2024 LGBTQ+ Power Players

Charles John O’Byrne is executive vice president for policy at Related Companies where he serves in a leadership role on government affairs at all levels; labor issues, litigation matters, and questions of strategy on multiple projects. He also serves on the management team of energyRe, a clean energy company founded by Related’s principals. energyRe, with its partners Invenergy and NYPA, is responsible for Clean Path NY, the largest renewable energy project in the United States.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Put more faith in the stoic principle that we should not worry about things in life and the world over which we have no control.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
There are many including Alan Turing, Christine Quinn, Ritchie Torres, and Larry Kramer, Oscar Wilde, Sean Patrick Maloney. Each of these individuals provides examples of courage and decency in the face of injustice when it comes to our community.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
I think the city is remarkably supportive of our community and, as the Mayor knows and we all know, there is always more to do. Specifically, support for the LGBTQ+ youth of color who still have too many obstacles placed in their way.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
I’m not all that concerned with people knowing what I’m trying to do as an individual. That said, I hope we can all join forces on behalf of our democracy this November.

Since 2002, Daniel O’Donnell, the first openly gay man elected to the NYS Assembly, has served the 69th District, covering Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, and the Upper West Side. Starting his career as a public defender, he’s been pivotal in the Assembly, passing landmark legislation, including the Marriage Equality Act, the Dignity for All Students Act, and repealing 50-a. He currently chairs the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Development.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
If I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be simple: relax. Experiencing the AIDS crisis as a young adult created a constant state of alertness, which significantly impacted my mental well-being. Understanding the significance of pausing to take a breath is critical for preserving your mental and emotional health. By finding peace amidst adversity, you cultivate resilience and protect your overall well-being.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
Assembly Member Deborah Glick is an LGBTQ+ icon whom I deeply admire. As the first openly LGBTQ+ individual in the New York State legislature, she has been instrumental in advancing the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community. Her relentless advocacy and sacrifices have paved the way for future LGBTQ+ public servants. I am profoundly grateful for her contributions and am deeply indebted to her for the path she has forged.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
To better support the LGBTQ+ community, New York lawmakers must actively work to increase LGBTQ+ representation in public service. The lack of LGBTQ+ representatives, especially transgender legislators, highlights a significant shortfall. Prioritizing representatives who have walked the walk and can talk the talk ensures the presence of voices capable of empathetic and informed policymaking. This is vital for making meaningful strides in improving the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
One bill that means a great deal to me is the Student Suicide Prevention Act. A CDC survey in 2021 showed that 12% of female students, more than 25% of LGB students, 35% of trans students, and 17% of other or questioning students attempted suicide the previous year. This legislation seeks to equip schools with procedures and guidelines on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. It’s a critical step towards ensuring the well-being of NY students.

Chi Ossé is the council member for New York City’s 36th District, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights. He entered politics as an organizer and prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement. At 23 years old, Ossé was elected in 2021 as the youngest member of this Council and its only member hailing from Gen-Z.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
The musician Sylvester

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
We are working to pass the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act. The bill would require that, in rental transactions, whichever party hires a broker pays the broker fee. Currently, the tenant is often saddled with the fee for a broker they did not hire, and that unfair system has to end. If you support this bill, you should reach out to your elected officials and take to social media to be heard!

Sandra Pérez, a seasoned nonprofit executive, brings a wealth of experience to NYC Pride. With a background in nonprofit management, resource development, and special events, Sandra has deep roots in both the Bronx and Puerto Rico. She has advocated for Latinx arts and culture. She volunteered with a focus on supporting BIPOC youth and leaders. Now, as NYC Pride’s executive director, Sandra is eager to collaborate and mentor the next generation of leaders.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
You are not alone, even though it may seem like it. Don’t be afraid of asking for what you need and/or demanding it when necessary. Find your tribe, there are people who will love you and support you when you come out. Just take the first step and live your truth.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
I’ve come to learn that even icons are human so I’d say the people I’m inspired by these days are the ones who don’t do things for praise or glory but because they want to give back and make things a little bit better for the next generation – like the volunteers at NYC Pride.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
We know that great strides have been made in terms of ensuring that the LGBTQIA+ community feels that it is welcome and that our rights are secure. All the legislation and talk have to be accompanied by resources. The majority of BIPOC Queer and Trans people are barely getting by; our organizations are struggling to survive and there needs to be a comprehensive investment in all segments of our community, not just a chosen few.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
I would love for people to know more about the work we are doing in leveraging our platform in service of the community. NYC Pride isn’t just about June. We are offering programming year-round and producing great events for youth, families and of course, all the parties! There may be a lot that our community is facing but we are still here to center queer joy and pride all year!

