Charley Beal • President

Charley is a lifelong social activist who attended his first civil rights demonstration in Lansing, Michigan in 1962. He is also an award-winning art director for film and television, working with renowned directors including Mike Nichols, Nora Ephron, Ridley Scott, and Gus Van Sant. His film credits include Sleepless in Seattle, First Wives Club, In & Out, Milk and Eat Pray Love. TV credits include Boardwalk Empire, Smash, Gotham, and Power. Beal worked closely with Gilbert Baker beginning in 1994 when he assisted Baker with the creation of the Mile Long Rainbow Flag for Stonewall 25. He continued to collaborate with Gilbert on numerous projects including Worldpride 2000 in Rome and several other pride celebrations around the globe. He would frequently be seen at demonstrations holding one of Gilbert’s infamous political banners

Jay Blotcher

Blotcher, a veteran LGBT journalist and activist, served as volunteer publicist for the founding chapters of ACT UP and Queer Nation. For three decades, his PR firm, Public Impact Media Consultants, co-founded with Alan Klein, promoted progressive organizations, artists and projects. Blotcher’s nonfiction essays appear in nine anthologies. He is the editor of the Gilbert Baker memoir Rainbow Warrior.

Cathy Marino-Thomas

Cathy lives with her wife, Sheila and daughter Jacqueline. Sheila and Cathy have been together 25 years. The family lives in Queens, New York.

Cathy spent many years as a Buddy in the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) Buddy Program visiting people afflicted with HIV/AIDS and assisting them with daily chores, advocacy and information. She has worked on the issue of marriage equality since 1998. Serving as Executive Director of Marriage Equality NY for 3 years (2005 – 2008) and Board President for 6 years. After merging Marriage Equality NY with Marriage Equality USA 2011, she served as Co-President of Marriage Equality USA for 3 years, retiring in 2014. Cathy has spoken all over the country about the rights, privileges and obligations that protect families only through the right to civil marriage. 

Cathy served as Steering Committee member and organizer for Gays Against Guns for 4 years, connecting with like minded activists across the country on the issue of gun control. Cathy is on the Board of Equality New York’s 501©3. She is working to elect representatives that will seek equality in the law.

Bill Berman 

Bill is a marketing and communications professional with more than twenty years’ experience developing integrated communications for some of the world’s most iconic brands. Bill and his team at Ogilvy created the globally recognized and multi award winning “Type with Pride” campaign which introduced the world to ‘GILBERT’, a free font honoring Gilbert Baker and his iconic rainbow flag. Bill is also a member of the Board of Directors for NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ+ Film and Media Organization and believes strongly in the power of bringing communities together.

Aaron Casserly Stewart

Former singer with the three time Grammy Award winning group the Sounds Of Blackness, as well as a producer, educator and a native of Parsons Kansas where Gilbert grew up. Aaron returned to Parson, KS where he was elected to serve as the first openly gay member of the City Council, also serving as interim Mayor. Aaron is a co-creator the Gilbert Baker Film Festival there and was planning on awarding Gilbert the Key to the City; an event cut short by Gilbert’s untimely passing in March of 2017. Aaron now resides in England with his husband Peter and works as the CEO and Founder of Paradise Hill Productions and as Professor at the London Performing Academy of Music.