The Staff
Jeff Graham
Executive Director
Jeff (he/him) is the executive director of Georgia Equality, an organization that works to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities throughout Georgia. Jeff began advocating on LGBT and AIDS related issues as a college student in the mid-1980s and has continued his advocacy on these issues since that time. He has been involved in a wide variety of grassroots and legislative advocacy campaigns and over the past 30 years has served as either an executive director or board member to a number of local and national organizations working on issues related to gay and transgender rights, access to healthcare, community empowerment and HIV/AIDS. Jeff has received numerous awards and recognition for both his advocacy and nonprofit work from organizations such as the National Center for Human Rights Education, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Atlanta City Council, The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, ACLU of Georgia and several local publications and organizations within the LGBT and HIV communities. He is a founding board member of ProGeorgia, a membership organization of nonprofits focused on strategic civic engagement activities, and America Votes Georgia, an organization that supports coordinated and strategic engagement on policy issues and electoral progress across a variety of issues.
He served as a Grand Marshal of the Atlanta Pride Parade and has been named to the most influential lists of Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend.
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Chanel Haley
Deputy Director
Within nearly 20 years of advocacy, Chanel (she/her) is the first African-American Transgender person hired by the Georgia House of Representatives assigned to four Republicans and three Democrats. Appointed to the City of Atlanta Human Relations Commission by Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell in 2014. Later to be elected Chairperson in 2016-2018. Making her the first Trans-person to chair any City of Atlanta constituted board. She secured a 20k budget, the first for the Commission. The Human Relations Commission is the governing board for Atlanta’s nondiscrimination ordinance. The position with the commission gave her the authority to facilitate Trans* Humility Training at all the homeless shelters within Atlanta city limits. She is co-author of the “S.L.E.E.P. training manual” for the City of Atlanta. And was the only Trans-person appointed to the City of Atlanta’s HOPWA Modernization Advisory Committee.
Chanel served four years as the secretary of Georgia’s State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, cochairing and coauthoring: “Disability Rights and Civil Rights in Georgia” report. Elected 2017-2018 Fulton County Democrat Post Seat Holder At-Large. Elected as a 2018 Delegate to the State Democrat Convention and elected a district level Delegate to the 2020 Biden Democrat National Convention. In 2017, Chanel Haley became the first Trans-person to be listed in Real Times Media “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta” 17th edition. She is a 2018 graduate of the City of Atlanta Citizens Police Academy conducted by the Atlanta Police Department. In 2019-2021 Ms. Haley served on the Advisory Council to Recovery Resources of Atlanta Midtown Covenant Community, Inc. She served as the chairperson of Trans Housing Atlanta Program (THAP). In 2020, Chanel served on the Screening Committee for Out on Film and is 2020’s OUT Georgia Business Alliance 100 Most Influential LGBT Georgians. Served as an appointee to the Clayton County School Board Advisory Council as Vice-Chair in 2022. And served one term as Co-Chair on the Fulton County District Attorney’s LGBTQ Advisory Board. In 2024, Chanel became a board member of “The Communities And Police Partnership” (TCAPP). With appearances at 15 universities on 17 campuses, including Yale University. She currently facilitates “Trans* 101 Humility” Trainings by request custom for any type of organization. In 2016, 2017, and 2024 her facilitation included the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Chanel Haley has received 2 national awards from Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC):
2018 Trailblazer Award Winner, 2019 Monica Roberts Award for Advocacy Winner.
And is a 2019 Atlanta Pride Grand Marshall
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Wes Sanders Han-Burgess
Development & Communications Director
Wes (he/him) is the Development & Communications Director at Georgia Equality. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Mercer University.
A Georgia native, Wes began his activism in undergrad, on campus and while volunteering on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. As a graduate student Wes coupled his academic work with an internship at Georgia Equality and upon completing his degree joined the staff in May 2013.
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Noël Heatherland
Statewide Organizing Manager
Noël (they/them) is the Statewide Organizing Manager at Georgia Equality. They were born in Warner Robins, GA and moved to the rural outskirts of Albany, GA at a young age where they lived until moving to Athens, GA to attend the University of Georgia. They studied Communications and Political Science there. After graduating from UGA, they moved to the Atlanta area where they have lived since other than a couple of years spent in the Washington DC area. Growing up they were raised in a religious cult that sheltered them from LGBTQIA+ people and highly controlled all aspects of their identity and opinions. They spent several of their adolescent years interning at state capitols across the nation including at Georgia’s Capitol on behalf of conservative ideals and lobbied for the use of religious principles to be used as a basis for discrimination.
