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About Us - The Board of Directors:
Founder & President
Gina DuQuenne:I am a native of Los Angeles, California. Six years ago my wife introduced me to Ashland. I fell in love with Southern Oregon, and we moved here four years ago. I am so proud to be part of a community that welcomes diversity and acceptances. In May 2009, my wife and I, along with a dear friend, discussed all of the possibilities of a pride festival and decided why not "take it to the streets"? The next year on October 9, 2010 we marched with some 500 people down Main Street in Ashland with hundreds people cheering us on, I have a loving family and a passion for life. I am grateful to be here. Contact Information:  Phone: (541) 890-3548 gina.duquenne@gmail.comVice President
James Frank:I loaded a 30' van and retired to the Rogue Valley a few years ago. My family consists of two daughters, four grand children, a handful of lovers and now my husband, David, and our dogs, Carmen and Blanche. Having worked and lived in various places has afforded me the opportunity to interact with diverse people in diverse social environments. I've worked as a costume and set designer, university professor, newspaper writer and editor and in public relations. I've lived on both coasts and in the heartland of America as well as the middle of Europe. I've also managed to earn a couple of university degrees in theatre arts. My work now centers on the community of my gay brothers and sisters. SOPride, through education, is working to secure our basic constitutional civil rights. We need your help. You can't show up once a year to carry a placard down Main Street and expect to make a difference. This is an ongoing fight. Get off your butts and VOLUNTEER! Contact Information: jff122043@yahoo.comSecretary
Josh Willow:Josh had an early career in film working her way up from Production Assistant to Second Assistant Director and ultimately became a First Assistant Director. She “retired” from production with an offer from a film/video company based out of Los Angeles and New York where she had a stellar career as VP of Marketing and Sales for the East Coast and Canada. Upon retirement from the company, she joined forces with a close friend and colleague, Director Barbara Peeters, and co-created Silver Foxx Films. After moving to the Rogue Valley with her life partner, Gina DuQuenne (soon to be wife!), she stepped down from Silver Foxx films to pursue her artistic talents. She opened a studio, A Woman’s Eye View, and now spends her time and talents painting, writing and devotes time to Southern Oregon Pride. Contact Information:
jzwillow@msn.comTreasurer
David Gray:I was born in Albany, NY I was 2 when we moved to Washington, D.C. From there we moved to Nantucket, Mass and then back to Albany. I have degrees in Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York, and from Syracuse University. Upon graduation I moved to Long Island and worked for the NYS Dept. of Public Works as a Landscape Architect. I then moved to the Washington D.C. area and worked for the National Park Service. I was transferred to Page, AZ (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) where I was Park Landscape Architect and then Chief of Maintenance and finally Chief of Planning. I was then transferred to the Denver Service Center where I worked in the Parkways and Roads Division doing design work and re-vegetation. I had projects mostly east of the Mississippi River, but did have one in Big Bend NP and one in Chickasaw Nat. Rec. Area. I did a lot of traveling. I transferred to Redwood Nat. Park in 1997 where I was a Project Manager for a construction project. I retired from there after 33 years with the National Park Service. After I retired I wrote a weekly column in the local newspaper on the history of Crescent City and Del Norte County for about 2 and a half years. I also wrote a pictorial book an the same subject which is part of the Images of America series. I was married for 33+ years until my wife died. I have two grown sons, one working in Vancouver, Washington, and one working for the Peace Corps. in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2006 I met Jim Frank online! We fell in love and entered into a legal Domestic Partnership in Oregon as soon as it became legal. We are very involved in Basic Rights Oregon and have hosted numerous fun raisers at out home. We are also very active and have raised funds for SOPride. Our goal is to get as many people, straight and gay, involved in the struggle to win equality for all and legalize same sex marriage. Contact Information: ktgray38@yahoo.com
Our Support Staff:
Web Master
Douglas Smith-Burns:A native of Southern Oregon and a graduate of Southern Oregon University, he comes to us with many years experience working in the computer industry and volunteering service to various LGBT organizations. Located in Medford, he lives with his husband Edward Smith-Burns. Contact Information: Phone: (541) 840-3018 DDSDougie@gmail.com DDSDougie@yahoo.com
Our Community Representatives:
Southern Oregon University Rep
Janelle Wilson:Born in Grants Pass, Janelle believes in education as a tool for change and that positive connections and relationships are key to an equitable, enriching, social justice-oriented community where diversity is celebrated. These beliefs were cultivated greatly by her family and they continue to inspire the work with which she engages. Janelle holds a B.A. in Multicultural and Gender Studies from CSU, Chico and an M.A. in Women’s Studies in Religion from Claremont Graduate University. Janelle has worked to empower and provide support for the queer, questioning, and allied community since 2003. She has been the Coordinator of the Queer Resource Center at Southern University since 2005. Working with absolutely remarkable students on a daily basis is a constant inspiration for her work with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In addition to her role as Coordinator, Janelle is the current Chair for the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Council, an adjunct professor for the the same program, co-founder of the Bias Response Team, is a member of Violence Prevention and Response Advocates, and was previously a staff member-in-residence for the Gender Inclusive floors for four years at Southern Oregon University. Contact Information: Phone: (541) 552-8328 wilsonjan@sou.edu |
