2023 LGBTQ+ Power Players

David Kilmnick, PhD, MSW is a leading national LGBT advocate and president of New York LGBT Network. The last 30 years, David has built successful organizations supporting and advocating for LGBT communities in Long Island and NYC. As a national voice on LGBT issues and at the request of President Obama’s administration, David served as the ambassador and keynote speaker on behalf of the US Embassy in New Zealand at its national LGBT Conference.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
There are several LGBTQ+ icons that bring inspiration and great hope to me. Former NYC Council Finance Chair Danny Dromm comes to mind for his more than three decades of relentless work, fight, resilience, and achievements bringing visibility, critical services and education to our schools, local communities and beyond. Danny accomplished more than most would hope to in a lifetime and although retired he continues to make a difference in the lives of  LGBTQ people.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
Currently the LGBTQ community is under attack nationally with more anti-LGBTQ bills proposed this year alone than the previous 5 years combined. Our governments need to defeat these proposals and be proactive and unapologetic in putting forward, passing and enshrining full equal protection and anti-discrimination laws into our federal and state constitutions.

Charles King is the chief executive officer of Housing Works, a stalwart New York City-based nonprofit founded in 1990 to find housing for the HIV+ homeless population. King helped to co-found the organization alongside fellow members of the AIDS activism group ACT UP. Mr. King is currently the co-chair of the Ending the Epidemic Subcommittee of the New York State AIDS Advisory Council, ACT Now: End AIDS, and the Visioning Committee of the National AIDS Housing Coalition.

Rachel Korberg is the executive director and co-founder of the Families and Workers Fund, a coalition of more than 25 diverse philanthropies working together to build a more equitable U.S. economy that uplifts all. Her commentary has appeared in, or her work has been profiled by, the New York Times, Washington Post, TIME and more. Rachel currently serves as president of the board at the Stonewall Community Foundation, one of the largest funders of LGBTQIA+ causes.

Jayson Littman serves as director of events and protocol for NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Previously, Jayson served in the same capacity for former Mayor Bill de Blasio. When the pandemic put events to a halt at Gracie Mansion, Jayson served as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s liaison to the LGBTQ+ community. Jayson sits on the board of directors at the LGBTQ+ synagogue, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and is a board member of Manhattan Community Board 6.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
I’m inspired by many queer Jewish icons. Namely, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the senior rabbi of NYC’s LGBTQ+ synagogue, Beit Simchat Torah. These icons and others have exemplified the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world” by making it a better place than when we arrived.

Ken Louie is responsible for developing and executing overall marketing strategy to increase brand awareness and growth for MetroPlusHealth. As NYC’s health care plan, he completed the first significant rebrand of a 35-year-old organization. Trained social worker turned marketer, he has helped many brands transform such as Optum, TIAA, Nuveen, BNY Mellon and MetLife. Ken received his bachelor’s in social work from New York University. 

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
Born in a Japanese American internment camp during WWII, Kiyoshi Kuromiya, would later become active in the civil rights, gay liberation and antiwar movements. Kuromiya marched with Martin Luther King Jr. on Selma. Kuromiya was an early AIDS activist and member of ACT UP.

On January 1, 2023, David Ludwigson became the 6th president and CEO of God’s Love – the only non-profit in NYC that cooks and home-delivers nutritious meals for people living with illness. David joined God’s Love in 2007 as chief development officer. In 2017 he added the title of vice president. Before then, David spent 13 years at Ford Motor Company. David was introduced to God’s Love as a volunteer 10 years before joining the staff.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
I’ve always admired Harvey Milk for his ability to use his political platform to champion the rights and visibility of LGBTQ+ people. He promoted a legal framework that supports the LGBTQ+ community, including the passage of a critical gay rights bill. As a huge Green Bay Packers fan, Vince Lombardi is a hero of mine because he took a strong, open stance against the discrimination his gay players experienced decades before any other coach did.  

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
As the president and CEO of a food and nutrition non-profit, I’m committed to pushing forward legislation that mitigates the health care disparities experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. For over three decades, the Ryan White Care Act has been transformative for our clients living with HIV/AIDS. I’d love to see more sweeping legislation that creates holistic interventions that result in improved quality of life, reduced hospitalizations, and enhanced quality of life.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
LGBTQ+ people are people. Just like anyone else, we seek an inclusive and supportive environment that allows us to work to our full potential. 

