatives to make the local resource hotline 211 more inclusive, responsive and culturally competent and to increase its awareness in the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n

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\n Ron Richter<\/p>\n

Principal, Ron Richter Consulting<\/p>\n

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Ron Richter
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\n JCCA<\/p>\n

After a distinguished career in government, in the courts and in the nonprofit sector, Ron Richter in February launched his eponymous firm, Ron Richter Consulting, which advises nonprofits focused on youth development and education. Richter, who\u2019s also a strategic adviser at BTQ Financial, previously oversaw a $120 million budget as CEO of JCCA, which provides child welfare and mental health services to children and families. Richter was also a family court judge and commissioner of the New York City Administration for Children\u2019s Services, where he implemented the Close to Home law.<\/p>\n

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\n Aurelio \u201cPJ\u201d Rivera<\/p>\n

Principal, Deloitte<\/p>\n

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Aurelio \u201cPJ\u201d Rivera
\n \/
\n Deloitte<\/p>\n

Aurelio \u201cPJ\u201d Rivera is a New York-based principal at Deloitte, where he is the advertising, marketing and commerce leader for the firm\u2019s government and public services practice and leads the culture, experience and belonging team that supports inclusive leadership development. Rivera is currently leading a pro bono effort for NYC Pride and supports various national nonprofits for free as well. Earlier in his career, Rivera worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as Marriott International.<\/p>\n

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\n Allen Roskoff<\/p>\n

President, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club<\/p>\n

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Allen Roskoff
\n \/
\n Matt Monath<\/p>\n

As president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Allen Roskoff brings together LGBTQ+ members, allies and Democratic officials to advocate for progressive policies and candidates. Roskoff was part of early LGBTQ+ organizing victories and co-authored the nation\u2019s first gay rights bill. More recently, Roskoff spearheaded a successful effort to elect Carl Wilson to the New York City Council, ensuring District 3 would continue to be represented by a gay officeholder. Last year, he openly opposed mayoral candidates Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo \u2013\u00a0and neither one won.<\/p>\n

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\n Justin Sanchez<\/p>\n

Co-Chair, New York City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus<\/p>\n

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Justin Sanchez
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\n John McCarten, NYC Council Media Unit<\/p>\n

First-term New York City Council Member Justin Sanchez serves as co-chair of the legislative body\u2019s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, a post he shares with Council Member Chi Oss\u00e9. Sanchez, who represents District 17 in the South Bronx, mounted a youth-focused campaign last year noted for its grassroots organizing. He previously served in staff roles in city government and was director of Latino outreach for the state Democratic Party, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City and chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus of the Young Democrats of America.<\/p>\n

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\n Joe Solmonese<\/p>\n

Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Strategic Communications, Montefiore Einstein<\/p>\n

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Joe Solmonese
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\n Evan Whitney<\/p>\n

Joe Solmonese is a top official overseeing federal and state government relations and communications at the academic health system Montefiore Einstein. He has advanced public funding and capital support to projects aligned with Montefiore\u2019s priorities and helped navigate labor negotiations with the New York State Nurses Association. Solmonese served as the CEO of the 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee, was a partner at Gavin\/Solmonese and chaired a leadership transition at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Solmonese also led the LGBTQ+ rights organization Human Rights Campaign and Emily\u2019s List, which supports women candidates who back abortion rights.<\/p>\n

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\n Nadia Swanson<\/p>\n

Senior Director of Advocacy and Global Programs, The Ali Forney Center<\/p>\n

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Nadia Swanson
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\n Nadia Swanson<\/p>\n

Nadia Swanson oversees advocacy and global programs at The Ali Forney Center, which supports young LGBTQ+ people at risk of being homeless. Swanson has secured additional shelter beds, pushed for legislation to help unhoused youths and worked with New York City Administration for Children\u2019s Services on more inclusive policies. In 2025, Swanson helped secure $13.7 million to aid transgender New Yorkers and also co-authored Zohran Mamdani\u2019s LGBTQIA+ platform during his successful New York City mayoral campaign. They also lead The Ali Forney Center\u2019s Global Model Replication Program as a worldwide template for serving LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness.<\/p>\n

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\n CeCe Szkutak<\/p>\n

Data and Research Director, The Parkside Group<\/p>\n

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CeCe Szkutak
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\n The Parkside Group<\/p>\n

CeCe Szkutak is the director of data and research at The Parkside Group, a top campaign and government relations firm where she oversees cutting-edge polling operations and advanced political analytics. The queer politico has been a survey researcher for a number of political and advocacy campaigns in New York state, with a track record of supporting progressive politics and values. She recently served as the primary pollster for state Senate Democrats, completed a detailed analysis of the New York City mayoral race and conducted off-cycle research on evolving voter attitudes.<\/p>\n

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\n Winnie Varghese<\/p>\n

Dean, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine<\/p>\n

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Winnie Varghese
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\n David Rider<\/p>\n

