top of page
rainbow line graphic

RMEQ AF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEIL FISHMAN | HE
PRESIDENT

Neil Fishman has been involved in a variety of volunteer activities for over 40 years. He was both Treasurer and President of the board of the Boulder County AIDS Project between 1985 and 1990, where he helped to broaden support and programs for the growing needs of HIV services. He also served, from 1998-2000, on the organizing committee to develop and implement the City of Boulder’s Program Valuing Diversity: Education on Homophobia and Heterosexism, which was designed to provide anti-bias trainings to persons and groups in Boulder. Fishman served on the University of Colorado’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Diversity in 2006 that was charged to evaluate and develop a plan to enhance diversity on all four campuses. He was asked to serve on Out Boulder County’s Development Committee in 2021 and subsequently invited to be a member of RMEQ’s Capital Campaign Committee, where he has served from 2021 to the present. Neil has served as co-lead of the Boulder County Democratic Party’s Outreach and Inclusion Team from 2019-present. In addition, he is an award-winning research geologist and has held numerous positions as a volunteer. Fishman has served as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the CU Department of Geological Sciences from 2005-2010. He also served in various leadership positions for the Geological Society of America from 2008-2022.

DAVID ENSIGN | HE
TREASURER

David grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and has a bachelor degree from the University of Wisconsin and masters degree from New York University. He retired over ten years ago from a telecommunication engineering and program management career, and has been enjoying volunteer work since that transition. David has nineteen years of non­profit experience in various board roles at Rocky Mountain Equality, Boulder County AIDS Project, Motus Theater, and Community Foundation of Boulder County. He served a five year term on the City of Boulder Planning Board, and continues to do volunteer work in the community. David has a passion of working toward social justice, and his leisure time pursuits include traveling and cross-country ski racing.

LARRY HOYT | HE

H. Lawrence Hoyt is a semi-retired attorney. He previously served as Boulder County Attorney from 1986 - 2011. As County Attorney, Mr. Hoyt advised and represented Boulder County elected officials and various county departments, and administered a law office of 18 attorneys and additional support staff. He has served as the Chair of the ABA State and Local Government Diversity Law Committee and as a member of the Section Council. Mr. Hoyt is a past President of the Colorado County Attorneys Association, past Chair of the International Municipal Lawyers Association Counties and Special Municipal Districts Department, and former Chair of the Board of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (now the National LGBT Bar Association). He has lectured extensively on local government law issues, with a particular emphasis on government finance, elections, environmental law, civil rights, and intergovernmental relations. Mr. Hoyt graduated with honors from the University of Colorado, where he was a recipient of the Noyes Foundation Secondary School Teaching Fellowship. He received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

PELECANOS | THEY

Pelecanos is trans, non-binary, neurodivergent, Greek American, and the parent of an awesome kid named Konnor. Currently, they are the Daniel H. Renberg Fellow at Lambda Legal, the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization working for full recognition of LGBTQ+ people’s civil rights. Their work encompasses litigation, education, and policy advocacy. They also serve on the Colorado LGBTQ+ Bar Association Policy Committee, the board of the National Trans Bar Association, and the organizing committee of the National LGBTQ Task Force.


Pelecanos moved from the Midwest to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado Boulder (2008-2011), where they studied Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Integrative Physiology, and Neuroscience. After undergrad, they went galivanting around the world for several years to learn about humanity. Upon their return, Pelecanos led the board of Trans Youth Education and Support, a statewide nonprofit supporting the parents and caretakers of trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming youth. During that time, they also contributed to the Boulder Police Oversight Task Force, working to instate independent oversight and educate police on the diverse needs of the Boulder community. Naturally, their advocacy led to law school. They attended the University of Denver Law School (2020-2023) specializing in constitutional rights and remedies, where they graduated with honors. Pelecanos continues to build strong community relationships in all three branches of government and with grassroots organizations, both in Colorado and nationally, to further the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

DAWK KIRK | SHE
VICE PRESIDENT

Dawn Kirk has dedicated her career to saving lives in public safety, suicide prevention, and K-12 education. She has served on the Thompson School Board since 2019 where she championed Colorado's first Educational Equity policy, the nation's first school-based co-responder program, and Northern Colorado's first youth shelter. Dawn has developed and facilitated award winning leadership and professional development programs, developed an elementary school suicide prevention program, and expanded youth mental health programming to every middle and high school in Larimer County. She was part of an expansive effort to decrease the suicide rate in Larimer County by 28% from 2019-2024 that focused on priority populations including older adults, young adults, and youth, veterans, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. Dawn also serves on The Center for Family Outreach/TAC212 board and dozens of other committees. In her free time, Dawn loves to spend time with her husband, their four kids, and all their pets.

GLENDA RUSSELL | SHE
SECRETARY

Glenda Russell is a psychologist who has conducted research on the social and psychological impact of anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns, the relationship between queer and trans people and their heterosexual allies, LGBTQ+ youth scripts, LGBTQ+ people and conservative religions, and Boulder's LGBTQ+ history. Her research has been the basis for books and journal articles, an oratorio for queer choruses, a PBS documentary, and consultations to numerous movement organizations and political campaigns. She has served as a member and chair of the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity of the American Psychological Association, and she co-chaired the Public Policy Committee of APA's Society on the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.

BRYN LONG | HE

After living in Dallas, Texas for 33 years and working in the legal field, Bryn retired and moved to Colorado in 2017 to try out the Rocky Mountains. Born in east Tennessee near the Smoky mountains, Bryn grew up enjoying the outdoors. He received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina and a Masters in Theological Studies from Perkins Seminary at Southern Methodist University. While in Dallas, Bryn formed the non-profit organization, Authentic Life Foundation, and worked with the transgender community, including facilitating a support group for non-binary and FTM individuals.


Bryn lives in Lyons with his wife Yvonne and their dog Zero. He is a proud parent, and step-parent of adult kids living in Colorado. As a trans man, Bryn shares his life story with schools, churches and other organizations through the Speak Out program. He enjoys volunteer work with Rocky Mountain Equality and BCAP, and is excited to be a part of the incredible team at RMEQ and its future growth and programs.

Rocky Mountain Equality is a 501(c)(3).

EIN: 84-1467134

Rocky Mountain Equality Action Fund  is a 501(c)(4).

EIN: 93-1554241

© 2024 by Rocky Mountain Equality

bottom of page