April 29, 2010 | About

Melissa Sklarz – President

A long time activist and icon in the LGBT community, Melissa became the first transgender person elected to office in New York when she was elected Judicial Delegate from the 66th Assembly District in 1999. She likewise, became the first transgender person from New York to be part of the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention, by being appointed to the Credentials Committee in 2004 and again on the Rules Committee in 2008.

Melissa helped bring civil rights to transgender people in New York City when INT 24 became law in 2002 and has been a lobbying leader for GENDA (Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act)

In 2010, Melissa was at the side of Governor Paterson when he announced an executive order protecting the rights of transgender people employed by New York State.

Melissa also had a featured role in the film Transamerica.

Charles Bayor – Vice President

Charles is a native New Yorker, growing up in the Grand Concourse section of the Bronx. He graduated from William Howard Taft H.S; Hunter College (Lehman College); and American University (Washington D.C.) with a degree in Political Science.

After college, Charles returned to New York. where he began his Teaching Career, first in Intermediate school then in High School, as a teacher of social studies.

Upon retiring as a teacher, he began mentoring new chapter leaders and rebuilding failing chapters at various schools in NYC. Charles presently serves on the Economic and Social Committee of the United Federation of Teachers, and has been appointed by the President of the UFT (Randi Weingarten) to a special task force on Civil Rights.

In addition to his longtime political and social activist as Chapter Leader, Delegate and the political action liaison for the UFT in Manhattan, Charles served as Vice President of Gouverneur Hospital, is currently an active member of Community Board 3, is Chair of the local School Board, and is a Democratic District leader.

He joined the Stonewall Board of Directors in 2008, became Recording Secretary in 2010, and became Vice President in 2012.

Charles has been honored for his commitment by Gouverneur Hospital, and the Manhattan Democratic Club.

Ben Murphy – Vice President

Raised in historic Santa Fe New Mexico, Ben obtained a BA in Government & Political Science at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Subsequent to graduation he worked as a political consultant and fundraiser for corporate and nonprofit clients including the Democratic National Convention, New Mexico State Democratic Party, Walmart, Tyson Foods, Pfizer, Kerry-Edwards, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and Florida Crystals.

In 2007 he moved to New York City and is currently part of the Sales Finance group at Coty Inc, USA.  He was elected SDNYC Treasurer in 2010 and is currently serving as Vice President of the club.

He also serves as a public member of Community Board 4 and was the first LGBT Caucus Chair for New York State Young Democrats.

Eunic Ortiz – Vice President

Chap James Day – Recording Secretary

Chap has been active with Stonewall since 2008, and joined the Board as a Member at Large in July 2011. He has volunteered on several campaigns for various leaders including Christine Quinn, Daniel Dromm, Aravella Simotas, and Michael Gianaris. He is an active member of the Powhatan and Pocahontas Regular Democratic Club in Astoria and the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens.

He serves on the Board of Out Astoria, an Astoria-based LGBT civic organization; as a Provincial Coordinator for Integrity USA, the LGBT advocacy organization for the Episcopal Church; and he is the Festival Chair for Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee.

Chap works for WITNESS, an international nonprofit organization that uses the power of video and storytelling to open the eyes of the world to human rights abuses. It was co-founded in 1992 by musician and human rights advocate Peter Gabriel, Human Rights First and the Reebok Human Rights Foundation.

He lives in Astoria with his partner Michael J. Mallon.

Michael J. Mallon – Corresponding Secretary

A born-and-bred New Yorker, Michael joined the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in early 2007 and was elected to the board in fall 2008.

Michael has been involved with many campaigns over the years in an effort to help elect LGBT and LGBT-supportive candidates to public office. He serves as president of the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens (LGDCQ), as well as an officer of the Queens County Young Democrats. Additionally, Michael is active within his local Democratic club, the Powhatan/Pocahontas Democratic Club in Astoria, Queens.

Actively engaged in the world of community organizing and activism, Michael currently serves on the steering committee of Out Astoria, a group that organizes the LGBT community in Astoria, LIC, and Sunnyside and provides a forum for dialogue. He also frequently volunteers for the Queens Pride, having served as its Secretary for two terms. He helps organize the Queens LGBT Pride Parade & Festival every June, as well as the Winter Pride Gala, an annual fundraising event that honors those who advocate for the LGBT community in Queens. Michael has been honored by the Queens chapter of PFLAG, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and the Powhatan/Pocahontas Democratic Club for his commitment and activism.

Maintaining a strong belief that the church should be a place of support and comfort for all, Michael helped reorganize and currently serves on the steering committee of Integrity NYC-Metro, an advocacy and fellowship group that strives and promotes for the visibility, equality, and well-being of LGBT persons and their families both within the Episcopal Church and the wider community.

Michael currently serves on the staff for NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, long-time civil rights advocate and one of the first openly-gay elected officials in the borough of Queens.

Michael lives in Astoria, NY his partner, Chap James Day.

Joseph G. Hagelmann, III – Treasurer*

 

 

Executive Board of Directors

Marty Algaze*     Richard Allman*     Steve Ashkinazy     Robert Atterbury

Kevin Burke     Matthew W. Carlin*     Rose Christ     Michael F. Colosi

Bryan Ellicott    Frankie Fraioli     Lewis Goldstein     Aubrey Lees

Marc Levine     Brice Peyre*     Tom Smith*     Pete Webb

 

At Large Board Members

Kenny Agosto     Blaise McNair     Jonas Siregar

 

Tenured Board Members

Paul J. Del Duca     Saul Fishman     Dirk McCall*

Connie A. Ress     Frank Wilkinson     Bob Zuckerman*

 

Board of Governors Chairs

Mark P. Thompson     Barbara Russo

In Memoriam

Lew Todd

*President Emeritus