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 and also a photography exhibit by Robin Rayne on the intersection of autism and gender.

They currently reside in the Westside area of Atlanta with their beautiful partner, cat, and their 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. Noël is an active member of The Collective, a fully affirming Lutheran congregation in Atlanta, an advocate for domestic violence survivors and a volunteer for Ahimsa House helping to get HB 177 passed in Georgia in 2025, and serving as the state leader for The Venture Out Project, a national organization coordinating outdoor events by and for transgender and queer community, and a member of the Solutions not Punishment Collaborative.

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.