My Bio

National Organization Memberships, present :

• Founder and President of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
• National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) – Advisory Board Member
• International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) – Board Member
• Military Equality Alliance (MEA) – Advisory Board Member

National Organization Memberships, past :

• National Stonewall Democrats
• National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) – Former Board Member
• United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (The first Transsexual in this organization of over 9000 men.)
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Veterans of America (GLBVA), now called American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER)
• BiNet USA
• GenderPAC
• Tri-Ess

Local Organization Memberships, past (Arizona):

• Alpha Zeta – One of the Original Founders, 1983
• It’s Time, Arizona (ITAZ) – One of Original Founders 1999 – Director of Operations
• BiNet AZ – Area Organizer and Co-Chair
• A Rose – Vice President
• Transgender Harmony (TGH)
• Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA)
• Arizona Rainbow Veterans – Honor Guard, Phoenix Pride Parade
• Arizona Stonewall Caucus

Local Organization Memberships, past (Georgia):

• Georgia Gender Education and Advocacy (GGEA) – Director of Operations
• Georgia Stonewall Democrats (GSD) – Former Secretary
• Southern Association for Gender Education (SAGE) – Board Member
• LaGender, Inc. – Board Member
• Atlanta Gender Explorations (AGE)
• BiNet Atlanta
• Bi-Nature

Local Organization Memberships, past (Georgia):

• Trans=Action – Executive Director from 2000 to 2006, Board Member
• Atlanta Stonewall Democrats – 2006, Board Member
• Color Guard – Atlanta Pride Parade
• Atlanta Chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights
• Cobb County Democrats
• Georgia Chapter of the Transgender American Veterans Association (GATAVA)

Other Positions, past:

• Union Organizer at Sprint - 1995 - 1996
• Steering Committee for Equality Begins At Home, Arizona – 1999, 2000
• First Transgender person on the Community Relations Board for the Phoenix Police Department
• Advisor for Phoenix Catholic Diocese on Transgender issues
• Media Chair, Creating Change 2000
• Coordinator for the Transgender Community of Georgia’s Adopt-A-Highway program

Other Positions, present:

• Co-Coordinator for Atlanta’s Transgender Day of Remembrance 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
• GLBT Advisory Committee for Congressman John Lewis

Accomplishments & Awards:

• Public Speaker – Colleges, Universities, Panels & Workshops
• Reached Competent Toastmaster (CTM) level in Toastmasters
• Published Author – articles, newsletters, short stories, science fiction novel
• Regular Columnist in Transgender Tapestry from 2000 to 2006
• Third Place in the Arizona Author’s Association Contest, 1993
• Creator of the Transgender Pride Flag
• Co-Recipient of the first Arizona Transgender Community’s Distinguished Service Award, 2000
• Southern Voice, Best of Atlanta, 2002 and 2006 – “Most Dedicated Transgender Activist”
• IFGE Trinity Award Recipient – 2003
• First Transgender person to be elected as a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention from Georgia and the South. One of only seven Transgender Delegates to the convention.
• Through TAVA, helped organized the first and second Transgender Veterans March to the Wall, and the first ever laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Transgender Veterans.
• Contributor to the NCTE Hate Crimes Manual.