Amanda Fox is a New England based writer that has focused on LGBTQI issues for better than 20 years. Prior to pursuing writing full-time she was a meteorologist with USAF and worked in atmospheric research projects in the private sector. She now devotes her time to outreach and counseling programs focused on transgender youth and families. Amanda tries to live life by a simple belief that equality is for all people, not just those whom we agree with.
Angela has had the good fortune to participate in several professional careers over the course of her lifetime. She has applied her skills to teaching English, and writing; small business ownership, and writing; sales and marketing, and writing; university graduate level research, and writing. As is evident, writing has been her companion throughout! She is the word nerd who actually takes notes at symposiums and events! And not just on the presented topics. She finds people, settings, interactions and conversations fascinating. The entire visual, auditory, kinesthetic experience is worth noticing and noting.
Angela has traveled the globe soaking in the scenery, culture and customs near and far. She has lived in the bush of Alaska to the Atlantic seaside of Savannah and various places in between. She is currently a full time freelance writer with pieces in various venues on the web and many local and regional publications. When she is not writing, Angela can be found at the latest Broadway show or communing with Mother Earth in The Great Smoky Mountains.
Ann Keeler Evans, M.Div., also known as The Wedding Priestess, has helped over 1,000 couples move from "I do" to happily, healthily ever after. Author of the acclaimed Promises to Keep: Crafting Your Wedding Ceremony, she is now offering you tools for creating the wedding ceremony of your dreams, the wedding vows of your heart and the marriage of a lifetime. (plus a whole lot more thoughts, suggestions and stuff!)
Bob Hudson is a gay retired Air Force veteran and father of four biological kids. He lives in North Carolina with his partner of 14 years, Billy Muncy. They recently became grandparents and travel six months of the year in their motor-home, visiting their kids and friends throughout the United States. Billy has also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to become a father and grandfather and help raise kids himself, an opportunity many gay men never experience.
Byron Edgington is a retired commercial helicopter pilot, currently a writer and human rights activist. Byron is the Ohio representative for Marriage Equality USA. Byron & Mariah Edgington are also owners and creators of the website www.Caffection.com, a marriage enrichment, couples affirmation resource. Byron & Mariah have long been advocates of strong, affirming relationships between committed couples, and are heavily involved in LBGT issues.
Wil Crutchley is a New York City-based chef hailing from the coast of North Eastern North Carolina. He is known for creating flavorful, cohesive cuisine with an emphasis on innovation and clean flavors. His masterful technique incorporates international ingredients into his style while highlighting the intrinsic integrity of the ingredients in his dishes. Wil's food is natural in approach, possessing touches of whimsy and finishing off with universal appeal. Visit him on the web at: www.wilcrutchley.com
Crystal Alburger is a recent college grad and newlywed. The author of The Love Letters Project, she has been writing an open letter to the president every day since she and her wife exchanged vows in the San Francisco Bay Area and plans to continue doing so until same-sex marriages are legally recognized nationwide. In her letters, she writes about love, politics, religion, money, work, travel, homophobia, linguistics, and puggle puppy ownership as they relate to marriage equality and gay rights.
Rev. David Loofbourrow blogs about spirituality, personal growth and Gay issues. His journey from Christian fundamentalist to post-modern progressive includes pioneering of two GLBT churches. Other careers have been counseling as a trained psychologist, educator, software designer /analyst, and writer of fiction and non-fiction. David believes that people are only limited by their imagination, which is profoundly unlimited.
Delena is the publisher and editor of 10,000 Couples magazine. Over the past 25 years Delena has published many articles, edited a national newsletter, and been both author and editor of several how-to books on financial management for nonprofits. Some of these experiences might even help with this latest venture. For certain, her experiences at the helm of a local nonprofit organization taught her how to get the job done with minimal resources. She is a graduate of Livingstone College in North Carolina and the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. Delena currently lives in Oak Park, IL with her spouse and son, cat and koi.
Haute is a 22 year old business student in Nairobi, Kenya. He writes about local LGBT issues for Global Voices and 10,000 Couples.
Rev. Heidi Mann serves as a copy-editor for 10,000 Couples. She is a freelancer and owns Final Touch Proofreading and Editing, LLC. Heidi has been something of a wordsmith in various contexts throughout her life, from junior high, when she first started writing poetry; through high school, college, and graduate school, where writing skills came in very handy; and on through 13+ years of ministry as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a role in which she wrote regularly for sermons, newsletters, and correspondence. Heidi lives in the tiny and delightful town of Hendrum, Minn., with her husband, 2 young sons, and 4 mischievous cats.
Howie Holben is owner and caretaker of Spirit Journeys. Since early childhood, he has been drawn to indigenous peoples and their spiritual teachings, traditions and practices. This attraction has taken him on many adventures, exploring the countless ways of "being in the world." His personal journey through addiction and recovery has spawned in him a need to assist others on their own spiritual path and he takes great pleasure in introducing others to practices, sacred ways and cultures to help them "step outside their box." He is a Reiki and Karuna Ki Master and also a Quantum Touch and Breathwork Practitioner. His goal is to help others uncover their potential by setting their hearts and minds free.
Jasz Szlachetka is a stay-at-home dad (formerly, a high school music teacher) who lives in Montreal with his husband and two young sons. He also has an older son and daughter. He is an avid karaoke singer, and sings every weekend at a gay pub in the village with friends.
Jasz and his husband Yvon view themselves as “a regular family with our two kids, our five dogs, our four-bedroom house, and instead of the white picket fence, we have a 10-foot cedar one around the property. I have a few stories that I would love to share with other couples, gay and straight folks alike, that show that our lives are no different than anyone else's and we are proud of the family we are.”
