2025 LGBTQ+ Power Players

Erik Bottcher represents District 3 on the New York City Council which includes the neighborhoods of the West Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. His journey from a gay youth in a small Adirondack town to a prominent advocate shaped his unwavering commitment to equity and justice. As the co-chair of the Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus and Manhattan Delegation, Erik transforms policy into progress. Since his 2021 election, he has championed mental health access, affordable housing, and inclusive governance that uplifts every New Yorker.

What advice would you give to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?.
Growing up gay in a small town, I faced deep isolation and survived multiple suicide attempts. That painful chapter became my calling to public service – so no LGBTQ+ youth feels alone. Your identity is a strength, not a flaw. The shame others project isn’t yours to carry. You are worthy of love and belonging. Even when the world feels heavy, know this: you matter, and many are fighting for the world you deserve.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization you’d like to spotlight?
The Ali Forney Center’s C.A.M.P. is the nation’s first 24-hour drop-in center for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, who make up 40% of the homeless youth population. I’m proud to have secured $432,000 in city funding to support this vital space, which offers meals, showers, case management, and housing support. For youth facing rejection or aging out of foster care, C.A.M.P. provides safety, dignity, and hope – strengthening the entire LGBTQ+ community.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Two of my biggest accomplishments are helping secure marriage equality in New York State and authoring Law 2023/108 to expand awareness of low- and no-cost mental health services. Both reflect my commitment to equity and inclusion – whether fighting for LGBTQ+ rights or ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of income or immigration status, can access the care they need to thrive emotionally, mentally, and as full participants in our city.

Senator Jabari Brisport is a democratic socialist and a New York State senator from Brooklyn. He first got involved in politics through the fight for marriage equality and the Black Lives Matter movement. Until becoming the first openly gay person of color to serve in the legislature, he was a math teacher at a public middle school in Crown Heights.  

What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
Remember that your heritage is one of  fierce, radical, nation-shaping love. Being yourself can feel easier said than done when you’re used to hiding your light and fighting for a brighter future can feel like a daunting task in the face of so much darkness, but you don’t have to do any of it alone. Your people have always been here fighting for you – so, when you’re ready, reach out.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
GRIOT Circle is a beautifully radical, multigenerational organization focused on uplifting and serving LGBTQ elders of color. For work dismantling the carceral system with a focus on its impact on queer people, check out Black and Pink.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
While developing the Universal Child Care Act, I did a 10-week state-wide tour to get input from parents and childcare providers on what they needed from the bill. Hearing so many childcare workers say they’d never been asked to weigh in on policy made me enormously grateful to be able to start changing that. The norm in politics seems to be treating people like spectators between elections – making radical change requires dismantling that norm.

Rob Byrnes has led the East Midtown Partnership since 2002, working to improve commerce and enhance the quality of life in a vibrant 46-block section of Manhattan. He is also the Lambda Literary Award-winning author of six novels and contributes to the City’s cultural community through active service on the boards of directors of The Publishing Triangle, The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS), and Big Apple Performing Arts (NYC Gay Men’s Chorus; Youth Pride Chorus.).

What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
Be brave and be yourself. Many of us have wasted time trying to be someone we were not. Don’t waste any of your time.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I am privileged to serve on the Boards of two organizations which don’t get nearly enough credit for their contributions to queer culture and are powered on shoestring budgets through volunteer efforts, not large staffs and corporate dollars. The Publishing Triangle has been turning a spotlight on LGBTQ+ books and writers since 1988, and The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS) is the City’s oldest queer theater company, delivering high-quality Off-Off-Broadway productions for 51 years.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I have had a number of personal and professional accomplishments, but try not to be too proud of them because they are usually the result of a group effort. In another decade or so when they’re ready to wheel me into the home, I’m sure I’ll be able to reflect back and give a better, more comprehensive answer.

Tiffany was born and raised in Queens. As a public defender, Tiffany represented over a thousand clients in cases ranging from turnstile jumping to homicide. Her experience inspired her to run for elected office to redefine approaches to public health and public safety. In the Council, Tiffany has passed legislation to support survivors of gender-based violence, protect abortion care, defend access to gender-affirming care, move homeless New Yorkers to permanent homes, and more.

David Carr is the council member representing the Mid-Island based 50th Council District. Carr has had a lifelong passion for government and politics and began getting involved in campaigns at the age of 10. Since taking office, Carr’s focus on quality-of-life projects and financial relief for working New Yorkers in an increasingly challenging fiscal and social landscape has led to numerous headline-filling projects and legislation.

