Meet the Staff
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Laurie Hasencamp
Interim Executive Director
Laurie is a committed, recognized advocate for LGBT equality and a long-time backer of Equality California who, since retiring from practicing law in 2002, has dedicated her time to community service. During that period, she has served in a range of interim executive leadership roles for organizations in transition, including as the Interim Executive Director of The Serra Project, the Interim Managing Director of the Office of Development and Graduate Relations at USC Law School and the Interim Chief Operating Officer for a management consulting firm.
Laurie has played a local and national role in the movement for LGBT equality for many years as a member of the Lambda Legal Board of Directors, the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy Founders and Legal Councils, the GLSEN National Leadership Council, The Serra Project Board of Directors and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, among others.
Laurie has been recognized by numerous organizations for her commitment to social justice and efforts to achieve LGBT equality. In 2008 she received a Women of Distinction award from USC as a community leader, and in 2011 she received the Los Angeles Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Association Co-Presidents Award and the City of West Hollywood Paul Starke Warrior Award for her community service work in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities.
Laurie is a 1985 graduate of USC Law School, and a 1980 graduate of Pomona College. She clerked for the Honorable Warren J. Ferguson, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, following law school. She then practiced bankruptcy law with Latham & Watkins and Irell & Manella before becoming a Legal Research Director and Director of Network of Legal Experts for LRN, the Legal Knowledge Company. Before law school, she was an assistant operations officer at Lloyds Bank California.
Laurie lives in Pacific Palisades, California with her husband Mike Lurey, a recently retired bankruptcy partner at Latham & Watkins and a member of the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy Legal Council.
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323.848.9801
laurie(at)eqca(dot)org
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Rebekah Orr
Communications Director
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Location: San Francisco
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Home town: Silverton, Oregon
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Hidden talent: Parallel parking
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Not-so-secret passions: modern design,
University of Oregon Football, forensic crime shows, crossword puzzles
- Favorite quote: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." --Neale Donald Walsch
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Directs all of EQCA's external communications activities. Responsible for strategic message development and research, communications planning and execution, media relations and putting words in other people's mouths.
Professional Bio
415.581.0005 x308
rebekah(at)eqca(dot)org
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Alice Kessler
Legislative Advocate
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Alice Kessler, a Legislative Advocate with the government relations firm of DiMare, Van Vleck & Brown, LLC, provides Equality California with legislative advocacy and political strategy on LGBT issues. From 2006-2009, Alice served as EQCA’s Director of Government Affairs. During that time, she led successful campaigns to pass 35 pieces of legislation benefitting the LGBT community, including landmark bills related to marriage equality and establishing a statewide day of significance to honor Harvey Milk.
alice(at)eqca(dot)org
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 Shaun Osburn
Deputy Director, Online Communications
- Location: San Francisco
- Home town: Oakland
- Loves: Letterpress printing, typography and road trips with his domesticated partner Mike.
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In 1995, when the world wide web was in its mere infancy, 15-year-old Shaun bought a copy of "HTML 4 for Dummies" and began designing websites for local punk rock bands in the East Bay. What started off as a tenacious D.I.Y. project landed him a job four years later as a programming manager for PlanetOut.com. Shaun later took his web and design skills to St. Anthony Foundation, San Francisco's oldest social services non-profit and now he joins us at Equality California, where he maintains our web presences and designs our print pieces.
415.581.0005
shaun(at)eqca(dot)org
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Angie Coleman-Levy
Field Manager
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Local coalition building, voter contact, volunteer recruitment and management. In 2008 Angie graduated from the University of Colorado with degrees in political science and psychology, so naturally she loves working with people and motivating them to take action on issues they believe in. Before working for Equality California, Angie spent 3 years in Berkeley as a canvass director for Grassroots Campaigns where she planned and implemented direct outreach and field campaigns on behalf of various progressive organizations. In her spare time she loves reading and spending time with her boyfriend and 2 cats, Calvin and Hobbes.
415.581.0005 x307
angie(at)eqca(dot)org
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George Zander
Coachella Valley Field Manager
- Alum: University Of Washington, Seattle
- First love: Political Action
- Second love: Cooking
- Third love: His cat, Petey
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Local coalition building, voter contact, volunteer recruitment and management. George has been actively involved in Democratic Party and LGBT issues since 1980, when he was one of the first board members of Seattle's first openly lesbian and gay lobbying organization, The Dorian Group. He has worked for dozens of issues and candidates, including the King County Democratic Party, the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign and Senator Barbara Boxer. Twice a month, George publishes a travel column in the BottomLine Magazine, re-exploring faraway destinations he visited during his time in the travel industry.