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
The Making Gay History podcast, hosted by Eric Marcus, uses decades-old audio archives to tell an oral history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement. It’s a fascinating and intimate listen. And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts takes a critical look into the politics that allowed HIV/AIDS to spread and honors those who tried to warn the country of the danger that was to come.

Tamika Mapp is a successful entrepreneur and community leader who has dedicated her life to making a positive difference in the lives of others. She has become a prominent figure in her community, advocating for important causes like Raise the Age and Raise the Wage, and founding organizations like Progressives Educating New Yorkers. Tamika’s commitment to helping others and giving back to her community has made her a beloved and inspiring figure.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
James Baldwin inspires many because of his empowering poems and unwavering commitment to fighting for what he believed in. He challenged societal norms and was a prominent voice in the civil rights movement. His writing resonates with people today and encourages them never to relinquish their beliefs. Baldwin’s legacy reminds us that despite adversity, we must continue to fight for justice and equality.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
It is important for the government to support the LGBTQ+ community, and I hope to see New York take meaningful steps in this direction. This includes providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and seniors to be themselves and age in place without fear of discrimination or harassment. By prioritizing the protection and well-being of these vulnerable communities, the government can positively impact and create a more inclusive and accepting society for all.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
People outside of the LGBTQ+ community could benefit from a greater understanding and awareness of the challenges faced by this community. It is important to recognize the diversity of identities within the community and the discrimination and marginalization that LGBTQ+ individuals often face. Educating ourselves and promoting greater acceptance and inclusivity can create a more equitable and just society for all.

Can you recommend any top book, film, or TV shows that represent the LGBTQ+ experience?
The L Word is a popular TV series that has significantly impacted the LGBTQ+ community. It focuses on the lives and relationships of a group of lesbian women and explores various issues and experiences relevant to the community. For many LGBTQ+ individuals, the show has served as a source of representation and validation and helped increase the visibility and acceptance of queer identities.

Andrea “Andy” Hong Marra (she/her) is a national leader in the movement for lived and legal equality for transgender and non-binary people. She has served as executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) since 2018. She has been honored by the White House and the City of New York for her contributions to the LGBTQ community.

Dwight A. McBride is president of The New School. An award-winning author and editor, he co-edits the James Baldwin Review. McBride is co-founding director of the Academic Leadership Institute and serves on the boards of the Institute for International Education and the Dan David Prize, and is a member of LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. He holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an M.A. and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Which LGBTQ+ icons do you look up to?
James Baldwin for his brilliant insights on sexuality and masculinity and their complex relationships to race, white supremacy, and power. Urvashi Vaid was a dear friend and someone I deeply respected for her principled and impactful activism and advocacy work on behalf of the LGBTQ community, communities of color, and women. RuPaul, who has done more through the platform of entertainment than anyone to broaden representations of the LGBTQ community, drag performers, and trans identities.

What actions do you hope to see the government taking to support the LGBTQ+ community?
I encourage elected officials and policymakers to act on values of inclusion and belonging, protecting individual rights over gender and sexual identities, and creating structures, systems, and policies that enable LGBTQ+ individuals to live our lives without threats, violence, or exclusion. As a university president, I am especially focused on creating safe, welcoming communities of learning—including curricula and pedagogy that are representative and inclusive of wide ranging gender identities and sexualities.

What do you wish people outside of the community knew about the LGBTQ+ community?
LGBTQ folk are just trying to live the same American Dream you are. We want the same rights to our “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” If we all focus on our own happiness (and ensure the rights of others do the same), I think we would find that sufficient to occupy a well-spent lifetime that also strengthens our democracy.

Kelly McNamee is a shareholder at GreenbergTraurig, where she focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, antitrust litigation, government investigations, white collar defense, securities enforcement, and breach of contract matters. A strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, McNamee has represented transgender clients in asylum proceedings and has published various pieces covering First Amendment and LGBTQ+ topics. McNamee currently serves as co-chair for the Communications and Publications Committee of NYSBA and sits on the board of directors for Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.