Who We Are

Ashley Ford is a creative, science-driven nonprofit leader with passion for disrupting inequities. They were appointed to the LGBTQ Commission in Fall 2023, currently serving as one of the commission's co-chairs. Originally from rural North Carolina where they studied public health, Ashley has lived in Seattle's Lake City neighborhood since 2019. They work professionally as a nonprofit fundraiser and enjoy performing with the Rainbow City Concert & Marching Bands in their free time. 

Brett is a queer science and health educator, originally from Chicago. Brett currently works for the Downtown Emergency Service Center, connecting adults in supportive housing to medical services. Outside of work, Brett proudly volunteers for Camp Ten Trees, an overnight camp for queer youth and youth of nontraditional families, and supports Rainbow City Performing Arts as a lighting designer. As a commissioner, Brett hopes to increase access to healthcare and housing for the Seattle queer community, with a special focus on the queer+disabled community.  

Andrew Ashiofu, a proud Nigerian American, was born in vibrant Houston, Texas. Growing up in the culturally rich atmosphere of his Nigerian heritage and the dynamic blend of Houston's diverse communities, Andrew developed a deep appreciation for diversity from an early age.

A compassionate advocate, Andrew's passion for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights became evident during his formative years. Inspired by the struggles faced by marginalized communities, he committed himself to making a difference. With a heart for advocacy, he embarked on a journey to amplify the voices of those often unheard. In pursuit of his passion for health equity, Andrew pursued a degree in Advocacy for PLWHIV As the HIV/AIDS epidemic continued to impact communities, Andrew found his calling in advocating for those affected. Guided by his experience as someone living with HIV and a commitment to destigmatizing HIV, he became a vocal advocate for people living with HIV (PLWHIV). His efforts extended beyond awareness campaigns, as he actively worked to improve access to healthcare and break down the barriers that hindered progress. Andrew Ashiofu continues his journey, he remains steadfast in his commitment to social justice, health equity, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Through his advocacy and leadership, he leaves an indelible mark on the world, inspiring others to embrace diversity and work towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Amari Leach is a strong Black man born & raised in Louisville, Kentucky and now resides in Seattle. He is passionate about using his voice to help others. He is a human rights advocate, youth/trans youth advocate, spiritual energy raiser, educator on real Black history a real issues in our community, animal rights advocate and disability rights advocate. 

He stands for truth, unity and the power of helping each other grow and learn. Through his powerful voice, he is able to help shift mindsets and share perspectives of folks who are often overlooked. His main goals are helping our youth find their voices, protect it, and keep it! Helping them utilize it with their parents and in life, while also helping parents understand the importance of creating a safe space for their children to be able to speak their truth with love & acceptance being returned. He also is a podcast host of his own show tea with T™Talks with Mr. Amari Leach, award winning graphic designer artist (Mother George's Brew-Lavender Rights Project x Metier Brewing CO), panel/keynote speaker, mentor/teacher and business owner, songwriter, and author. 

Barry Fuentes is a sales and business operations professional who has moved to Seattle from the Philippines in 2021. Passionate about turning data into actionable insights, he thrives on analyzing trends and crafting strategies that drive meaningful change. With a keen interest in social outreach, Barry dedicates his efforts to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and supporting individuals living with HIV and special needs through advocacy and information dissemination. He has done volunteer work in the Philippines via supporting Exceptional Sports, a private group that offers free, weekly athletic programs for children both with typical and special needs, encouraging the participants to reach their full athletic and social potential. Barry is a strong advocate of holistic and quality health care to people living with HIV (PLHIV), evident to his active participation in an AIDS Research Group in Manila that conducts orientation and information dissemination on the latest information on HIV epidemiology, testing, disease mechanism, holistic treatment, and control and prevention strategies as a part of improving communications during patient/client counseling and health teaching.

Chris Curia, MA, LMHCA is a Seattle-based mental health counselor. Chris holds two degrees in counseling psychology and community development from The Seattle School, a small, psychoanalytic graduate institution based downtown, where Chris works as an Instructional Assistant. Chris’ graduate research addressed mental health disparities through trauma-informed, community-centered care initiatives and proposed innovative partnerships between private and public sectors. Chris is an accomplished speaker and writer who resides in Pioneer Square with their partner.

Jason Self is a passionate LGBTQIA+ advocate with nearly two decades of experience in health insurance and benefits administration. His extensive experience with large-scale benefit programs has given him a deep understanding of the complex healthcare landscape and a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities in the healthcare field. Throughout his career, he has been unwavering in his commitment to ensuring that individuals, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community, receive the support and benefits they need. His journey as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has fueled his passion for advocating for equitable access to healthcare and dismantling systemic barriers.