Once they were able to go to the University of Georgia, they felt drawn to connect to the AIDS Coalition of Northeast Georgia (ACNG) and began the process of being able to safely figure out their identity. They regularly volunteered with ACNG during their time at UGA. In recent years, they began pursuit of a Masters in Social Work with the intention of being of more service to the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities. Noël volunteered with Georgia Equality starting in 2018 and then in 2020 transitioned onto the Board of Directors for both the Georgia Equality Board and the Equality Foundation of Georgia Board. From 2019 to 2021, they were a LGBTQIA+ Youth facilitator for PFLAG. From 2017-2021, they had significant involvement locally and nationally in the leadership of faith-based LGBTQIA+ affirming groups and issued a call for DEI growth and development in these organizations, especially in reference to trans inclusion and anti-racism. Part of their life story is featured in the trans and nonbinary anthology Authentic Selves by Peggy Gillespie published in 2023.
They currently reside in the Roswell, GA area with their three dogs, one of which is a three legged pitbull mix named Champion. Their hobbies include writing and hiking. Their writing has been included in a spiritual devotional book entitled Queer Hands of God and an inspirational app for queer people. According to Noël, activism and advocacy are a spiritual activity. They are currently writing a play about LGBTQIA+ relationship challenges and casually write poetry for fun. Noël is an active part of Womxn in the Pines and Whole Atlanta SynaGaia communities.
Their big why for wanting to do this work is they believe we are all connected and total liberation is dependent on everyone getting liberated. As both a non-binary human and a lesbian that has made their way through extensive self discovery and self acceptance journeys, they strongly believe everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be able to safely experience both authenticity and belonging. Noël loves Georgia and wants it to be not just safe but celebratory for all their LGBQTIA+ siblings. They would love to connect with you at an outreach event soon.
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Jessica Douglas
Development and Communications Manager
Jessica Douglas (she/her) is the Development and Communications Manager at Georgia Equality. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia, where she also minored in African American Studies and earned a certificate in Public Affairs Communications and Applied Politics. Jessica served as a student activist and interned for Georgia Equality twice, working on communications, advocacy, and field organizing.
While a student at the University of Georgia, Jessica led an initiative to memorialize the vast contributions of enslaved individuals towards the foundation and success of the University– ultimately resulting in the construction of a monument at Baldwin Hall dedicated to the enslaved individuals whose remains were excavated during construction on the historic North Campus.
As a native Georgian, Jessica is passionate about reshaping the narrative of progressive politics in the south. Jessica most recently served as an external relations officer for the Center for Victims of Torture in Georgia, advocating for refugee and immigrant survivors of torture and other conflict-related trauma. She cares about approaching social issues from an intersectional and trauma-informed lens.
In spare time, Jessica enjoys reading, tending to her many houseplants, consuming reality TV, and spending time with her cat, Felix.
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Kayla Quimbley
HIV Policy Manager
Meet Kayla Quimbley (she/her), the dynamic force behind HIV policy management at Georgia Equality. Hailing from rural Georgia, Kayla’s journey into advocacy was ignited by the pervasive stigma and misinformation surrounding HIV in her community. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Health, she embarked on a mission to drive change.
For nine years, Kayla has been a steadfast advocate, using her voice and personal narrative as powerful tools for education and empowerment. Drawing from her own life experiences, she weaves storytelling and poetry into her advocacy, captivating audiences and shedding light on the realities of living with HIV.
In recent years, Kayla has expanded her impact into policy development, emerging as a fierce lobbyist for youth and a champion for comprehensive sex education. As one of the youngest members to serve on PACHA (the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS), Kayla has played a pivotal role in shaping recommendations for the Assistant Secretary of Health in the Biden administration.
Outside the realm of advocacy, Kayla is a free spirit who finds solace in family, friends, travel, and nature. Whether she’s exploring new destinations or simply reveling in the beauty of the outdoors, Kayla embodies a zest for life that transcends boundaries and inspires those around her.
