FREE! Saturday October 24th
Educational, Entertaining, Eye-Opening, Motivating
About the Speakers.
If you are interested in speaking at the Pride Conference, please visit our get involved page for more information. We have four segments, Anti-conversion therapy/ Anti Bullying, Genda, Hiv/ Aids Awareness and Keynote Speakers. Please indicate your segment interest when replying.
Terri Cook Co-Author of Allies & Angels: A Memoir of Our Family's Transition
Terri Cookis the proud mom of a transgender child who transitioned at the age of 15. Co-author of the book, “Allies and Angels: A Memoir of Our Family’s Transition,” Terri is dedicated to opening hearts and minds by sharing her family’s life-changing journey. Terri speaks at conferences, corporations, colleges and community organizations across the country. For years she co-facilitated a parent support group, TransParent, for parents of transgender and gender-questioning youth. Terri serves on the board of the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation and helped launch Family Allies for Transgender Equality in New York State (FATE-NYS.) As she shares her family's life-changing experience supporting their teenage son's transition, Terri offers best practices for schools, medical professionals and workplaces and helps audiences understand transgender identities. Formerly a project engineer, Terri spent most of her career at Lockheed Martin where she was also a Pride ERG Lead and diversity trainer.
Terri and her husband, Vince, recently moved to Chautauqua Country and look forward to meeting others in their new community!
Kitty Lambert-Rudd
President and co-founder of OUTspoken for Equality, an LGBT rights nonprofit in the Western New York area, Vice President of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York, Associate Director of El Museo of Buffalo New York, Executive Director of Buffalo Reuse. Kitty is an LGBT rights activist, instrumental in convincing the New York state legislature to legalize same-sex marriage. Kitty has the distinction of having had the first same-sex marriage in New York, to her wife Cheryl.
Max Martin
Max was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and raised in New York City. He is currently the Executive Director for the Eastside Family YMCA in Jamestown. Prior to this he was Founder and CEO of Diabetes Wellness Clinic of America based in Gilbert, Arizona. He has a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer information. Max is a Chautauqua County Diversity and Employability committee member and serves on the Robert H. Jackson Center Education Committee. He currently resides in Dewittville, NY with his wife Jessie.
Jason Perdue
Jason is the elected President of the Jamestown Pride Society and was intricate in it's founding. Jason has been an advocate and activist for equal rights within the community and politically as a county committeeman. A former member of the New York State Army National Guard, Jason was discharged for his sexual orientation and has fought for equal rights since. Jason has worked in the Jamestown community for the past 12 years breaking down the walls of separation that exist, to generate a socially inclusive community regardless of difference. Currently, Jason is inolved in fighting for the passing of GENDA by partnering with the community, elected officials and leaders to get the message across as well as fighting to end bullying within schools.
Lorri Johnson
Lorri is the current elected Vice President of the Jamestown Pride Society. As leader of the Gender Identity and Expression group, she has been intricate in promoting social inclusion in the transgender community. She has effectively created an all inclusive organization for social and support activities that extends to the education of the community on gender dysphoria.
Caitlyn Strohmeyer
Facilitator at Transfamily of Erie Transgender Support Group. Caitlyn is intricate in implementing peer-to-peer counseling for the transgeder community in all aspects of their lives. Currently, Caitlyn is focused on a brand new teen group that was created due to the recent influx of individuals who are now comfortable living their lives as the way they are.
Jayme Coxx
Jayme has been involved in the LGBT communities all over Western New York for over 20 years. She is the current reigning Empress of the Imperial Court of Buffalo whose mission is to raise funds to give ack to local LGBT organizations. Jayme has been involved in all aspects of the community including the fight for marriage equality, equal rights for those with gender dyshoria and most recent with HIV/ AIDS awareness and PREP education.