As the youngest son of a pastor and special education teacher, my upbringing instilled the values of building community and supporting others. These values steered my career to focus on creating a sustainable future and inclusive economy—one where our diversity is our strength and identity isn’t a barrier to success. I came to Seattle to study a Masters in Public Administration because I wanted to create energy policies that created a livable environment for future generations and helped current generations transition equitably. I now lead Amazon’s external partnerships focused on small business success, where I build coalitions with trade associations, chambers of commerce, think tanks, and small business organizations to elevate the success of and empower entrepreneurs around the world. 

Jessa was born and raised in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA and has spent the past 20 years living and working across the US, Canada, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and South Asia. During that time, she has built her career as an engineer and cybersecurity consultant in the private sector while also working to support humanitarian causes, including volunteering with non-profits, collaborating with teams at innovation labs, and most recently working as a project manager and software developer with the United Nations Office for Project Services. Jessa has become deeply involved in her local community since moving to Seattle, where she works to support 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, economic empowerment, and housing justice. She is the Executive Director of the Seattle Coalition for Family & Relationship Equity, a member of the Board of Directors at Queer Power Alliance, and a member of the Seattle Human Rights Campaign Steering Committee. 

Kody Allen is a social service worker for YouthCare, an organization that provides services and support for homeless and at-risk youth in Seattle. He comes with a strong background in nonprofit leadership and advocacy, having served as the Executive Director of a food pantry, the chairperson for the City of Casper’s LGBTQ Inclusion Committee, and a board member for various social justice causes in his home state of Wyoming. He moved to Seattle with his husband in 2022 to embrace a more diverse and welcoming community. In his spare time, he enjoys expressing his creativity through painting and playing the piano, as well as volunteering for local charities. His passion is to make a positive difference in the lives of LGBTQ youth and other marginalized groups, and is always eager to learn new skills and perspectives to enhance his work. 

Landon Labosky believes governance is not a spectator sport; we need to be involved. He comes into this space with a passion for positive change and a deep desire to show our community that the government can work effectively to solve issues we see in our everyday lives. He believes deeply in his fellow community members and our collective ability to find solutions to advocate for and that will work. Labosky holds a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in State and Local Policy. He also has experience serving as a Fellow with Conservation Voters for Idaho; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair for USA Swimming; DEI Chair, Aquatics for the National Recreation and Parks Association; and most recently, Chair of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association, Aquatics. Seattle is filled with intelligent people, eager to change the world for the better, and we need to capitalize on that spirit. We need to be involved.

Maha Roy was born into a political family advocating for justice and equity in South Asia. He has dedicated his life to advancing the rights of marginalized communities. With a history of impactful advocacy for tribal, minority, and persecuted groups, Maha has worked across state senates, international government relations, and the United Nations to promote transparency and inclusivity. As a queer rights advocate, Maha has led educational and legislative initiatives to dismantle discriminatory policies, such as India's Section 377, while creating safe spaces for learning and healing. His personal experiences of resilience amidst systemic violence inform his unwavering commitment to social justice.

Ry Armstrong (they // she // he) is an American, genderqueer artist who was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by nature and the arts. Their upbringing, which did contain both white and male-presenting privilege, was full of arts education and ultimately compelled them to follow a career in storytelling. Shortly after finishing an undergraduate degree in theatre arts, they moved from the Emerald City to the Big Apple and quickly became involved, as an actor, in productions Off-Broadway (Pete the Cat, Orphans & Outsiders) and in regional houses across the country. Complementary to their acting, their focus lies on their international creative endeavors of producing and writing new works of art to be experienced on the stage and screen. After finishing their graduate degree in International Relations, they took an interest in environmental activism as that issue is set to be the defining crisis of their lifetime. Most recently, Armstrong can most recently be seen in HBO's The Gilded Age.

My name is Steven Pray and I grew up in Kent, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. After I graduated high school I attended Central Washington University and received a degree in political science. I moved to Seattle in 2015 to start law school at Seattle University and have been living in the city ever since. After I graduated from law school I began working as a Union Representative at PROTEC17 with my assignment primarily being the City of Seattle. I currently live in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle with my dog, Storm, who is a gray and white husky, Pitbull, and everything else mix. 

I am interested in serving on the Seattle LGBTQ Commission because I believe that with my lived experiences as a member of the LGBTQ community and my background as an attorney and person who works with people in the city on a daily basis, I can do my part to make a positive contribution to the commission.

Theresa Smith is a queer philanthropy professional with more than 30 years’ experience attracting financial and human resources toward mission-driven nonprofits. She brings a passion for strategic planning and building organizational architecture that centers lived experiences. She sits on the boards of Camp Ten Trees and Teen Feed. Her expertise and experience intersect with the thorniest issues facing Seattle. The stage was set for her future activism and advocacy during the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the eighties. Today, the threats facing our community seem all too familiar.