Mike Ai, Board of Directors & Co-Founder
Mike grew up in North Orange County in the city of Cypress. As a first generation Asian-American of Vietnamese immigrant parents, Mike has a deep understanding of the stigmas of the LGBTQ community in Asian-American culture. Mike began his career as an LGBTQ activist during the onset of CA’s Proposition 8. Since then he has left his job at a large accounting firm to take on a field organizing position at Equality California. In his spare time he enjoys song-writing and playing his guitar.
Morgan Early, Board of Directors
Born to and raised by a lesbian mother and two gay fathers, Morgan has known the struggles of the LGBTQ community her entire life. After growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area Morgan moved to Los Angeles where she attended UCLA’s Theatre Program. Since then she has been an active member of COLAGE and Equal Roots, dedicating her time to achieving LGBTQ equality. Morgan also enjoys her day-job working with and educating children.
Tanner Efinger, Board of Directors
Tanner attended Phillips Academy Andover, moved to NY City when he was 18, & then came to LA at 23. The passage of CA's Prop 8 clarified his perspective & and as a means to get involved the West Hollywood cocktail waiter founded Postcards to the President which launched on Inauguration Day 2009. Tanner is the executive assistant to Cleve Jones, organizes for the Equality Across America, & is a proud member of the Equal Roots Coalition. He also teaches improvisational theatre, writes, & looks fabulous in stretch denim.
Matt Palazzolo, Board of Directors & Co-Founder
A queer Asian/Italian-American, Matt moved in 2002 from the SF Bay Area to Los Angeles where he earned his BA in Design/Media Arts from UCLA. Matt’s experiences as an out teenager and the murder of a young trans girl in his hometown taught him the importance of being loud and proud. It was not until the passage of CA’s Proposition 8, though, that Matt would become an LGBTQ activist. Matt currently serves on the West Hollywood Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board and continues to pursue a career in acting, writing, & video art.
Alex Paris, Board of Directors
Alex hails from tropical Panama, where he grew up in a tumultuous conservative household. Following his passions he found his own path into the creative fields from theatre and film to print and media communications. Always the strong proponent of civil rights and equality Alex has dedicated his time and talents to a number of causes in LGBT activism and hopes to bring a message of hope, change, and equality through his work at Equal Roots.
Stephen Pu, Board of Directors
A native of Anaheim Hills in Orange County, Stephen is a product of a fairly conservative Chinese upbringing. While his family was not religious, his connection to music sparked his faith journey and necessitated that he harmonize being both a part of the LGBTQ community and a person of faith. He has been an activist since June 2009, and he hopes to support the equal rights movement through music, outreach to faith communities, and support to Chinese communities. Stephen also enjoys cooking and traveling.
Daniel Segura, Board of Directors
A Latino LGBTQ activist from Los Angeles, Daniel is on the Board of the Equal Roots Coalition, serves as a staff member of the Courage Campaign, and is a member of Los Angeles' Latino Equality Alliance. Daniel also develops and produces LBGTQ-related theatrical projects. Most recently, Daniel was full-time staff at U.C. Berkeley, as a performer, writer and educator for the Lawrence Hall of Science in the Science Discovery Theater Group.
Chris Smith, Board of Directors & Co-Founder
Chris grew up in south Orange County and moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. During college, he became involved in LGBTQ activism and co-founded the Student Coalition for Marriage Equality (SCME), a student-run organization which remains on campus today. After the passage of Proposition 8 Chris became inspired to reconnect the LGBTQ community to its history and to stand up for generations of LGBTQ people that are not able to represent themselves today. Chris works as a change management consultant for a large firm in LA.
Jessica Austin, Labor Liaison
Jessica grew up in LA & then attended UC Berkeley. After graduating she started working at a Santa Monica hotel. There she became aware of the disparity between management & the workers, who were treated like 2nd class citizens, and so she joined the fight for union recognition. Shortly thereafter she went to work with the hotel and food service workers union, UNITE HERE, where she has learned that working class, immigrant, & LGBTQ people all share something in common: a popular misunderstanding in our society that we are all ‘different’.
