09 2021 | NEAT

NEAT Blog: Stories from the Movement for LGBTQ+ Justice

Read updates, volunteer spotlights, and campaign news from the National Equality Action Team. Every post reflects the volunteers, partners, and supporters who power our shared work for full LGBTQ+ equality.

Spotlight of the Month: Mark (CA)

Posted 9/25/2021

Our Spotlight series celebrates the NEAT supporters whose dedication drives our daily work for LGBTQ+ justice. This month we introduce Mark from Long Beach, California.

Mark, NEAT volunteer spotlight from California — Mark, volunteer data manager

NEAT volunteer spotlight photo — Supporters powering the work

Who is this month's spotlight volunteer?

Mark, who uses he/him/his pronouns, is 63 and lives in Long Beach, CA.

What does Mark do outside of volunteering with NEAT?

He serves as treasurer of a local democratic club called YES WE CAN Democratic club.

How is Mark connected to LGBTQ+ justice work?

He was treasurer for Long Beach Equality and worked with Marriage Equality USA.

What is Mark's volunteer role at NEAT, and what drew him in?

He volunteers as Data Manager, gathering the data produced by phone and text banks, organizing it, and reporting it so NEAT can use it for its campaigns.

What volunteering memory stands out to him?

He enjoys working with Brian Silva, a NEAT Advisor.

What would Mark say to someone considering volunteering?

Volunteering helps get things done!

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Farewell to Our Executive Director, Brian Silva

Posted 9/10/2026

Brian Silva shares a personal message as he concludes his time as Executive Director of NEAT, reflecting on more than a decade of LGBTQ+ advocacy leadership.

Brian Silva, founder and executive director of NEAT — Brian Silva, founder and executive director

NEAT advocacy and organizing moment — Years of volunteer-driven advocacy

Brian began volunteering with Marriage Equality New York (MENY) in 2008, launching over a decade of LGBTQ+ advocacy leadership. When MENY merged with Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) in 2011, the new board invited him to remain as Executive Director, and he was proud to help lead the organization across the finish line in 2015. The work continued: MEUSA's tools and resources became the foundation of the National Equality Action Team (NEAT), an organization dedicated to full LGBTQ+ justice.

He expresses gratitude to volunteers, partners, donors, and members, especially those who have stayed for more than a decade, and to friends and family, particularly his husband Jonathan, for their support throughout the years.

Since 2008, the organization has helped lead nearly 50 campaigns, including the current push to pass the Equality Act, which NEAT kickstarted in February before the official campaign began. LGBTQ+ protections were passed or protected in Jacksonville (FL), Massachusetts, Anchorage (AK), Virginia, and elsewhere. The work has included fighting for the Dream Act, restoring voting rights in Florida, opposing a right-wing Supreme Court, registering voters in Michigan and Georgia, helping people in hard-to-reach counties complete the Census, organizing dozens of rallies in Washington, D.C. and nationally around Supreme Court cases along with virtual town halls, supporting thousands of local partner events, and engaging elected officials on more than 400 pieces of legislation. Through it all, volunteers have taken over a million actions, including phone bank dials, texts sent, and doors knocked, across hundreds of thousands of hours.

Brian shares that he is joining Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) as Vice President of Outreach and Engagement, where he will continue working with volunteers and partners on LGBTQ+ rights and other critical issues. As part of the transition, NEAT has hired two outstanding volunteer staff members, Christine Thornton and Elyse Decker, to carry forward the volunteer-driven work to pass the Equality Act. While the Equality Act will be NEAT's final campaign, he is thrilled that these two advocates are leading the charge. Look for more from Christine and Elyse soon.

Thank you for years of trust and support. Onward!

Brian Silva, Founder & Executive Director, NEAT

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Summer Newsletter (2021)

Posted 9/3/2026

Highlights from the summer: Broadway performers taking action for the Equality Act, music and faith luminaries lending their voices, a call to include trans students in all activities, and spotlights on summer volunteers.

Broadway performers supporting the Equality Act — Broadway performers take action

NEAT supporters at an advocacy event — Supporters in action

Community advocacy moment — Community advocacy

Volunteers organizing for equality — Volunteers organizing

Equality Act training graphic — Equality Act training

NEAT news email header — NEAT news header

Equality Act campaign graphic — Equality Act campaign

Music and faith action graphic — Music and faith action

Virtual house party graphic — Virtual house party

Pride month action graphic — Pride month action

Trans student inclusion graphic — Trans student inclusion

Summer spotlight graphic — Summer spotlights

NEAT advocacy photo — Advocacy in action

NEAT volunteer photo — Volunteers at work

NEAT organizing photo — Organizing together

NEAT feed background graphic — NEAT feed

Broadway Performs and Takes Action for the Equality Act

Stars of Broadway showed up and took action at our virtual House Party in support of the Equality Act. Between performances by Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Michael Buchanan, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, and Lisa Kron, the performers demonstrated how people can be more effective advocates on social media, call their Senators, and send emails.

Watch the Broadway performances

Intersections: Include Trans Students in Education, Athletics, and Other Extracurricular Activities

In honor of Pride Month and the Summer Olympic Games, NEAT is proud to be a signatory of "In Support of Full Inclusion for Transgender Students: An Open Letter from the Civil and Human Rights Community."

Learn more about trans student inclusion · Read more on LGBTQ+ intersections

Spotlights of the Summer: Helena (NY), Irwin (CT) & Elyse (WA)

Our Spotlights showcase the work of NEAT's staff, volunteers, donors, and partners who are the backbone of what we do every day for LGBTQ+ justice. This month, meet Helena (NY), Irwin (CT), and Elyse (WA).

Meet Helena (NY) · Meet Irwin (CT) · Meet Elyse (WA)

NEAT Joins Music & Faith Luminaries to Take Action for the Equality Act

The Music in Action livestream event in support of the Equality Act was a star-studded event held during Pride month. The virtual house party was not only incredibly fun but educational and impactful for all who attended.

Watch the Music in Action performance

As part of the Colors of Pride faith week for the Equality Act, NEAT proudly hosted an interactive virtual event with Bishop Megan Rohrer, the first openly transgender minister to be ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Learn more about Faith in Action

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