Robyn Ochs:  Bisexual Activist, Teacher and Writer

Robyn Ochs is an American bisexual activist. She is a professional speaker and workshop leader. Her primary fields of interest are gender, sexuality, identity and coalition building. For 26 years, Robyn worked as an administrator at Harvard University where she was Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the LGBT Faculty and Staff Group, an active member of the Trans Task Force, Co-Founder and Facilitator of LBTQ Lunches, a monthly lunch series for lesbian, bi, queer and trans women faculty and staff and a Faculty Adviser to QSA, Harvard’s undergraduate student LGBTQ organization. Robyn Ochs is also an educator at Salem State University and throughout the greater North Shore.

The Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence:

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence® is a leading-edge Order of queer nuns. Since their first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted themselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. The Sisters believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and they use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.

Reverend Joseph Amico:  Tabernacle Congregational Church-U.C.C. Salem, MA

Reverend Joseph Amico’s roots are here on the North Shore, having been born in Lynn and growing up in Saugus. Rev. Joe is an international speaker on LGBTQ addiction issues and has received awards from NALGAP (The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies) and SASH (The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health). Reverend Joe also served ten years at the Pride Institute, the nation’s first inpatient substance abuse treatment facility for the LGBTQ community.

Becky Fisk, Youth Advisor, North Shore Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Youth (nAGLY)

nAGLY was founded in 1992 to provide a brave, fun place on the North Shore for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth. nAGLY’s mission is to create, sustain and advocate for programs, policies, and services for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender youth community, particularly including the establishment of regular support meetings, and to defend and enhance the human and civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth on the North Shore of Massachusetts and beyond.Becky Fisk is a Youth Advisor who has been working at nAGLY for several years and has been a very positive influence on the nAGLY youth.  Becky is 18 years old, an honor roll student and plans to attend San Francisco University in the fall.

Nancy Nangeroni:  Transgender Activist, Radio Talk Show Host

Nancy Nangeroni has been doing transgender activism since joining the community in 1990 and currently serves as Chair Emeritus of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. In 1995 she issued the call for a national campaign to stop violence against transgender people and helped lead demonstrations across the country.  That same year she founded Gender Talk Radio, the award-winning talk show about gender and transgender issues on WMBR.In 1998 she led the vigil for murdered transwoman Rita Hester that inspired the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, and she went on to lead Boston’s TDOR organizing committee for many years.  She continues to be a leading advocate for transgender dignity and equality and has been repeatedly honored for her contributions to, and pioneering work on behalf of, the transgender community.

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