Jeanine Byers Hoag is a midlife renaissance coach, life purpose analyst, certified healing coach-practitioner, spiritual aromatherapist, spiritual story midwife and ordained interspiritual LGBT minister. She also is the author of the forthcoming book, The Life That's Waiting for You: Four Simple Steps to Identifying & Living Your Life Purpose.
She is a homeschooling mom of the "crunchy granola" variety: attachment parenting, organic or natural food, alternative remedies, etc. She and her partner have one son and one daughter.
Her vision is to work with other healers and messengers who are meant to be in the spotlight to inspire and empower them to change the world in their own unique ways.
Her goal is to find, connect and empower 10,000 healers and messengers in the next 10 years. Visit her life purpose website at http://www.istheresomethingmore.net.
Kellie Lee Owen is a writer, an Energy Therapist and a work in progress. She inspires her clients and readers to get really clear about their thinking. Our thinking creates our reality. Think well, live well.
Jamal was born and reared in Philadelphia, Pa. Starting at the age of 7, he took lessons in Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Tap dance, then went on to the Philadanco School of Dance and the Philadelphia High School of Creative and Performing Arts, majoring in dance with a minor in music and theatre. Interested in theatre, he performed in numerous school productions and original scores written and produced by creative writers.
Jamal is dedicated to the arts and continues to work on his music and contribute to local arts and theatre productions. He also recently started National Association of Gays For Change, a group he hopes will change the way the LGBT community takes on goverment, religion, politics, HIV/AIDS, and each other. As part of the team of 10,000 Couples, Jamal carries our special blog "What Gay Men Want" as well as periodic articles.
Melissa brings a variety of experience to the team. Her history includes study of cultures and living abroad in Latin-American countries. She is an activist within the LGBTQ community. An avid cyclist, Melissa participated in the Gay Games VII in three different cycling events and won two silver medals. Melissa is also a lifelong student of photography and Spanish, and is currently studying American Sign Language.
Melissa and fiancé Stacy Jacobs run QueerlyWed.com, the premier nationwide directory of queer-friendly businesses for people planning their wedding or commitment ceremony. If you and your partner have already tied the knot and would like to be featured on Queerly Wed, write celebrations@queerlywed.com.
Michele is an Indianapolis, Indiana based gay relationship therapist offering gay and lesbian services nationally that are specifically tailored to the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. Michele's style of life counseling & coaching is a blending of exploration, education, encouragement, support, guidance, and accountability. The goal of life counseling & coaching is to create a forward moving momentum in your life that allows you to live according to your own hopes and dreams, while simultaneously furthering you toward the life you were designed to live.
Michele is specially trained in relationship counseling and is proud of the success many same-sex couples have experienced with her gay relationship counseling and coaching. Click here to contact Michele.
Have you read Love Tips & Trips For Gay & Lesbian Relationships: Useful for Heterosexuals
Pat Cheney is a life coach who specializes in coming out gay or lesbian in adulthood. She is a lesbian who was in a heterosexual marriage for 20 years-and for 15 of those years didn't even realize she was gay! As she began to emerge from denial, Pat went through a very difficult period, but found the strength to move forward and pull her life back together. She is now divorced and in a committed partnership with a woman. Her relationships with her ex-husband, children and parents are intact. As a result of her experiences, Pat feels a deep sense of obligation to assist others who are in this situation and on their own journey of discovery.
Pat's life coach training was with the International Coach Academy, which is accredited by the International Coach Federation. She holds a bachelor's degree in health science, with formal training in mental health and over 25 years experience working in the health field. In addition, Pat has an MBA. She earned both degrees at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Paul McNeal is a Texas native and a veteran of the United States Navy Submarine Force. He now resides in Northern Virginia and is an entrepreneur and Life Coach with an emphasis on business. He describes himself thus: "Lover of Life who is learning the principles of success. Seeker that is finding every opportunity to help and bless others. Believer that perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Highly values the joining of two people as one and the beauty that two lives can create as a team."
Rochelle is what some may call a “Jane of all trades”. With over 10 years of experience in Sales & Marketing in both retail and corporate environments – including a local LGBT publication – she discovered that in order to experience true happiness, one must follow their passion. Highly ambitious with a strong desire to give back, Rochelle currently holds a BA and MBA in Marketing, and is highly considering re-entering the world of academia for a third degree. As a result, she was forced to put her blogging project of 2 years on hiatus.
With her diverse upbringing and background, she effectively interacts with people from various cultures and is able to give them a sense of comfort and trust. Known to be caring and extremely passionate, Rochelle currently resides in the state of Michigan with her spontaneous orange/white American Tabby known as “Fraidy”.
Sally Olson is a lawyer in a large Chicago law firm, where she has worked for almost 25 years. She is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, Equality Illinois and head of the LGBT Initiative at the law firm where she works. Sally writes articles for 10,000 Couples to keep her spouse, 10,000 Couples published/editor Delena Wilkerson, happy -- and because she believes wholeheartedly in the magazine's mission and message. In her "spare" time, Sally loves to cook, especially for groups of 50 or more. She is also active in her church and community.
Shelly Goldstein is a writer-producer-performer who has written for every genre of television, film and stage -- and who has performed her one-woman shows to sold-out audiences throughout the US and UK. She has written special material for such performers as Steve Martin, Sharon Stone, Yoko Ono and Liza Minnelli. She has written song lyrics for G-rated children's shows and R-Rated comedy specials such as LOGO's ONE NIGHT STAND-UP. Her YouTube videos are known throughout the world.
SHELLY on YOUTUBE and FACEBOOK
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/groovyshelly
TWITTER follow me @ groovyshelly
RSS 2.0 Feed