Glennda Testone, Executive Director Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, gaycenter.orgGlennda Testone is the Executive Director of New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Since joining The Center, she has strengthened its programs for adults, youth and families, ensuring all LGBT New Yorkers have an opportunity to live happy, healthy lives. This past year Testone helped launch a new Center brand, celebrated 30 years of service by the organization and embarked on a $9M capital building renovation to transform the LGBT community’s home on W 13 Street.

Michael Adams, Executive DirectorServices and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), sageusa.orgMichael Adams is the Executive Director of SAGE, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders. SAGE is the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to transforming the LGBT aging experience. In partnership with SAGE affiliates countrywide, SAGE serves countless LGBT older people nationally via technical assistance, trainings and services as well as advocacy at every level of government. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services selected SAGE to establish and run the country’s first and only National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.

Guillermo Chacón, President Latino Commission on AIDS, latinoaids.orgGuillermo Chacón, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS, is recognized for his great ability to build networks, coalitions and mobilize communities on policy issues and program initiatives. In January 2008, under the leadership of Dennis de Leon, Guillermo pioneered the First National Latino/Hispanic AIDS Leadership Summit among national partners in the U.S. He serves as the Chair of the board for the New York Immigration Coalition, and as a board/advisory member for the New York City AIDS Memorial, POZ Magazine national advisory board, AIDSVu.org and the Salvadoran American National Network.

Karina Claudio-Betancourt, Lead OrganizerMake the Road NY, maketheroad.orgKarina Claudio-Betancourt is a Boricua artivist, embelequera y buscabulla, with a BA in Humanities—Theatre and Creative Writing (UPR-RP) and an MA in Performance Studies (NYU). Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she now lives in Brooklyn and works as a Lead Organizer with Make the Road NY with the LGBTQ Justice Project and the Long Island Organizing Project. She received a scholarship from the Hispanic Arts Foundation in 2007, a “Performance Studies” Award in 2008 and was a Hemispheric Institute EMERGENYC Fellow in 2009.

Erin M. Drinkwater, Executive DirectorBrooklyn Community Pride Center, lgbtbrooklyn.orgThroughout her career, Erin Drinkwater has dedicated herself to public service as an activist, advocate, community organizer and strategist. Before joining the Brooklyn Community Pride Center she was a Policy Consultant working on social justice issues and with candidates running for elected office. She also served as Co-President of the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn. Erin served as the Downstate Director of Pride in Action at the Empire State Pride Agenda; as Congressman Jerrold L. Nadler’s Manhattan Community Representative and LGBT Liaison and as Sean Patrick Maloney’s Policy Director.

Thomas Krever, MPA, Chief Executive Officer Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), hmi.orgAs the CEO of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, Thomas Krever works to help LGBTQ youth find a safe haven of support in a world that can be overtly hostile and even questioning of their basic human rights. Coming to HMI in 2003, his first task was to create the Comprehensive Education Plan – a blueprint that expanded the then “Harvey Milk School” program into a fully functioning, independent public transfer

high school in NYC for at-risk youth. Presently, Thomas is overseeing the expansion of HMI to new cities across the country.

Cara Page, Executive Director Audre Lorde Project, alp.orgCara Page is a Black queer feminist cultural worker and organizer. She comes from a long ancestral legacy of organizers and cultural workers from the Southeast to the Northeast. For the past 20 plus years she has worked within the queer and trans liberation movement, reproductive justice movement, the racial and economic justice movements and the National People’s Movement Assembly. She continues to organize; create cultural and political spaces that honor our leaders, movements, communal legacies, and mobilize transformative spaces for the safety and well-being of our communities.

Krystal Portalatin, Co-DirectorFIERCE, fiercenyc.orgKrystal Portalatin helped to co-found FIERCE in 2000 as a response to increased police violence and gentrification in NYC and its impact on LGBTQ youth who frequented the West Village to find safety and community. Krystal is a graduate of University of Hawaii where she graduated with a degree in community organizing. After college, Krystal worked in the HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and LGBT youth development fields. Krystal rejoined FIERCE as a staff person in January 2008 maintaining her commitment to her community in New York City, where she was born and raised.

Melissa Sklarz LGBT NYPD Advisory CommitteeMelissa Sklarz is a member of the LGBT NYPD Advisory Committee and the President of Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the largest LGBT Democratic Club in New York. She became the first transgender person elected to office in New York in 1999 when she was elected Judicial Delegate from the 66th Assembly District. In 2004, Melissa became the first transgender person from New York to be part of the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention, by being appointed to the Credentials Committee in 2004 and again in 2012, and Rules in 2008.

Sharon Stapel, Executive DirectorNew York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP), avp.orgSharon Stapel is the Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP). AVP is the country’s largest organization dedicated to ending hate, sexual and intimate partner violence affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities and envisions a world in which all LGBTQ and HIV-affected people are safe, respected and live free from violence. AVP provides free and confidential crisis intervention and counseling to survivors of violence through a 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline, 212.714.1141.

Janet Weinberg, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating OfficerGMHC, gmhc.orgFor more than 30 years, Janet Weinberg has been a recognized leader in the fields of health, social justice and fundraising. In the role of COO, she directs the day-to-day operations of GMHC. Her portfolio includes three key areas: Programs (HIV prevention and testing – including interventions for men and women, Workforce Development, Nutrition/Meals and Wellness, Community Health, Coordinated Care, Research and Evaluation); External Affairs (Public Policy, Legal, Benefits and Advocacy, Community Relations, Communications and Volunteers); and Infrastructure (Information Systems, Facilities, Human Resources).

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