760.992.5193
george(at)eqca(dot)org
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 Kiki Poe
Administrative Manager
- Proud moment: Producing her own play, Voices in Color
- Loves: Being barefoot, swimming and people watching
- Geek Trait: A love for X-Men charactors, comic books, cartoons and movies
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Admin extraordinaire. She worked as an Admin Manager for a leading social justice organization in Berkeley, organized events for Queer Women of Color in the greater Bay Area and now Kiki has decided to bring her superwoman talents to LA to fight for the rights of the LGBT community.
323.848.9801 x5
kiki(at)eqca(dot)org
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Tony Hoang
Database and Volunteer Manager
- Location: Los Angeles
- Home town: Houston, Texas
- Loves: Electronic dance music, college football, and cooking
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Manages all the complexities of the membership database in addition to overseeing the interns and volunteers across the state. Tony recently graduated from the University of Southern California double majoring in International Relations and Political Science with a minor in Biology. He actually started his experience with EQCA as an intern in the summer of 2009. More recently, he has interned with the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Tony hopes to attend law school in the near future as well as obtain a Masters in International Affairs. Though he currently resides in California, Tony will always be a proud Texan.
323.848.9801 x7
tony(at)eqca(dot)org
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Meet the Field Staff
Melissa Estrada
Phone Bank Lead - Los Angeles
- Interests: Googling, Locked up raw, psychology today, and quoting Dr. Seuss
- Quote: Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you'er than you. --Dr. Seuss
| Melissa is dedicated to ending discrimination by bringing full awareness that prejudice is still alive in a country that claims 'all men are created equal'. She talks to active voters every day in hopes of creating a culture that is open to diversity.
| Nayeli Pelayo
Administrative Associate - Pets: Two crazy turtles and a cool cat
- Loves: Latin music, power naps, and her hubster
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canvasser and phone bank lead for the successful campaign to protect
the FAIR Education Act, Nayeli currently works on the administrative end
at EQCA. She has written a diverse array of articles for the Cal State
Northridge school paper and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism. She is
currently in CSUN's MPA program with an emphasis in Non-Profit Sector
Management. Nayeli is passionate about mobilizing people to take action
in positive things they believe in.
|  Paul Shirey
Grassroots Fundraising Manager
- Favorite Team: Cal Bears
- Favorite Past time: Bowling a perfect 300
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Paul supervises the organization's grassroots outreach and fundraising. Since graduating from UC Berkeley in the spring of 2007, he has worked as an organizer for progressive causes ranging from women's reproductive rights to LGBT equality. Paul loves the Los Angeles Lakers, Cornel West and Tiger Woods.
| Bella Week
Field Organizer - Location: Los Angeles
- Hometown: Sydney, Australia
- Loves: Mopeds, winter coats, hyperbole
| Volunteer recruitment and management, local coalition building, voter outreach. Bella started out as an intern with Equality California in the Spring of 2011, she now organizes EQCA's field work throughout Southern California.
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Omari Averette
Canvass Lead
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Since 2008, Omari has been a part of campaign after campaign, dedicating himself to the continued fight for equality. After five years of fundraising experience he joined EQCA as a phone banker for the campaign to protect the FAIR Education Act. During his time here he has worked his way up to Assistant Lead on the Street Team, where he continues to work for full equality within the state. | Erinn Carter
Street Canvasser
Location: West Hollywood Home town: The mean streets of Glendora, CA Life goal: Taste testing every breakfast cereal ever made
| Erinn is a native of Southern California, and a graduate of Whittier College with a degree in political science. Her primary work over thepast 10 years has included working on social justice issues, both here in California, and in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In herspare time, she uses her academic powers for good, discovering the revolutionary potential of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and starting a nonprofit to help empower young women. Finally, she would like to let everyone know how thankful she is for her mother and father - without their love, support and foolish decision to fund her education, she wouldn't be able to watch hours of "Flavor of Love" and describe it as "research."
|  Samantha Castillo
Phone Banker
- Location: West Hollywood
- Home: Atwater / Silverlake
- Horoscope: Taurus
- LA graffiti and street art, tattoos, Italian food, video games and English bulldogs
| Samantha is a Latina Los Angeles native. She is currently working onbecoming a special effects make-up artist and plans on pursing acareer in the film industry. When she is not fighting for equality shelike spending her time reading, crafting, sketching, and occasionally going out with friends.
