2023 LGBTQ+ Power Players

Michael Adams is the CEO of SAGE- Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders, the largest and oldest organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ aging. SAGE serves LGBTQ+ elders via technical assistance, training and services, and advocacy at every level of government. Adams, a graduate of Stanford Law School and Harvard College, previously was the director of education and public affairs and deputy legal director for Lambda Legal and litigation director for the ACLU LGBT Rights Project. 

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
Bayard Rustin, Angela Davis, and Ken Dawson

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
In last year’s Pride Executive Order, the Biden Administration committed to advancing an administrative LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Bill of Rights. As we come up on the one-year anniversary of that Executive Order, we are looking forward to seeing concrete steps towards making these much-needed protections for our community’s elders a reality.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
That gender and sexuality diversity is a great strength for all of us as individuals and as a society and should be celebrated and supported, rather than attacked and denigrated.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, the collected poems of Audre Lorde, the TV show POSE, and Little Nas X.

José Albino is the executive director of GRIOT Circle – a nonprofit that centers the lives of LGBTQ elders of color.  He has been working in the aging field for over twenty-five years and has dedicated his career to serving minoritized older adults in NYC. José is committed to moving through personal and professional spaces that amplify and anchor gender identity/expression, social, racial, and economic justice  – and advocates for equity wherever gaps exist. 

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
Pedro Zamora, Walter Mercado, Chavela Vargas, Frida Kahlo, Ms. Majors and Marsha P. Johnson

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
Allocating funding equitably (to front line/grassroots organizations) across federal, state and city governments that serve underserved communities in the queer space (i.e. TGNC, elders of color) in order to collect critical data that uncover the myriad issues affecting them in order to serve them better.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
We have always been here, and no abhorrent legislation will eradicate that. Love will always win.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
Noah’s Ark (series, movie), Gun Hill Road (movie), Quirete Mucho Maricon (book)

Stuart Appelbaum is a labor leader who serves as president of the RWDSU; executive VP of the 1.3 million member UFCW, VP of the national AFL-CIO and as president of UNI Global Commerce (a global federation representing 160 unions and 4 million workers worldwide). Appelbaum is a member of the Democratic National Committee where he chairs its Labor Council. He is a former treasurer of the Empire State Pride Agenda.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
Bayard Rustin, who understood the interconnection between LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights, civil rights and human rights; and worked tirelessly to promote his vision of a better world despite all obstacles.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
Providing adequate resources to protect vulnerable and marginalized members of the community. To aggressively push back on all forms of hate.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
In all ways that really matter, there are no differences between the members of the LGBTQ+ community and the larger community.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
The films, Brother Outsider (about the life of Bayard Rustin) and Chrissy Judy

Eduardo is a Chilean-US American fundraising management professional and executive MPA candidate at Columbia SIPA. He is the director of development at Queens Museum. Previously, he was director of development at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. He has worked for arts and culture, civic, and educational organizations through periods of transition by creatively engaging diverse stakeholders. He received his B.A. from the Elliott School at GWU. He is based in Harlem.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
I look up to those that have pushed the boundaries of society in the past, and that are representing our diversity today, the list is long but LGBTQ+ artists always inspire me. Right now I’m reading In Praise of Disobedience by Oscar Wilde. It’s amazing to see the risks he took at the time to write about and be his authentic self.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
I hope we can better educate younger generations about LGBTQIA2S+ life and history across the country. The disparities we see building because of conservative forces is astounding. We have to join forces and understand that we are all one community and if one of us is attacked, we’re all being attacked. Our elected officials have to be our advocates and allies in the classroom and beyond, and support civic and cultural spaces.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
I wish people outside our community understood how impactful it could be to embrace our community and culture and learn about our history. There is a whole world that, like many other minorities, has been ignored for so long. It can make such a difference in your life to understand LGBTQ+ life.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
It’s amazing to see how many mainstream shows and films represent the LGBTQ+ experience today. I remember having to go to the library or sneak episodes of TV shows when I was younger to see myself reflected in queer stories, like Queer as Folk. Heartstopper is a beautiful example of how this has changed for youth, and it warms my heart to watch. We can’t take any culture we have for granted.