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Luiza de Abreu
Digital Organizing Fellow
Luiza de Abreu (she/her) is the Digital Organizing Fellow at Georgia Equality. Luiza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in Media and Society, and a minor in Sociology from Georgia State University. During her time as a writer and editor for The Signal, she focused on amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals, shedding light on critical issues and sharing impactful, first-hand stories of students affected by injustice.
A proud Afro-Latina LGBTQ+ individual, Luiza has always been a passionate activist, spearheading school clubs focused on social justice issues since elementary school. This commitment to advocacy and powerful storytelling continues to shape her professional and personal life.
In her free time, she enjoys singing, writing, and being in nature. On a sunny day, she’s probably by the river, reading Mary Oliver and contemplating the meaning of love and life.
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Jack Jordan
Youth Engagement Organizer
Jack Jordan (they/them) is a disabled, queer, non-binary, Black Puerto Rican.
Jack has been involved in South Florida activism for over ten years, since their early teens. Jack’s focus is on queer/ trans liberation, healthy relationships, inclusive and accessible spaces, risk-aware safer sex, and youth empowerment. Jack has become well known for their visibility, nuance, and bold outspokenness around injustice. Jack has utilized their art and graphic design to support multiple community initiatives, organizations, and fundraising efforts.
Jack has also put in countless hours of local community organizing and leadership through their involvement with Miami’s Transgender Day of Remembrance & Resilience (TDORR) event since 2013. As a speaker at TDORR in 2013, Jack courageously shared their own personal experience coming to terms with their identity as a transgender young person. As a member of the TDORR planning committee from 2015-2022, Jack has assisted with the direct creation of programming, speaker/performer recruitment, and in bringing in youth-centered ideas and energy to the planning process. Jack also participated in ChangeMakers (a summer program at an LGBTQ organization), and then became a facilitator of the program the following summer, when they crafted and implemented an entirely new curriculum for the nine-week program. In addition to leading sessions, they redesigned the program so that it became youth-led and youth organized, and offered paid positions for youth for the first time in program history.
Jack is informed, engaged, and visible around many social justice issues, and they offer not only their whole self to training spaces, but also a vast understanding around the complexities of safer sex, race, ability, class, gender, and orientation.
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Jai Davis
Faith Organizer
Jai Davis (they/them) is the Faith Organizer for Georgia Equality. Jai is a native of Mobile, AL, by way of Atlanta, and considers both homes. In their time in Atlanta, they began exploring their call to the fields of teaching, missions, and theology. Since their undergraduate career at Tuskegee University, they developed a fruitful and professional experience in theology, culture, ethics, gender, race, and sexuality. They are a passionate leader with the enthusiasm to serve, mentor, and guide those who cross their path daily.
Jai is an alumnx of Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL), where they received a Bachelor of Education Degree in Elementary Education. In May 2020, they graduated with a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, NC in May of 2020. In May of 2023, they graduated from Candler School of Theology with a Master of Theology, where their thesis focused on Black Trans Narratives within the Black Church while asking, “Can the Black Church go back to being Trans?”
Currently, Jai has received their first grant fellowship with the organization “Pride in the Pews,” where their project focuses on curating conversations that center on how faith-based communities can become an inclusive spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. Jai plans to continue their education by pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology, Culture, and Psychology with an intersection of Queer Theory and an emphasis on theological language. Jai has received many awards and accolades in both Academia and Christian Ministry.
Jai’s interests are focused and geared towards understanding theology and learning from the
voices of those who live on the margins daily. In their free time, Jai enjoys reading, writing,
cooking, hiking, and relaxing with those they love. Jai is a child, sibling, friend, and lover of all
things.
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Aisha Gray
Southern Regional Organizer
Aisha Gray (they/them) serves as the Southern Field Organizer at Georgia Equality. They hold a Master of Science degree in Community Psychology from Florida A&M University, demonstrating a profound commitment to social justice and the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights.
