Noël Heatherland
Board of Directors | Atlanta, Georgia
Noël Heatherland (they/them) is a statewide organizer and advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia, with deep roots in rural Georgia. A graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in Communications and Political Science, Noël brings lived experience and a steadfast commitment to advancing justice for LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities. They currently serve as Statewide Organizing Manager at Georgia Equality and are actively involved with The Venture Out Project, Ahimsa House, and the Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative.
Formerly serving on the boards of Georgia Equality and the Equality Foundation of Georgia, Noël’s work spans grassroots organizing, faith-based advocacy, and statewide leadership to ensure queer and trans people can live authentically and with belonging. They share their home with their partner, an Afro-Indigenous trans artist, along with four dogs and a cat.
Dr. Christy Perez (C. Dreams)
Board of Directors | Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. Christy Perez (she/her) is an injustice-impacted thought leader, advocate, and policy consultant based in Baltimore. With advanced degrees in Theological and Historical Studies earned during incarceration, Christy combines lived experience with award-winning journalism and leadership in social justice. They co-founded Poder Unides and the Dreaming Justice Project, serve on the advisory board of Emory University’s Formerly Incarcerated Transitions Clinic, and are a Leadership Development Coach with the Solutions NOT Punishments Collaborative. As a 2025 Atlanta Pride Grand Marshal, Christy’s work centers on equity, liberation, and transformative justice for marginalized communities.
Andi Monroe
Board of Directors | Atlanta, Georgia
Andi Monroe (they/them) is a seasoned Atlanta-based community organizer and advocate dedicated to advancing equity and visibility for LGBTQ+ communities. With extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and media production, Andi co-founded an LGBTQ+ media company and served as Interim Executive Director of the OUT Georgia Business Alliance. Currently, they are the Southern Regional Coordinator for Lambda Legal and serve on the boards of ARTS Station and the OUT on Film festival. Andi’s work is driven by deep community ties and a commitment to building power and connection across the South.
Jae Douglas
Board of Directors | Tallahassee, Florida
Jae Douglas (she/they) is a 21-year-old Black Puerto Rican trans femme activist, strategist, and storyteller based in Tallahassee, Florida. In just one year of advocacy, she has become a national voice for trans liberation, Afro-Latinx visibility, and housing justice in the Deep South. Jae is the Administrative Assistant at Capital Tea, Tallahassee’s only trans-led nonprofit organization and home to the only two transgender-specific safe houses in the state of Florida. She also serves as Strategy Director for the National Trans Visibility March (NTVM), a board member of Tallahassee Pride, and a member of Advocates for Youth’s national advocacy cohort. Her work—especially around housing—is personal, deeply rooted, and grounded in a broader commitment to community care and total liberation.
From DC to LA to NYC, Jae’s voice has resonated on national stages. She was a featured speaker at the Freedom to Be Rally during U.S. v. Skrmetti, a grand opening speaker at the TS Madison Starter House, and was named one of The Advocate’s 2025 Thriving Under Thirty. She also received the Advocate for Change Award from the Hispanic Federation at FUERZAfest in NYC.
This Doesn’t Define Me 