Amanda Babine is the executive director of Equality New York. She has been working in the social sector for the last 15 years, leading impactful campaigns and programs using an equity lens. Her focus has been on improving LGBTQI rights and supporting those involved in the child welfare system. She has been committed to improving policies & programs that will positively impact the community.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
I am inspired by the community members who take time to mentor and support each other. No matter age, experience, or background they invest in each other and make this work towards liberation a little easier.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
Policy change is very important in moving the needle on LGBTQI rights. However, without cultural change, legislation isn’t enough. Hiring and putting LGBTQI people in leadership roles within government can help increase inclusion and shift cultural norms. Investing in LGBTQI people will also send the message to those receiving services or interacting with agencies that Queer and Trans people exist and are here to support them.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
We are a very diverse group of people. Each person has their own experiences that are valid and knowing one person who identifies as LGBTQI doesn’t mean you understand the larger group as a whole. Take time to listen to people and learn about them as an individual.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
One of my favorite books continues to be Sister Outsider by the one and only Audre Lorde. The focus on intersectional feminism is what makes this piece a true gem.

Brad Baumoel is a managing director and global head of the office of LGBTQ+ affairs for JPMorgan Chase. He leads a global, dedicated team focused on driving equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, customers, clients and communities around the world. Brad came out as a gay man at work 10 years into his professional career and has contributed significantly to the firm’s LGBTQ+ community and agenda over the last three decades.

Valerie Berlin is a principal and co-founder at BerlinRosen providing counsel across the firm’s practice areas, with an emphasis on public affairs, social impact, philanthropy and campaigns. From racial and criminal justice to women’s health, immigration reform and more, Valerie has managed complicated communications campaigns leading to groundbreaking victories. Her expertise has also helped elect Democrats across 21 states. Prior to BerlinRosen, Valerie spent 20 years as an organizer, campaign manager and senior communications director.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
If you think you don’t know any LGBTQ people, think again! We are a big diverse community, in every neighborhood, in every workplace, in every extended family. There is someone you love, respect, admire or depend on that is part of the LGBTQ community. Please consider that when you are asked to support our rights to live our lives as fully and openly as you live yours.

Barbara joined CI RegentAtlantic Private Wealth in 2017 and recently launched the Firm’s LGBTQ+ practice. She’s focused on helping clients create custom wealth plans designed to build and protect the future of LGBTQ+ families. In 2021, she was named partner and appointed co-chair of the Firm’s Wall Street Women Forum. Her previous experience includes positions with U.S. Trust and Goldman Sachs & Co. Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree from Providence College in Rhode Island.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
Edith (Edie) Windsor, whose tireless efforts paved the way for marriage equality; Martina Navratilova, one of the first openly gay sports figures; Sir Elton John, one of the biggest singer-songwriters of our time.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
I hope to see tougher consequences for those who continue to bully this community. With that, I would like to see stronger governmental support around the transgender population, particularly transgender youth, who are often plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts. I’m also baffled by those who wish to overturn same-sex marriage. Our government needs to safeguard those who very simply want the same rights and protections of heterosexual marriages.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
Our community is consistently made to feel “other”. Notably in the form of overt discrimination but often in assumptions that are made. Assuming one woman is a man because she’s not dressing to conform to the “norm” or asking a gay woman what her husband does for a living. And that barely scratches the surface on the myriad of ways our community is asked to “explain” ourselves – even when there is no negative intent.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
This is a difficult question as groups within the community all experience very different things throughout their lives. One book that I would spotlight is The Price of Salt (the movie Carol was based on this book) – beautifully written description of a chance meeting that leads to a deep love affair and written during a time when society would not allow any two people of the same gender to openly fall in love.

Troy Blackwell is the director of press relations at the Peace Corps, where he serves as the principal spokesperson, both domestically and in over 64 countries. As a Biden-Harris appointee, he has served as the agency’s communications liaison for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Troy is also the chairman of the Big Apple Performing Arts and New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. During his tenure, the choruses have performed at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, and the 75th Annual Tony Awards. In 2023, he received the prestigious beacon award from the Ellis Island Honors Society. 

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
I am inspired by many icons, especially Bayard Rustin and Ambassador Chantale Wong. Rustin was an effective organizer during the civil rights movement whose work served at the intersection of racial justice and LGBTQ equality, and Ambassador Wong has broken down barriers as the first out lesbian to receive the rank of US ambassador. 

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
At least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills, including 283 education-related bills, have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year. I want to see government at all levels support LGBTQ-Americans by taking a stand against the banning of books, supporting access to gender-affirming health care for those in need, and strengthening services for at-risk youth.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?  
For television shows, I recommend Pose and Hollywood. For live performances and music, I highly encourage people to attend a performance by the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus.

Justin Blake leads the Edelman Trust Institute, a global center for the study and cultivation of trust across business, government, media, and civil society. The Institute produces the expanding Edelman Trust Barometer report series, and content and convenings to forward the understanding of how to build trust. A 20+ year Edelman veteran, Blake is also the global chair of executive positioning, working with government officials, university presidents, NGO heads, and numerous Fortune 500 CEOs and executives. He is on the board of GLAAD and BOFFO.