Co-chair she/her/hers

Erin Sue graduated from Champlain College in 1999 and began a career in Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch. As a survivor of sexual violence, she wanted to find a way to help others that have been in similar situations. She found that opportunity at The Women’s Rape Crisis Center (now HOPE Works). After a number of years in various volunteer capacities, she joined the board in 2005 and served as Chair from 2006-2012. During that time, the organization rebranded, changed the name and bought a building. They also added men to the staff and allowed men on the board for the first time. These were exciting developments and marked major changes in the movement to end sexual violence in Chittenden County! In 2012, she and her team left Merrill Lynch and joined Morgan Stanley where she remains today. This was a huge endeavor and resulted in her need to step down from the board at HOPE Works. When approached in 2016 by Kim Fountain to join the board of the Pride Center of VT, she was ready to get involved. Having been a volunteer for SafeSpace in the past (a Pride Center of VT program), she was already familiar with the organization. Since then, Erin has learned a great deal about all the Center has to offer and the amazing work they do in the community. Ask her about it sometime, she would love to chat!

Erin lives in South Burlington with her wife, Nathalie. They share a love of animals and currently have two dogs and a cat that are all rescues (one is from Beirut and is missing two feet).

Co-chair she/her/hers

Kara joined the board in Spring 2019 after a long history with this amazing organization. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in South Burlington, a queer mom of three awesome, teenage girls and two great dogs. The majority of her professional career has been in social work and social justice advocacy, specifically in the anti-violence field (domestic, sexual and hate violence), and with the LGBTQ community. She has also worked in non-profits serving the homeless, people with mental illness, youth of all identities, and people living with HIV/AIDS.

She had the honor of being the founding Executive Director of SafeSpace when it was a separate non-profit in 2000, and then helped merge SafeSpace with the Pride Center of Vermont (then RU12?) in 2006. As the Center’s Executive Director from 2006-2011, she learned how critically important our work is, how much support there is for our community, and also how many on-going needs LGBTQ community members have despite so much progress.

In this climate of increasing hate from the top down in our country over the last few years, our work is
needed more than ever, and she is proud to be a part of it. 

Treasurer he/him/his

Art has a life long love of Vermont having annually visited family as a kid and having gone to college in VT. He and his partner, Wayne (a native Vermonter), met 25 years ago in Boston, first bought a home in Vermont’s Upper Valley about 20 years ago, and have been married for 10 years. Art works in banking with a focus on risk management within commercial lending.

“We moved to Burlington in 2013 and since then helped with the formation of the LGBTQIA Alliance of VT, volunteered at the Pride Center with Momentum, and volunteer/are on the steering committee for Out in the 802 often with a focus on getting various groups and organizations to come together given the belief that the combined forces of the community offer the ability to make new connections and ties, and ultimately helps make the community stronger.”

Art is honored to have joined the board of an organization that serves such a strong LGBTQI+ community. He recognizes our community is our strength, is built on the sacrifices and courage of many people over the years, and hopes to further build on that strength with the Pride Center for all the members of the LGBTQI+ community.

Secretary she/her/hers

Sara Beth Johnson is a trans-woman and parent of three kids. She lives in Burlington, VT and has enjoyed time in Vermont for almost 30 years. Sara grew up in New Jersey and with a brother and sister and parents. Sara is the author of Becoming Beth, Stories from a Trans-Girl’s Journal. She is working on a new novel that is a sequel to Becoming Beth and is also working on a book about her life story. Her favorite place in Vermont is somewhere near the Lake Champlain.

Sara is a full-time information technology consultant, and an avid photographer, writer, baker, and student of psychology. Sara is working on completing her degrees and becoming a licensed therapist. She is currently enrolled at Northern Vermont University and is looking forward to a new career in mental health services. Sara has worked as a morning radio host and as a land surveyor. She has a personal website and is on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. 

she/her/hers

Wendy is a lesbian civil rights attorney and mom to two amazing teenage sons. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. She began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, NY, specializing in domestic violence cases.  In 1992, after tiring of life as a NYC attorney (and coming out as a lesbian), Wendy discovered Vermont and moved to Burlington. She served as Executive Director of Women In Crisis in Bristol, Vermont, and was one of the founding members of the Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence.  She joined the original Right To Marry Taskforce and volunteered with the nascent Outright VT.

Wendy then returned to the practice of law, joining the Mental Health Law Project of VT Legal Aid, protecting the rights of individuals living with major mental illness.  This began her life’s work as a mental health civil rights attorney. For almost 2 decades, Wendy served as Chief Counsel to the VT Dept. of Mental Health, where her responsibilities included: supervision of DMH’s legal division, advocacy at the state and federal level, drafting and implementation of internal and statewide legislation and policy, advising the Vermont State Hospital and community mental health agencies, and working with numerous statewide committees tasked with improving Vermont’s mental health service delivery system. Wendy left DMH to head up the Vermont chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness VT (NAMI VT).  