Originating from Florida, Aisha’s transition to Georgia was driven by a passion to apply their expertise in practical ways to a new context. Before joining the Georgia Equality team, Aisha played a pivotal role in providing crucial psychological assessments to youth across Georgia, guiding them toward vital mental health services. Aisha’s decade-long involvement with LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color, both in non-profit and private capacities, reflects an enduring commitment to these communities.
As a resilient advocate, Aisha’s contributions extend beyond the field of psychology. Their experience in community organizing and advocacy spans various domains, from addressing racial equity to tackling issues like health and economic disparities. Aisha’s steadfast commitment to social justice showcases their dedication to multifaceted social justice combined with restorative communal mental healthcare praxis.
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Ade Uzzi
Business Manager
Ade Uzzi (she/her) has worked in the private and non-profit organization space as an Accountant and Financial Analyst for over twenty-six years.
Ade is originally from Benin City, Nigeria, and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Clark-Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Finance from Mercer University.
She enjoys keeping up with current affairs, traveling and spending time with her nephews and nieces.
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Boards of Directors
Board of Directors, Georgia Equality, Inc.
Patricia Lassiter, Chair
Columbus, GA
Patricia Lassiter (she/her) was born in California, raised in a military family, and has lived in Columbus, Georgia since 2000. She is a political consultant who specializes in leadership training and voter outreach. Before returning to Georgia, she was the Executive Director of the Gainesville (Florida) Women’s Health Center, was elected to and served on the national board of the National Organization for Women and worked to include sexual orientation to the legally protected classes in Alachua County,
Florida. Patricia’s background includes volunteering and engaging in civil disobedience with ACTUP, Queer Nation, and several other feminist/civil rights groups.
A veteran of local, state, and federal electoral campaigns in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, Patricia was the Field Director for Cathy Woolard’s Atlanta 2017 Mayoral Campaign. In 2018, after a successful cycle of rural organizing in South Georgia, Patricia served as the Deputy Field Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia’s (DPG’s) Coordinated Campaign to elect Stacey Abrams for Governor as well as Democrats across Georgia.
Patricia is the current Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia’s LGBTQ+ Caucus and is the C4 Board Chair of Georgia Equality, the state’s premier advocacy organization dedicated to attaining comprehensive civil rights for every Georgian. Lassiter returned to the DPG in 2020 as the Organizing Director of the Legislative Victory Fund and successfully navigated a program to create and support the largest recruitment class of state legislative candidates since Reconstruction.
Managing a thriving statewide program during a global pandemic led to her current role as the Democratic Party of Georgia’s Party Affairs Director. Georgia’s 130 + County Committees in 14
congressional districts demands management, communication, a commitment to risk taking, and a lot of empathy every day. There is nothing more gratifying than identifying and highlighting leaders in Georgia and her commitment to public service will never waver.
Dr. Marc Ebelhar, Vice Chair & Treasurer
Atlanta, GA
Dr. Marc Ebelhar (he/him) is a faculty member in the Office of Graduate Education at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Marc’s dissertation, “Sowing the Seeds of Joy” While Living in the Weeds: Narratives of Volunteer Safe Zone Training Facilitators in the Southern United States was a finalist for the Southern Association of College Student Affairs dissertation of the year award in 2021.
In his 20 years’ experience as a higher education professional, Marc has worked across the United States from coast to coast. He moved to Georgia in 2012 for a position at Georgia State University. In addition to Georgia Equality, Marc has served on the Hands on Atlanta’s Teamworks steering committee, a number of higher education related boards, and is the current treasurer of his neighborhood association in the historic Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta.
Marc earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Bellarmine University, a Master of Education in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and a Doctor of Education in student affairs leadership from the University of Georgia. Marc and his partner, Christina, live in Atlanta.
Sam Landis, Advancement Chair
Atlanta, GA
Sam Landis (they/them) is the Creative Lead at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights. There, they shepherd The Center’s brand in collaboration with the marketing and exhibition teams, managing all visual aesthetics for the institution and the design of temporary exhibitions. Before coming to The Center, they worked in a variety of marketing & design agencies, non-profits, corporate and higher education environments. Outside of their work at The Center, they continue to do freelance design and art direction work for a variety of clients including Lexicon Strategies, A Global Health Legacy for the Future, The Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Branch, among others. They grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Atlanta in 2014 to attend Savannah College of Art in Design, where they received their BFA, receiving top honors and graduating Magna Cum Laude. While there, Sam’s passion for social justice was ignited in their role as president of SCAD Atlanta’s LGBTQ student organization, where they received awards for student organization of the year and student organization leader of the year in 2016.
