Biden Foundation launches two new advisory councils to end violence against women and advance LGBT+ equality
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden Foundation announced the formation of two Advisory Councils that will support its work to end violence against women and advance LGBT+ equality. Advisory Council members are respected leaders, experts and advocates at the forefront of their fields, who were chosen to advise the Foundation because they understand the complexities of the broad challenges they aim to address. Recognizing the power of public-private initiatives, they will serve as ambassadors for the Biden Foundation, guiding strategic partnerships to create societal change.
“Jill and I believe that, in America, everyone deserves a fair shot at the American dream. That starts by making sure every person is treated with equal dignity,” said Vice President Biden, Honorary Co-chair of the Biden Foundation. “The members named to the Advisory Councils today have devoted their lives to that creed, and we’re lucky to have them lend their expertise to this mission. By working together, we can do more to protect the rights of all people, expand access to opportunity and give every American a chance at a middle-class life. I am eager for what we will accomplish together.”
“Each of the Advisory Council members has made it their life’s work to protect and advance the rights of the most vulnerable,” said Biden Foundation Executive Director Louisa Terrell. “We’re honored to have them volunteer their knowledge to the Foundation as we work together to build a more just society.”
Members named to the LGBT+ Equality Advisory Council include:
Cyndi Lauper, Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Activist; Founder, True Colors Fund
Sara Ramírez, Tony Award®–winning Actress and Activist
Jason Collins, Professional Basketball Player (retired), National Basketball Association (NBA)
Sarah McBride, National Press Secretary, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Phillip Picardi, Chief Content Officer, Them and Teen Vogue
Judy Shepard, President, Matthew Shepard Foundation
Evan Wolfson, Founder and Former President, Freedom to Marry
Marsha Aizumi, Author, Speaker, Educator, Advocate Member, PFLAG National Board of Directors
Dr. Eliza Byard, Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Ambassador Michael Guest, Former U.S. Ambassador to Romania
Mara Keisling, Founder and Executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)
Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Director and Co-Founder, Family Acceptance Project
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Founding Executive Director, Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE); Minister, United Church of Christ
Jacob Tobia, Writer, Producer, Author
Amit Paley, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Trevor Project
Precious Davis, Activist, Educator, Public Speaker
Members named to the Advisory Council for Ending Violence Against Women include:
Justin Baldoni, Actor, Filmmaker, Activist
Karma Cottman, Founder, Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Black Women; Executive Director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Jess Davidson, Managing Director, End Rape on Campus
Venkayla Haynes, Regional Advisor, It’s On Us
Rosie Hidalgo, Senior Director of Policy, Casa de Esperanza; Senior Advisor, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Olivia Hinerfeld, Activist
Vivian Huelgo, Chief Counsel, Task Force on Human Trafficking and Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence of the American Bar Association
Neil Irvin, Executive Director, Men Can Stop Rape (MCSR)
Demetra Lambros, Appellate attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
Zerlina Maxwell, Director of Progressive Programming, SiriusXM
Victoria Nourse, Professor, Georgetown Law School
Nancy Schwartzman, Director, Producer, Mobile App Developer; CEO, Tech 4 Good
Patti Seger, Executive Director, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (formerly Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
Susan B. Sorenson, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Andrew Sta. Ana, Director of Legal Services, Day One
Ebony Tucker, Advocacy Director, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Advisory Council members will advise Foundation programs, enlist feedback from diverse networks and communities, and spearhead external partnerships on behalf of the Foundation to catalyze meaningful and measurable change. The first meeting of the Advisory Councils will be held by phone at the beginning of 2018, and members are expected to convene in person at least once every year.
The Foundation will name Advisory Council members for its other policy areas in the coming year.
The Gayly 1/23/2018 @ 7:03 a.m. CST