Happy Friday all! I'm writing to share with you that today is my last day as the Executive Director at NEAT.
In 2008 I signed up to volunteer at Marriage Equality New York (MENY) and began over a decade of LGBTQ+ advocacy leadership. When MENY merged with Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) in 2011, the new Board invited me to stay on as the Executive Director and I was proud to lead us across the finish line in 2015. But the work wasn't done. So we took MEUSA's tools and resources and started the National Equality Action Team (NEAT) as an organization to fight for full LGBTQ+ Justice. I'm proud of the journey from MENY to NEAT and grateful to all of our volunteers, partners, donors, and members -- especially so many of you who have stayed with us for over a decade. I'm also deeply thankful to my friends and family, especially my husband Jonathan, who have supported me and this work throughout all of these years.
In 2008 I signed up to volunteer at Marriage Equality New York (MENY) and began over a decade of LGBTQ+ advocacy leadership. When MENY merged with Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) in 2011, the new Board invited me to stay on as the Executive Director and I was proud to lead us across the finish line in 2015. But the work wasn't done. So we took MEUSA's tools and resources and started the National Equality Action Team (NEAT) as an organization to fight for full LGBTQ+ Justice. I'm proud of the journey from MENY to NEAT and grateful to all of our volunteers, partners, donors, and members -- especially so many of you who have stayed with us for over a decade. I'm also deeply thankful to my friends and family, especially my husband Jonathan, who have supported me and this work throughout all of these years.
Since I started in 2008, we've helped lead almost 50 campaigns -- including our current campaign to pass the Equality Act which NEAT kickstarted this past February even before the official campaign began. We've passed or protected LGBTQ+ protections in Jacksonville (FL), Massachusetts, Anchorage (AK), Virginia and more. We've fought for the Dream Act, to restore voting rights in Florida and against a right-wing Supreme Court. We've registered voters in Michigan and Georgia and helped people in the hardest to reach counties complete the Census. We've organized dozens of rallies in Washington D.C. / nationally for Supreme Court cases along with virtual town hall events, and supported thousands of local partners' events doing the same. We've engaged elected officials in support (or opposition) of over 400 pieces of legislation. And through it all, our volunteers have taken over a million actions - phone bank dials, texts sent, doors knocked - over the course of hundreds of thousands of hours. I am beyond proud of all of the work we have done together.
I'm excited to share that I will be joining the amazing team at Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) as their Vice President of Outreach and Engagement, where I'll continue to work with volunteers and partners to fight for LGBTQ+ rights and other critical issues. As part of my transition, NEAT has hired two of our outstanding volunteer staff, Christine Thornton and Elyse Decker, to continue our volunteer driven work to pass the Equality Act, which I hope you will continue to volunteer with and support! While the Equality Act will also be NEAT's final campaign, I am beyond thrilled to have these two amazing advocates leading the charge and carrying this critical legislation across the finish line. Look to hear more from Christine and Elyse soon!
Thank you again for so many years of your trust and support. I look forward to our paths crossing again as we work to build a more just and equitable world today and for future generations.
Onward!
Brian Silva
Founder & Executive Director, NEAT
Thank you again for so many years of your trust and support. I look forward to our paths crossing again as we work to build a more just and equitable world today and for future generations.
Onward!
Brian Silva
Founder & Executive Director, NEAT
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