Sam is a Co-Founder and Lead Curator of the Atlanta LGBTQ History Project, launched in 2021, with the goal of recording and sharing Atlanta’s LGBTQ history for generations now and in the future. They are also an LGBTQ Institute Fellow (2021-2022).
As a designer, artist, and advocate, Sam is driven by a desire to connect people to stories that matter and create art that shares the beauty of being human. They currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia with their miniature schnauzer, Opal.
Nicole Horn, Governance Chair
Atlanta, GA
Nicole Horn (she/her) is a business consultant, coach, and dynamic speaker. She began her entrepreneurial career in 2002, when she left television journalism to serve as co-owner of JMH
Consulting, a higher education marketing and venture-building consultancy. From 2002 to 2018, JMH worked with more than fifty non-profit university clients and Nicole worked closely with university leaders to develop strategic solutions to reduce costs, increase revenue, and launch new academic offerings. By 2018, the $3.5 million consulting firm had 15 team members and was acquired by EducationDynamics. Nicole then spent three years at EducationDynamics as an executive running the business development team and managing key clients in the $7 million division. In 2021, after years of volunteer activism, Nicole left her executive role to run for statewide office in Georgia. During her campaign, she spoke at more than 100 events, raised $400,000 from over 1,000 donors, and beat three other candidates to make the primary run-off. Nicole recently founded ThirdEdge Performance Solutions to offer coaching, consulting, and training solutions. Nicole is committed to using her experience in team building, strategic planning, coalition building, and innovation to create new opportunities.
Suzanne Shurling, Secretary
Statesboro, GA
Born and raised in small-town South Georgia, Suzanne Shurling (she/her/hers) is very proud to call Statesboro home. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brewton-Parker College, and her Master’s in Sociology from Georgia Southern University. Over the years, Suzanne has worked closely with several advocacy organizations at GSU such as the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Alphabet Soup, Sexual Assault Student Educators (SASE), the National Organization of Women (NOW), the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and Unity for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE). Suzanne also became a Certified Diversity Executive while serving on the Inaugural Fellowship for the GSU Office of Inclusive Excellence during her decade at the University.
Suzanne lives her life by the motto of “activism through advocacy” which drives her work within the communities that she loves so much. She advocates and educates through her work as a certified victims advocate at the Statesboro Regional Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center; organizing fundraisers, sit ins and marches; speaking at various conferences in the region; working various local political campaigns; and serving as an executive board member of different community organizations such as Boro Pride, which she founded in 2019.
She also has served on One Boro, Statesboro’s city commission on diversity and inclusion since its inception in 2018, where she contributed to the writing and passing of a local non-discrimination ordinance with Georgia Equality’s help on October 20th, 2020. Under the umbrella of One Boro, Suzanne serves as a co-chair for the brand-new Statesboro Violence Prevention Task Force, focusing on bringing assistance and solutions to the city she calls home. Currently, Suzanne is employed as the DEI Advocacy and Support Specialist for a small local business in Statesboro.
Danielle Bonanno
Athens, GA
Danielle Bonanno (she/they) is the Executive Director of Inclusive Recovery Athens. She has been an advocate for various oppressed and stigmatized populations, including those with substance use disorders, LGBTQIA2S+, homeless and low-income individuals, and those with complex traumas. Danielle’s life’s work revolves around bridging the gap between the queer and recovery communities, educating addiction professionals on how to serve LGBTQIA2S+ populations in a trauma-informed and culturally-affirming way. Beyond her primary role, Danielle holds significant positions in organizations at the forefront of LGBTQ+ advocacy and business. As the Vice-President of the OUT Georgia Business Alliance and a board member of Georgia Equality and the Equality Foundation of Georgia, she extends her impact. Her tenure as President (2021-2024) of Athens Pride and Queer Collective further cements her leadership, notably through initiatives like the Athens Pride and Queer Collective Trans Surgery Scholarship Program, which under her guidance, has provided multiple full scholarships for gender-affirming surgeries since its inception in 2022. Danielle’s leadership and advocacy have not gone unnoticed. Recognized as one of the top 10 leaders under 40 in Athens-Clarke County by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022, and hailed as one of the six LGBTQ leaders globally to watch by the Georgia Voice, her accolades reflect her impactful contributions. In 2023, she was honored with the Community Leader of the Year award from OUT Georgia Business Alliance and served as a Grand Marshal for the Atlanta Pride Parade, underscoring her dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. Away from her professional pursuits, Danielle cherishes writing and spending time with her canine companions, Blueberry and Hershey. Her commitment to inclusivity, advocacy, and leadership continues to drive transformation and promote well-being among marginalized communities.