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Jennifer Cervella
Street Canvasser
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After moving to Los Angeles from Texas, Jenn has been canvassing for nonprofit organizations. Once the opportunity to work with LGBT rights arose, she joined the EQCA field staff and canvass. In her spare time she likes to crochet and play the 10 gallon plastic pickle jug.
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Tess Cromer
Street Canvasser
- Location: Los Angeles
- Best Award: Beating Takeru Kobayashi for Sushi eating championship
- Interests: Grooming miniature ponies
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A recent transplant to LA, Tess graduated from the University of Denver with majors in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Sociology. Driven by interests in politics, social movements, and helping to change the world, she decided to become involved with EQCA as a Street Team member. Her hobbies are traveling, amateur photography and eating sushi.
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Phil Daddario
Street Canvasser
- Celebrity lookalike: Nathan Lane
- Languages: English and German
- Alum: University of California, Los Angeles
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Phil is an Angelino native who has been working with various non-profits since 2009. When he is not fighting for civil rights he enjoys cooking, long walks on the beach and making movies. He is also trying to get on the television; something on primetime or ESPN would be nice. He is an avid Los Angeles sports fan. Go Bruins.
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Jay Douglas
Street Canvasser- Favorite Food: Chicago deep dish pizza
- Hobbies: Chess, Art, Judo, Hapkido, Hiking & Swimming
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Jay is a film director and actor with a huge passion for equal rights. Originally from Chicago, Jay moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. Jay is also a web designer and has a degree in Information Technology.
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Brianna Eaton
Street Canvasser
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Brianna raises awareness and funds for EQCA's Breakthrough Conversations project. She has previously canvassed on behalf of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Brianna loves to read and follow politics along with camping, fishing and pretty much anything to do with the great outdoors.
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Vivian Escalante
Street Canvasser
- Likes: Home cookin'
- Loves: Rain
- Dislikes: Hot weather
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As a Canvasser with EQCA, Vivian Escalante has been an activist with the Dyke March Los Angeles, which she coordinated from 1998-2008, and along side that she established the DYKE's ON BIKES for both Los Angeles and Long Beach Pride Parades back in '93.
Her leadership goes further with the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council in Formation taking the lead with the Boundary and Outreach committee. Her creative talents bring the web sites for DykeMarchLA.com and DapperDyke.com. Lastly, being a Vintage Stylist, she bring her Dapperness to work everyday... Praise the Dapperness.
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Justin Florez
Phone banker
- Location: Los Angeles
- Inspirations: John Lennon, Freddy Mercury and his Mother
- Aspirations: To find true love and play music forever
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Justin has been an avid activist, fundraiser, phone banker and canvasser since 2008. Being at the front line of the fight for equality is something he takes great pride in. He loves going to live concerts, cliff jumping and singing in the shower. He hates pollution, cigarettes and anti-equality extremists.
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Conor Hogan
Street Canvasser
- Hometown: Columbus, OH
- Inspirations: JJ Abrams, Matt Berniger
- Quote: Learn from the past, live in the present, dream of the future, imagine everything always
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Before joining EQCA's canvassing team, Conor was fielding odd jobs in the entertainment industry (or essentially became really good at fetching coffee). Being an outspoken individual, however, Conor took no pause when the opportunity to work for EQCA came along. As an aspiring television writer, he hopes to spread the word about equality for all individuals in his written work someday. Until then, he's more than content spreading it individual by individual.
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Kat Howell
Street Canvasser- Location: West Hollywood
- Home town: Long Beach
- Born: Area 51
| Kat was born in Desert Hot Springs, and grew up in Long Beach; movingfrom queer community to queer community, Kat found EQCA and joined themovement. Kat has worked on the No On 8 campaign and is asociology/art major. In her spare time she trains rats for therevolution. She is often seen creating political art and explaininghow it feels to be an alien. She wants to stay with EQCA for the longhaul, as she plans to be involved in activism for life.
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Steggie Hufstedler
Street Canvasser
- Self care looks like: laughing, backpacking, burning incense, cycling
- Favorite game: Transformation
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Stegosaurus has been nicknamed Steggs or Steggie. Steggs works as an informant on EQCA's street team- spreading truth and dispelling the lies of our opposition, regarding the fair education act. Steggie has worked with Youth over the last decade, primarily as an events and outreach coordinator.