It’s been a while since Wendy has been an active volunteer in the LGBTQ+ community.  She is thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Pride Center board at this critical point in the queer rights movement.  She’s looking forward to using her professional experience and skills to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Vermonters. Wendy lives in South Burlington with her two teenage sons and a bunch of much-loved animals.

he/him/his

The proud father of an trans daughter, Rex is an avid activist and ally. In addition to being the author of Now What? A Guidebook for Families with Transgender Children, Rex has been a long-time, passionate advocate for the LGBTQ community. Prior to moving to Vermont in 2016, Rex served on the Board of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center and co-founded the Kingston, NY, PFLAG Chapter. He has presented workshops and trainings at conferences and organizations across the nation and has mentored hundreds of families with LGBTQ loved ones. At the Pride Center, Rex has been an integral volunteer, and through his work as facilitator for FPFATA (Families, Partners, Friends, and Allies of Trans Adults) he has assisted many individuals in learning to better support their transgender loved ones.  

she/her/hers or they/them/theirs

Renee grew up in upstate New York and graduated from college in 1989 with a degree in nursing. For several years she worked in New York and Massachusetts before settling in Vermont. During her time in nursing she specialized in cardiology, high-tech infant care and labor and delivery.  

In 2007, Renee changed careers and began working with a statewide non-profit organization that assists individuals with disabilities. Renee is currently the Operations Manager managing the day-to-day happenings, including HR, benefits and technology. In addition Renee has managed staff, and also implemented a wellness program for the organization. In 2014 she received the Governor’s Excellence Award for Workplace Wellness. Renee has also previously served on the Governor’s Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities.   

Renee lives in Williston, has 5 children and 1 grandson, as well as 2 grand-dogs. In her free time she likes spending time outside, kayaking, bicycling or riding her Harley motorcycle. Renee also has a strong love for art, and enjoys time in her art room, sketching and painting. Community has always been a significant part of Renee’s life, having volunteered as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for 16 years.   

She is excited and honored to be on the board at Pride Center, and looks forward to the opportunities to get involved with members of the community in this new capacity, and new chapter of life. 

she/her/hers

Taylor moved to Vermont from California with her partner and two daughters in the spring of 2007 having worked for both an international outdoor clothing and equipment brand and on the financial services end of a major motorcycle company. Taylor is a Navy veteran and attended the University of Scranton majoring in Public Administration and Business. Taylor identifies as a transgender women, starting her journey to transition in June of 2017. Her involvement in the LGBTQI community and the Pride Center is driven by a passion to empower Trans and non-binary individuals and to support our community at large though empowerment workshops and by helping others to meet head on the challenges of transition in their community and workplace. Taylor currently works as a Senior Sales Manager in the business conference industry. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with her daughters and partner and is an avid traveler and outdoor adventurer.  

they/them/theirs

Vie grew up on San Juan Island, in the Pacific Northwest. In 2007 they received their Bachelor of Music Degree from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. In 2011 Vie moved to Burlington. To plant their roots
in Vermont a little deeper, they recently bought a house with their wife in Winooski, with their frisky cat, and tender-hearted dog.

Since 2011 Vie has been involved in the theatre scene in Burlington. They performed with Spielpalast Cabaret for 8 years, assisting on the production team, and playing the role of Emcee for 3 years.

Vie loves teaching, being an advocate for diverse communities, and uplifting others. In 2009, they became certified in Vinyasa Yoga, and have taught Yoga and Bootcamp style fitness classes in Seattle and Vermont for over 5 yrs. Vie instructed Yoga classes for LGBTQIA+ youth at Outright Vermont, and LGBTQIA+ adults at All Wellness VT. In the Spring of 2020 Vie instructed a series called “Intro To Burlesque” at Spotlight VT, where dancers of all levels, abilities, body types, gender orientations and expressions are welcome and celebrated. Vie currently works at Retina Center of Vermont as an Ophthalmic Assistant/Surgical Coordinator. Vie has worked in healthcare for 8 years, and views this career choice as an opportunity to help others.

When Vie is not exploring the outdoors of Vermont, they are exploring their passion for culinary arts, comedy, and writing. This fusion unfolded for them about 3 years ago when they created their blog and social media presence: sprinkleofsage.com

Vie is thrilled to be a Board Member at Pride Center of Vermont with such an incredible group of folx advocating for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, POC, and QTPOC communities.

she/her/hers

Iris is a recent graduate of Northern Vermont University- Johnson, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, along with a certification in Reiki level II. She also did an
internship in 2019 with the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Iris has lived in Vermont her whole life and enjoys the Burlington area. She comes from a big family and has 5 siblings! She is Latina and speaks Spanish, and enjoys providing translation services.
She is currently learning French in her spare time and learning how to play the acoustic guitar. Iris is also an animal lover, and owns two cats. Iris is honored to be part of the Board helping the LGBTQI+ community.

they/them/theirs

Max is a real, live, non-binary adult who lives and works in Waterbury, Vermont. They married their wife in 2009 and together they have two children. Max has over 10 years of experience working for and supporting non-profit organizations and professionally has worked in healthcare for over 15 years. They are passionate about amplifying diverse voices and advocating for underserved people and communities.