Ron Poole-Dayan is the founder and executive director of Men Having Babies. Ron and his husband were among the first same-sex couples in the nation to father children through gestational surrogacy. MHB was founded in 2012 out of a preexisting peer support network for future biological gay fathers at the NYC LGBT Center. MHB has since expanded to support thousands of couples and singles from across the globe with guidance, financial assistance and advocacy.

Leo Preziosi, Jr. is the founder and a driving force behind Live Out Loud, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering, mentoring, and celebrating LGBTQ+ youth. With a passion for social justice and a commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy, Leo has been a pivotal figure in the community, working tirelessly to create safe, supportive, and educational spaces for young LGBTQ+ individuals. Live Out Loud has launched educational programs in schools and scholarship opportunities for LGBTQ+ students.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
It’s a journey that will take time. There will be many opportunities that will present themselves and come to fruition because of your dedication, commitment and hard work. Patience is key.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
I look to all of Live Out Loud’s GSA club advisors and teachers who are dedicated and committed to their LGBTQ+ students. They include Deena Soni, Jennifer Elliott, and Jocelyn Rosa. Their goal is to make a safe space where students can be their authentic selves, have fun and meet other students like themselves. They are the true heroes.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
I would like to see New York policymakers visit schools for the afternoon to spend time with students, teachers and principals. It would be an opportunity for them to see the successes and challenges of the schools in their districts as well as build relationships.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
We will be introducing something special in the fall. Stay tuned.

Christine C. Quinn is the president and CEO of Win, New York City’s largest shelter and supportive services provider for homeless families. Under her leadership, Win runs 14 shelters and over 400 permanent supportive housing units, giving thousands the support they need to break the cycle of homelessness. Quinn brings over 30 years of public service experience to the role, including a two-term tenure as speaker of the City Council.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that you’re enough, and everything will be ok – even if it doesn’t feel that way. And you should also really take your makeup off before you go to sleep!

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
Barbara Hughes. A longtime member of ACT UP and the Pink Panthers, Hughes was fearless at a time when hate crimes were at their all-time peak. She would escort LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to and from the subways in the West Village to ensure they wouldn’t be attacked. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also a very successful chef and serves as executive director of City Beet Kitchens, which is part of Project Renewal.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
Policymakers need to recognize that although we’ve accomplished a lot, our work isn’t done. Until LGBTQ+ people are safe and recognized legally at every level of government, we’re not done. We can do more to condemn hate crimes, to combat harmful legislation – whether at a school board in Manhattan or  Albany – and we can do more to fight the omnipresent discrimination that still exists, particularly as it pertains to the transgender community.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
I wish more people knew how rampant family homelessness is. The face of homelessness is a five-year-old child with a working mother. I believe if more people knew what homelessness looks like, they would find it unacceptable and join us in the fight to end the cycle of homelessness.

