Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders announce new board members

Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD, has announced the appointment of three new Board members: Anne Stanback, David Wilson and Trina Soske, according to a release.

“I enthusiastically welcome our newest Board members, who each share a passion for GLAD’s mission and bring unique talents and life experiences to our Board,” said Board President Dianne Phillips, also in the release. “Anne, David and Trina all have connections to broad and diverse communities, and I am confident they will help GLAD continue to grow and execute our mission.”

The remainder of this post is from the release: 

David Wilson was a plaintiff in GLAD’s landmark Goodridge lawsuit, which made Massachusetts the first state to legally marry same-sex couples. The case and the quest for equal rights under the law ignited his desire to become more involved in the civil rights struggle for LGBT folks, especially those raised in the black community. David was a founding member of Fenway Community Health Center’s Endowment Board, raising $1 million in this first three years.  Before retiring, David was Vice President of real estate company Spaulding & Slye Colliers and worked for 30 years at Verizon. As a former member of the Board of MassEquality, the Board and Business Council of the Human Rights Campaign and the Massachusetts LGBT Youth Commission, David has worked to eradicate institutional racism, introduce diversity and inclusion training programs coupled with targeted outreach to LGBT people of color.

“I see GLAD as the much needed partner in the LGBT civil rights struggle for people of color,” said Wilson. “I am committed to bringing corporate leaders, non-profit experts, straight allies, youth organizers, and my personal contacts to the GLAD table.”

Anne Stanback has worked as an activist for the LGBT community for over 30 years. For 20 years, she has collaborated with GLAD in her role as the Founder and Executive Director of Love Makes a Family, Connecticut’s marriage equality organization. Anne brings to GLAD’s board an excellent network of coalition partners in Connecticut, including a significant connection to the faith community and an understanding of the powerful role it can play in improving the lives of those who are LGBT or HIV+ or living with AIDS. Anne also has a long track record of working with the transgender community in Connecticut.

“I have always seen myself as an unofficial ambassador for GLAD here in Connecticut,” said Stanback. “I look forward to being part of the impressive, hard-working group that I know the GLAD board to be.”

Trina Soske’s lifelong passion for tackling injustice led her to become a GLAD supporter over 16 years ago. Trina is currently a Senior Partner at Oliver Wyman Leadership Development, bringing years of experience in strategy and leadership consulting to GLAD’s Board, and she spends her professional time teaching, researching, writing, speaking, and consulting about leadership. As Co-President of Harvard Business School's LGBT alumni association, Trina has cultivated extensive networks in the LGBT business community. Trina also has been very active in education-reform efforts over the last 10 years, involving policy, assessment, curriculum design, teacher professional development, and high-performance management of school districts.

“I’ve always spent my life’s energy and time on things that matter to me, and where I think I can make a difference,” said Soske. “I believe that GLAD has been very astute and strategic in executing against its mission – identifying and shaping what could be pivotal cases.”

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal organization devoted to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.  

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.