What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
There’s a lot of pressure from people of every persuasion and background, whether you agree with them politically or not, that are going to tell you how you should act and what you should believe. My advice is that you should always be true to yourself. Even if those around you may not understand you at first, kindness and humility are the best means towards bridging worlds that might at first seem impossibly far apart.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I want to highlight the Staten Island Pride Center for their recent major win in getting the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade to allow pride groups to march. This parade was off limits to pride groups for so long that we were actually the last known St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world to ban pride groups from marching. Consistency is key, and they proved that.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
While I take pride in anything that improves the quality of life for my constituents, one of my favorite moments was securing Staten Island’s first K-8 gifted and talented school. A good education is one of the central pillars of quality of life, and ensuring that my borough has this available to future generations has been particularly fulfilling.

Daryl Cochrane has been with the NYC Commission on Human Rights for a decade.  Previously, he worked in public policy, government relations, advocacy, and communications at GMHC, the NY AIDS Coalition, and the ALS Association, working on LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS issues, and for those living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Prior, Daryl worked for U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, serving the Lower Manhattan community in the aftermath of September 11th. He holds an MPA from NYU. 

What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
Be gentle with yourself and be gentle with others. Live your authentic self unapologetically.  Develop a passion for something. Give back to your community.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?

I would simply shout out NYC City government workers. I’ve been able to work with a variety of activists, advocates, and allies who’ve used their platforms in government to serve the LGBTQ+ community they love. Every aspect of LGBTQ+ lives and identities is represented here and these folks carry a passion with them that truly impacts our community, but also often goes without notice or accolades.  I’m grateful to work among them.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I’ve gotten to work for some amazing organizations throughout my career. I’m proud of being able to run with the opportunities I’ve been given and make some incredible friends & allies along the way. They have given me strength and a lot of laughs. I would not be who I am today without them.

Chris is the CEO of Tusk Strategies, a leading national public affairs firm. Before joining Tusk 12 years ago, Chris worked for Mike Bloomberg at City Hall, on his three mayoral campaigns and at Bloomberg. Currently Chris is working as an advisor on Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign. Chris chairs the boards of Women in Need, the largest homeless provider in the City, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. He also served on the Trevor Project board. Chris and his husband live in Cobble Hill with their two kids.

Sean Ebony Coleman is the founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, a national LGBTQ+ organization with centers located in the South Bronx, Atlanta and Washington D.C. that serve the community through educational, financial, housing, health and personal support programs. He launched Destination Tomorrow in 2009 to ensure that no LGBTQ+ community members need to leave their homes to access critical health and support services.

What words of advice would you offer to a young LGBTQ+ individual growing up today?
I see you and I completely understand how you’re feeling. This moment is extraordinarily difficult and it’s easy to be disheartened, but we need you to be engaged in this discussion and active in your community. There’s a blueprint for building political power, honed over generations by Trans activists in the ballroom community and gay rights organizers during the Stonewall movement. It begins with grassroots engagement and advocacy.

Is there an LGBTQ+ owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I would encourage people to research and support community-based LGBTQ+ organizations and other direct service providers in and around their communities. While these organizations often go unnoticed, they provide critical services and they’re facing unprecedented budget cuts and challenges at this moment. Additionally, I would encourage people to voice support for businesses that actively celebrate LGBTQ+ lives this June.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
This summer, our team is launching the first city-operated shelter specifically designed for Transgender and gender nonconforming people. It’s hard to believe that 16 years after our organization started, we’re working with the city’s Department of Homeless Services to launch this incredible, first-of-its-kind project.

Elisa Crespo is the executive director of Stonewall Community Foundation. Elisa also spent several years as the executive director of NEW Pride Agenda, where she built the emerging organization from the ground up, creating a thriving advocacy powerhouse. After graduating from John Jay College, Elisa held numerous roles and served as education liaison to the Bronx borough president. Elisa made history in 2020 as the first trans woman to run for office in the Bronx.

Anthony Crowell is New York Law School’s dean and president. Under him, LGBTQ+ community members occupy the highest ranks of the administration, and NYLS has among the highest percentages of LGBTQ+ faculty and students nationally, with 15% of students identifying in the 2025 graduating class. Crowell has also led the creation of new academic centers, institutes, and leadership programs that capitalize on the City’s fastest-growing job sectors, including those focused on financial services, technology and intellectual property, government and public interest, and in-house counsel and the business of law. He is also a national leader in legal higher education as well as New York’s civic community.