Meet your Oklahoma City Pride board
President, John Gibbons became President of OKC Pride in July; he has served on the Board of Directors for the past eight years during which it has become one of the largest privately held events in Oklahoma City. John has served as the lead of the finance committee, and chairs the Entertainment committee that produces the Equality Concert, a free outdoor concert featuring nationally recognizable musical acts. John currently is the CFO of Bay Entertainment LLC.
Vice President, Kelley Blair is a licensed professional counselor with nearly 20 years of experience working in the helping field with therapeutic and advocacy experience related directly to the LGBTQ community. Kelley is skilled in research, grant writing, fundraising and program evaluation. Kelley is the CEO/Executive Director of the Diversity Center of Oklahoma Inc., which provides direct mental health services to our community.
Treasurer, Gordon Beznoska is an R.N. and recently retired after working in nurse management. He holds degrees in both business and nursing. Gordon served in the Oklahoma State Legislature for three terms. Gordon considers his greatest accomplishment as being a life partner with the late James R. “Jim” Young for over 19 years.
Secretary, Aaron Wilder is the Oklahoma Organizer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains and PP Great Plains Votes. Previously, Aaron was the Development Director for the Oklahoma Democratic Party. Aaron has a passion for helping elect women and LGBT+ Oklahomans. In his free time, Aaron is a stand-up comedian.
Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson is the founder and current ED of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma. She serves on several civic and community advocacy organizations, and is a published poet. She works with several youth mentoring programs, and volunteers with the YWCA’s Stomping out Racism campaign.
Jeff Jordan has been an OKC Pride board member for the past three years. His areas of emphasis are the “Second Chance Prom,” the “Opening Ceremony” for Pride week and the Beer Tent at Pride. Jeff is an Oklahoma State Trooper.
Amanda Kerri starts her third year with the board. She has helped coordinate the entertainment aspect of OKC Pride weekend in every aspect. She helped plan the first Transgender Valentines Banquet in 2015. Amanda writes for The Gayly as Transgender Issues columnist, as well as a contributor to The Advocate.
Meredith Owens identifies as a 29-year-old love enthusiast. Meredith says she is a “straight ally to the LGBTQ community and have found great joy in serving our community. I look forward to the upcoming years as an OKC Pride board member and how I can make a difference!”
Sara Cunningham’s appreciation for OKC Pride began the day she stood alongside her husband in support of their gay son at the 2014 parade. That day inspired a book, How We Sleep at Night - A Mother’s Memoir. The story tells of how she came to terms with her son being gay and the journey therein. She has become a leading voice for faith parents of LGBTQ children and is committed to putting a face on the Transgender community. She is a moving speaker, powerful advocate and ally.
Pastor Neill Coffman joined the OKC Pride Board this year. He started in ministry more than 25 years ago while still in the closet. No longer in the closet, he and his husband, Dean, birthed a church in April, 2008 that today is known as Expressions Church (ECC). In July 2009, the church moved to its current location on the “Gay Strip” in the heart of Oklahoma City. ECC houses a variety of services for the LGBTQ community and more.
Lana Story works in event planning and business development. Lana has over 10 years of experience in fundraising and non-profit work with agencies such as the United Way, Nashville Pride, Susan G Komen Cancer Society and Southeast LGBT Spirit. She worked and judged the drag pageant circuits of Miss Continental, Continental Plus, EOY, and Miss Nashville Pride for over 13 years. She is excited to be helping OKC Pride be the most diverse and respected LGBTQ community it can be.
Dustin Quintanilla joined the board in 2016 after being a long-time volunteer, enthusiastically involved in every Pride since 2013. Dustin is happily married to his partner Hugo. Dustin finds his passion in social justice advocacy for LGBTQ and women’s rights and Black Lives Matter.
Lori Downs volunteered for Pride doing fundraising, selling merchandise, recruiting other volunteers and organizing events. She is in law school studying criminal defense and civil rights. She also works with other non-profit organizations.
Preston Land has been a volunteer for two years. He has an extensive entertainment history, traveling around the world performing as a DJ, including for OKC Pride. Preston practices healing art, is a Reiki Master Teacher and is proficient in several other healing modalities. He is a huge social justice advocate for his community and serves on other civic and non-profit boards.
Kerri Fives serves as Pride’s website administrator. She is married to Kelly Fives and has been a part of the Oklahoma City community since 2008.
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Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 12/13/2016 @ 7:52 p.m.