Peggy Rajski is an Oscar-winning filmmaker and founder of the groundbreaking nonprofit The Trevor Project. Rajski won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short for directing the short film Trevor (1994), a poignant comedy about a young teen whose world is turned upside down when word spreads at school that he might be gay. Her experience with the film led her to create The Trevor Project, America’s first 24/7 suicide prevention service dedicated to LGBTQ+ young people. Her goal from founding day to today is ensuring Trevor thrives as a vital industry-leading lifesaving resource for LGBTQ+ young people, helping them see a brighter future for themselves.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would tell her to trust her heart and instincts when making big decisions, be ready to take leaps into the unknown and get ready for an unforgettable journey. My career started out in filmmaking, and if I were to tell my younger self that making movies would lead me to creating an organization that’s helped save an untold number of LGBTQ+ young people’s lives, she wouldn’t believe it! Sometimes the most wonderful parts of life are what you least expect, and you only get there by weathering inevitable ups and downs along the way. My younger self was a risk taker and helped me build resilience, one of the most useful traits anyone can have, plus curiosity and the courage to challenge convention.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
I produced a couple of films that Jodie Foster directed, and I have so much respect for who she is as a person and an artist. Jodie has a piercing intelligence, a deep respect for the craftsmanship every single person brings to their role, an incredible work ethic, a good sense of humor, great taste and integrity. Jodie makes movies that reveal so many facets of the human experience. Whatever she chooses to get involved in, I know I’ll find it illuminating. She also leverages her own power and stature to support emerging female artists and filmmakers in a business that has not been so welcoming to them, and was instrumental in getting our film Trevor made and The Trevor Project off the ground.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
Policymakers in New York and across the country need to urgently address a major public health crisis: the high rate of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project’s peer-reviewed research recently documented that 41% of LGBTQ+ youth in New York seriously considered suicide, and rates rose to 50% for transgender and nonbinary youth. It’s crucial that legislation is passed protecting the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community and funding allotted for specialized mental health care services for LGBTQ+ young people.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
At Trevor, our advocacy team tirelessly combats a tsunami of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation undermining the rights of queer and questioning young people. LGBTQ+ youth have become political pawns for extremist views, and this dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is having real-world impacts on both the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. I strongly encourage folks to sign up for Trevor’s advocacy alerts for timely updates on actions they can take locally. Never forget. There is power in numbers.

Lucciano Reberte, a native of Argentina, has resided in NYC for the past 14 years. He is a Latinx gay immigrant and HIV advocate, dedicated to LGBTQ communities, social justice, and HIV rights. Lucciano was appointed by the NYC Mayor to serve on the HIV/AIDS Services Administration Advisory Board. He currently holds the position of director of community engagement at the Latino Commission on AIDS, leading national and regional LGBTQ and HIV-related initiatives.Lucciano Reberte, a native of Argentina, has resided in NYC for the past 14 years. He is a Latinx gay immigrant and HIV advocate, dedicated to LGBTQ communities, social justice, and HIV rights. Lucciano was appointed by the NYC Mayor to serve on the HIV/AIDS Services Administration Advisory Board. He currently holds the position of director of community engagement at the Latino Commission on AIDS, leading national and regional LGBTQ and HIV-related initiatives.

Ronald Richter is the CEO of JCCA, a 200-year-old nonprofit serving New York children and families. A former Legal Aid attorney, New York City Family Court judge and commissioner of New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Richter has worked for three decades to create a more just child welfare system by emphasizing compassion and respect, as well as placing the utmost value on the wellbeing of each child and family

If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would tell myself to relax and not be so stressed about what will happen next. Everything is going to work out as it’s supposed to. I’d also say to have more fun. Inhabit fully the role you are in and enjoy it.

Is there an LGBTQ+ icon or member of the community that you look up to?
Billie Jean King. My mom loved tennis and King in particular. King was out at a time when that was far from easy. And yet, by resonating with both my parents’ generation and my own, and also with mainstream America, she showed that you could be accepted for who you were.

What can New York policymakers do to support members of the LGBTQ+ community?
The most obvious thing is to recognize the LGBTQ+ people that they know. And also to try to accept that we’re all much more similar than we are different. I think we’ll get to a point where we realize that one’s sexual orientation actually doesn’t say all that much about an individual. It’s the content of your character that matters, not who you sleep with.

Is there anything you are working on that you wish more people knew about?
Our determination at JCCA to pivot to serving families and children with behavioral health challenges. We’re focusing on a more preventive approach. We want to go upstream so that we can help clients avoid the most severe outcomes later. That said, it’s amazingly hard right now to hire and support the staff required to accomplish these goals. We’ll keep advocating loudly for the investments and policy needed to adequately address the mental health crisis.