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Charity Hansen
Phone banker
- Location: Los Angeles
- Hometown: Brooklyn
- Loves: Thriller movies, oldies, Mexican food, and murder mysteriesFavorite Quote: "I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity"
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Before joining the EQCA team, Charity worked as an office assistant for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. She had heard about the opportunity to help out the LGBT community and applied at once. It is something she has always felt morally obligated to do but never knew how to get involved. A psychology major in her first year of college, Charity brings a youthful energy to the table along with a growing passion for a demographic that society thinks they can alienate.
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Jonathan Iocco
Canvass Lead
- Greatest Moment: Winning Salsa dancer of the year at Citrus College
- Hometown: Brooklyn
- Favorite Food: "If it's from a truck it's good to me"
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Jonathan works as a Lead for the street canvassing team. His primary focus is staff development and making sure all folks are on message. Jonathan has been working with Equality California and other LGBT organizations since the tragic defeat of marriage equality in California. He brings a positive and hard-working attitude to the office and loves meeting new volunteers.
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Lenin Lau
Phone banker
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Favorite teams: San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Lakers & Dodgers
- Old passion: Violin
- New Passion: Helping to gain full equality
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Lenin brings thug passion, personality and boldness to EQCA's West Hollywood office. He enjoys watching The Rachel Maddow Show and keeping up to date with the Liberal agenda. His passions include fighting for the rights of minority groups that are wrongly maligned.
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Chris Powell
Street Canvasser - Favorite Band: The Beatles
- Loves: Sky diving, Base Jumping
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Hailing from the Third Coast in Pensacola, FL, Chris brings a quiet ruckus to the office. He has Magellaned around the world spreading seeds of equality wherever he finds himself. Currently he is applying to graduate school for public policy.
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Tara Shams Fard
Street Canvasser
- Location: Los Angeles
- Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Favorite TV show: F.R.I.E.N.D.S
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Born in Iran and raised in Sweden, allows Tara to fluently speak 3 languages, which is at times helpful when she is out there canvassing for equal rights. She moved to L.A 6 years ago and pursued her dream of getting her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, and is now continuing onto law school. Tara feels very passionately about raising awareness about equality. Before she started working for EQCA, Tara was doing similar work for the Human Rights Campaign. In her spare time Tara loves to go to the beach and spend time with her friends.
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Josh Steichman
Street Canvasser
- Hobbies: Learning fun facts
- Enjoyments: Kite Flying on windy afternoons
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Josh has degrees in journalism and political science. He has also worked as a rock critic, fine arts photographer and activist. His beard is the envy of the office.
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Edwin Tomyoy
Street Canvasser - Location: West Hollywood
- Hometown: Port of Spain, Trinidad
- Travel highlights: Visited a family of wild mountain gorillas in the Vurunga National Forest in Rwanda; landed a 68-pound king salmon on the Keenai River in Alaska; got shocked by a giant electric ray while scuba diving
| Edwin hails from the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. He haslived in Los Angeles since 1961. Edwin has been involved with variousnonprofits and is on the board of Drew Cares International, anorganization that does work with AIDS in Rwanda, Angola, Jamaica andBelize. He has worked to support marriage equality since 2009. Edwinis a foodie and a gourmet chef who maintains a garden and grows manyof his vegetables, herbs and fruit. He is also a retired teacher.
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Arturo Valencia
Phone Banker
- Location: Los Angeles
- Interests: Advocacy, Social Justice, and a dog called "Pinky"
- Entertainment: Sci-Fi movies and U.S. National Parks
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Arturo came to Los Angeles back in 1990 via Tucson, Arizona. He got his start as an HIV/AIDS health educator and outreach worker in East L.A, and is now a part of EQCA's phone team. He also works as an HIV pre/post test counselor at John Wesley Community Health. With a strong outreach and canvassing background, Arturo applies his 15 years of experience reaching out to people delivering one message: We need to secure legal protections for LGBT Californians.
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Jay Xavier
Street Canvasser
- Location: Los Angeles
- Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
- Favorite TV show: Gossip Girl
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Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, this modern day nomad was the first person in his family to circumnavigate the world in a hot air balloon. After seeing the world, Jay has now settles here in beautiful Los Angeles and works as an activist, bringing equality to one human at a time.
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