Kyle R. Fox, Ph.D.
Brunswick, GA
Bio coming soon!
Angel Silva Jones
Augusta, GA
Angel Silva-Jones (she/her) was born in California. As a retired Army Veteran, she found her home in Georgia and currently reside in Grovetown. Angel currently works as Nurse Practitioner in the department of Endocrinology at Augusta University. She has a PHD in Sexology and as a board certified Clinical Sexologist she serves the LGBTQ+ community as an intimacy and relationship coach. She also works as VPT faculty in the school of nursing. Since arriving in Georgia she has committed herself to actively fighting for fairness and equity for members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as POC.
Kimberly Krautter
Atlanta, GA
Kimberly Krautter (she/her) has been a proud LGBTQIA community ally since childhood, having grown up dancing with the Atlanta Ballet. Currently she is the national award-winning co-founder of TDK Strategies, the social impact agency that provides marketing solutions for the biggest challenges at the intersection of life and business, for which she serves as PR counsel to major regional and national nonprofits. Ms. Krautter is recognized as a social marketing pioneer, credited with developing the first national social media campaign in history for U.S. presidential primary candidate Howard Dean. Her campaigns and crisis communications efforts routinely shape public opinion and mobilize community action that impact policy matters. For 27 years Ms. Krautter was the Managing Director of 13th Generation Strategies, and she served as Vice President of Fleishman-Hillard where she managed national enterprise communications during the AT&T-BellSouth merger. She was the Public Information Officer for the AT&T Global Olympic Village during the 1996 Atlanta Games, and she has directed large scale community festivals and corporate sponsorships along the Atlantic Coast for various municipalities and US ProCycling. As a crisis communications expert, she has been tapped by CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, and The Independent in London to provide analysis on community response to terrorist attacks. Ms. Krautter is also a published industry analyst for media based in the U.S., U.K., and France.
Curt Stamp
Atlanta, GA
Curt Stamp (he/him) is Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Cox Communications. In this role he is responsible for nationwide policy, state and local government and regulatory advocacy, and legal support. Curt has been an attorney in private practice and has held several telecommunications policy positions in the public and private sectors. He received his BA and MBA from Iowa State University and his JD from Drake University Law School. In addition to his role on the Georgia Equality Board, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Drake Law School Board of Counselors.
Board of Directors, Equality Foundation of Georgia
Angel Jones, Chair
Augusta, GA
Angel Silva-Jones (she/her) was born in California. As a retired Army Veteran, she found her home in Georgia and currently reside in Grovetown. Angel currently works as Nurse Practitioner in the department of Endocrinology at Augusta University. She has a PHD in Sexology and as a board certified Clinical Sexologist she serves the LGBTQ+ community as an intimacy and relationship coach. She also works as VPT faculty in the school of nursing. Since arriving in Georgia she has committed herself to actively fighting for fairness and equity for members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as POC.
Dr. Marc Ebelhar, Vice Chair & Treasurer
Atlanta, GA
Dr. Marc Ebelhar (he/him) is a faculty member in the Office of Graduate Education at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Marc’s dissertation, “Sowing the Seeds of Joy” While Living in the Weeds: Narratives of Volunteer Safe Zone Training Facilitators in the Southern United States was a finalist for the Southern Association of College Student Affairs dissertation of the year award in 2021.
In his 20 years’ experience as a higher education professional, Marc has worked across the United States from coast to coast. He moved to Georgia in 2012 for a position at Georgia State University. In addition to Georgia Equality, Marc has served on the Hands on Atlanta’s Teamworks steering committee, a number of higher education related boards, and is the current treasurer of his neighborhood association in the historic Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta.