Last year, the Rev. Winnie Varghese made history as the first woman to become dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, a storied cathedral known for its massive edifice in Upper Manhattan. The queer Episcopal priest\u2019s leadership promoting equality and diversity \u2013\u00a0including welcoming the LGBTQ+ community \u2013 spans more than two decades. She previously was rector of St. Luke\u2019s Atlanta and St. Mark\u2019s Church-in-the-Bowery. In December, she officiated a special evensong honoring the first out gay Episcopal bishop, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson.<\/p>\n

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\n Harry Voulgarakis<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor and Psychologist, St. Joseph\u2019s University<\/p>\n

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Harry Voulgarakis
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\n St. Joseph\u2019s University<\/p>\n

Harry Voulgarakis is a psychologist, behavior analyst and assistant professor of child study at St. Joseph\u2019s University. His research focuses on the assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Voulgarakis has worked with children and families in clinical, educational and legal matters. He has authored over a dozen peer-reviewed scientific papers and has a forthcoming book on ethical documentation in behavioral health. Voulgarakis has earned distinctions from the New York State Psychological Association and was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure, effective this fall.<\/p>\n

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\n Kim Watson-Benjamin<\/p>\n

LGBTQ and Health Coordinator, Office of the New York City Public Advocate<\/p>\n

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Kim Watson-Benjamin
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\n Caroll Campos<\/p>\n

Kim Watson-Benjamin is the LGBTQ and health coordinator in New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams\u2019 office. She is a transgender rights activist who came to the United States to escape discrimination in Barbados. Watson-Benjamin supported Williams in passing trans rights legislation in the City Council, including a bill requiring medical providers to publicly post information on trans health services. Watson-Benjamin was a founding member of political advocacy program TransJustice and later co-founded CK Life to expand economic opportunities for trans New Yorkers in the South Bronx.<\/p>\n

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\n Laura Westengard<\/p>\n

Professor of English and Queer Studies, New York City College of Technology<\/p>\n

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Laura Westengard
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\n Alex Irklievski<\/p>\n

Laura Westengard is an English and queer studies professor at New York City College of Technology and the CUNY Graduate Center. Westengard, who\u2019s also the co-creator, coordinator and inaugural faculty member of the Advanced Certificate in LGBTQ Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, has examined how gothic queer culture challenges systems and practices while also recognizing trauma in queer communities. She created and chairs the LGBTQIA+ Collective at the New York City College of Technology and has served on the board of \u200b\u200bCLAGS: The Center for LGBTQ Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center.<\/p>\n

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\n Joe Westmacott<\/p>\n

Director of Housing, Benefits and Resources, Safe Horizon\u2019s Streetwork Project<\/p>\n

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Joe Westmacott
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\n Drew Brown<\/p>\n

One of the major initiatives at the victim services nonprofit Safe Horizon is the Streetwork Project, which provides youth facing homelessness with short-term shelter and other services. This program is overseen by Joe Westmacott, who has worked at Safe Horizon for 21 years and is dedicated to supporting vulnerable youths and ensuring they find safe housing. Westmacott also worked with Streetwise and Safe, a community organizing and legal peer education program for LGBTQ+ youth of color, and he has served on the New York City Continuum of Care\u2019s Youth Committee.<\/p>\n

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\n Kei Williams<\/p>\n

Executive Director, New Pride Agenda<\/p>\n

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Kei Williams
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\n Brandon R. Nicholas<\/p>\n

Last year, Kei Williams was named executive director of the New Pride Agenda, a top LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the state. In the role, the Black queer transmasculine organizer and artist has helped boost funding for the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Non-Binary Wellness and Equity Fund. And as co-lead of the NYC Trans & Queer Coalition, Williams helped secure $14 million for LGBTQ+ communities. They have more than a decade of experience as a community organizer and strategist, including as a national organizer at the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and a community organizer for the People\u2019s Climate Movement.<\/p>\n

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\n Doug Wirth<\/p>\n

President and CEO, Amida Care<\/p>\n

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Doug Wirth
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\n Amida Care<\/p>\n

Doug Wirth has spent two decades helming Amida Care, a major Medicaid special needs health plan in New York City. Amida Care provides HIV\/AIDS and gender-affirming care to vulnerable New Yorkers. Over Wirth\u2019s tenure, Amida Care\u2019s services have helped thousands of people living with HIV thrive, and he continues to see improved health outcomes year to year. He served on then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo\u2019s task force to end the AIDS epidemic and was a senior health policy adviser to the Dinkins and Giuliani administrations in New York City.<\/p>\n

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\n Wolf<\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Construction Inspector, New York City Department of Buildings<\/p>\n

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Wolf
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\n Samantha Modell<\/p>\n

Wolf is a champion of LGBTQ+ visibility and engagement at the New York City Department of Buildings, leading the agency\u2019s Pride employee resource group, coordinating participation for the annual NYC Pride March and forging partnerships with community institutions like the Stonewall National Monument Visitors Center. Wolf dropped their first name and now goes by a single name but is in the process of a legal name change to Callan Wolf. The construction inspector also supports career recruitment at high schools to help build a public sector that better serves LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Louisa Benarbane Manager of the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":250593,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[98,100,99,1360,9,24,49,63,805,926],"class_list":["post-250600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-lgbtq","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-new-york-state","tag-nyc","tag-publishers-section","tag-trailblazers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}