Marc earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Bellarmine University, a Master of Education in higher education and student affairs from the University of South Carolina, and a Doctor of Education in student affairs leadership from the University of Georgia. Marc and his partner, Christina, live in Atlanta.
Sam Landis, Advancement Chair
Atlanta, GA
Sam Landis (they/them) is the Creative Lead at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights. There, they shepherd The Center’s brand in collaboration with the marketing and exhibition teams, managing all visual aesthetics for the institution and the design of temporary exhibitions. Before coming to The Center, they worked in a variety of marketing & design agencies, non-profits, corporate and higher education environments. Outside of their work at The Center, they continue to do freelance design and art direction work for a variety of clients including Lexicon Strategies, A Global Health Legacy for the Future, The Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Branch, among others. They grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Atlanta in 2014 to attend Savannah College of Art in Design, where they received their BFA, receiving top honors and graduating Magna Cum Laude. While there, Sam’s passion for social justice was ignited in their role as president of SCAD Atlanta’s LGBTQ student organization, where they received awards for student organization of the year and student organization leader of the year in 2016.
Sam is a Co-Founder and Lead Curator of the Atlanta LGBTQ History Project, launched in 2021, with the goal of recording and sharing Atlanta’s LGBTQ history for generations now and in the future. They are also an LGBTQ Institute Fellow (2021-2022).
As a designer, artist, and advocate, Sam is driven by a desire to connect people to stories that matter and create art that shares the beauty of being human. They currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia with their miniature schnauzer, Opal.
Nicole Horn, Governance Chair
Atlanta, GA
Nicole Horn (she/her) is a business consultant, coach, and dynamic speaker. She began her entrepreneurial career in 2002, when she left television journalism to serve as co-owner of JMH Consulting, a higher education marketing and venture-building consultancy. From 2002 to 2018, JMH worked with more than fifty non-profit university clients and Nicole worked closely with university leaders to develop strategic solutions to reduce costs, increase revenue, and launch new academic offerings. By 2018, the $3.5 million consulting firm had 15 team members and was acquired by EducationDynamics. Nicole then spent three years at EducationDynamics as an executive running the business development team and managing key clients in the $7 million division. In 2021, after years of volunteer activism, Nicole left her executive role to run for statewide office in Georgia. During her campaign, she spoke at more than 100 events, raised $400,000 from over 1,000 donors, and beat three other candidates to make the primary run-off. Nicole recently founded ThirdEdge Performance Solutions to offer coaching, consulting, and training solutions. Nicole is committed to using her experience in team building, strategic planning, coalition building, and innovation to create new opportunities.
Suzanne Shurling, Secretary
Statesboro, GA
Born and raised in small-town South Georgia, Suzanne Shurling (she/her/hers) is very proud to call Statesboro home. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Brewton-Parker College, and her Master’s in Sociology from Georgia Southern University. Over the years, Suzanne has worked closely with several advocacy organizations at GSU such as the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Alphabet Soup, Sexual Assault Student Educators (SASE), the National Organization of Women (NOW), the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and Unity for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE). Suzanne also became a Certified Diversity Executive while serving on the Inaugural Fellowship for the GSU Office of Inclusive Excellence during her decade at the University.
Suzanne lives her life by the motto of “activism through advocacy” which drives her work within the communities that she loves so much. She advocates and educates through her work as a certified victims advocate at the Statesboro Regional Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center; organizing fundraisers, sit ins and marches; speaking at various conferences in the region; working various local political campaigns; and serving as an executive board member of different community organizations such as Boro Pride, which she founded in 2019.
She also has served on One Boro, Statesboro’s city commission on diversity and inclusion since its inception in 2018, where she contributed to the writing and passing of a local non-discrimination ordinance with Georgia Equality’s help on October 20th, 2020. Under the umbrella of One Boro, Suzanne serves as a co-chair for the brand-new Statesboro Violence Prevention Task Force, focusing on bringing assistance and solutions to the city she calls home. Currently, Suzanne is employed as the DEI Advocacy and Support Specialist for a small local business in Statesboro.
Danielle Bonanno
Athens, GA
Danielle Bonanno (she/they) is the Executive Director of Inclusive Recovery Athens. She has been an advocate for various oppressed and stigmatized populations, including those with substance use disorders, LGBTQIA2S+, homeless and low-income individuals, and those with complex traumas. Danielle’s life’s work revolves around bridging the gap between the queer and recovery communities, educating addiction professionals on how to serve LGBTQIA2S+ populations in a trauma-informed and culturally-affirming way. Beyond her primary role, Danielle holds significant positions in organizations at the forefront of LGBTQ+ advocacy and business. As the Vice-President of the OUT Georgia Business Alliance and a board member of Georgia Equality and the Equality Foundation of Georgia, she extends her impact. Her tenure as President (2021-2024) of Athens Pride and Queer Collective further cements her leadership, notably through initiatives like the Athens Pride and Queer Collective Trans Surgery Scholarship Program, which under her guidance, has provided multiple full scholarships for gender-affirming surgeries since its inception in 2022. Danielle’s leadership and advocacy have not gone unnoticed. Recognized as one of the top 10 leaders under 40 in Athens-Clarke County by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022, and hailed as one of the six LGBTQ leaders globally to watch by the Georgia Voice, her accolades reflect her impactful contributions. In 2023, she was honored with the Community Leader of the Year award from OUT Georgia Business Alliance and served as a Grand Marshal for the Atlanta Pride Parade, underscoring her dedication to the LGBTQ+ community. Away from her professional pursuits, Danielle cherishes writing and spending time with her canine companions, Blueberry and Hershey. Her commitment to inclusivity, advocacy, and leadership continues to drive transformation and promote well-being among marginalized communities.
Curt Stamp
Atlanta, GA
Curt Stamp (he/him) is Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Cox Communications. In this role he is responsible for nationwide policy, state and local government and regulatory advocacy, and legal support. Curt has been an attorney in private practice and has held several telecommunications policy positions in the public and private sectors. He received his BA and MBA from Iowa State University and his JD from Drake University Law School. In addition to his role on the Georgia Equality Board, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Drake Law School Board of Counselors.
Alejandro Ugarte
Sandy Springs, GA
Alejandro Ugarte (he/him) is a Bisexual, Latinx American from Venezuela living in the Atlanta area. His expertise is Corporate Compliance and DE&I and currently works in the Non-Profit sector. Most of his focus has been on the intersectionality of faith and LGBTQI identity / orientation. In his journey, he went through a residential therapy of 2 years to “try to cure” his “same sex attraction,” but after that he– instead– fully reconciled his faith and sexuality. Today he is happily married to his husband Matthew. He also works to impact the Latinx community where there are fewer resources accessible to the Latinx community and their allies and parents in their own language by creating, translating and interpreting resources. He enjoys funny videos, travel, snorkeling, waterfalls and would move anywhere that had fall/autumn all year round (aahchoo!), and always craves ice cream.
Kyle R. Fox, Ph.D.
Brunswick, GA
Bio coming soon!
Kimberly Krautter
Atlanta, GA
Kimberly Krautter (she/her) has been a proud LGBTQIA community ally since childhood, having grown up dancing with the Atlanta Ballet. Currently she is the national award-winning co-founder of TDK Strategies, the social impact agency that provides marketing solutions for the biggest challenges at the intersection of life and business, for which she serves as PR counsel to major regional and national nonprofits. Ms. Krautter is recognized as a social marketing pioneer, credited with developing the first national social media campaign in history for U.S. presidential primary candidate Howard Dean. Her campaigns and crisis communications efforts routinely shape public opinion and mobilize community action that impact policy matters. For 27 years Ms. Krautter was the Managing Director of 13th Generation Strategies, and she served as Vice President of Fleishman-Hillard where she managed national enterprise communications during the AT&T-BellSouth merger. She was the Public Information Officer for the AT&T Global Olympic Village during the 1996 Atlanta Games, and she has directed large scale community festivals and corporate sponsorships along the Atlantic Coast for various municipalities and US ProCycling. As a crisis communications expert, she has been tapped by CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, and The Independent in London to provide analysis on community response to terrorist attacks. Ms. Krautter is also a published industry analyst for media based in the U.S., U.K., and France.