Meet Our team
Our organization is 100% volunteer based!
We appreciate every single individual who dedicates their time and talents to ensure
that we get you the information you need as an LGBTQIA+ individual to thrive in York County!
Below we share pictures, short bios, and ways to contact our Board members, Committee Chairs, and our Advisers.
Many of them are also Resource Specialist Volunteers.
Executive Committee
Tesla Taliaferro
He/Him/His
President & Resource Specialist Volunteer
Tesla is an active and dedicated LGBTQIA+ advocate and an openly transgender and queer man. In addition to service as president of the Rainbow Rose Center board, he is the secretary of PFLAG York, chair of the social justice committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York, and an award winning contributor for The Central Voice, Central PA’s LGBT+ news source. He lives in York City with his partner and their menagerie of pets.
Maria Gable
She/Her/Hers
Vice President & Resource Specialist Volunteer
Maria is a native of Baltimore and has been living in York for over a decade. She has supported Equality Fest from its inception and enjoys volunteering with other organizations and events. She is a spoken word artist that uses her platform to enlighten and uplift. She also loves to crochet and spend time with her wife, children, and grandchildren.
Mary Almy
She/Her/Hers
Treasurer
Mary has been active in the LGBTQIA+ community prior to her coming to York. She is an out and proud transwoman of faith. Previously, she served as Treasurer for Butler PFLAG and on the boards of the Transgender Veterans Association (TVA) as well as the Empire Conference, a transgender conference that was held annually in Albany, NY. Most recently, Mary co-chaired the Transgender Awareness Committee of the Columbia County Social Equity Committee. Mary has helped create a safe space for Transgender youth in Bloomsburg PA through a local Church that opened their doors to the youth. She loves being a mentor and friend to anyone who needs one. Mary has a history of working with nonprofit organizations. She has a bachelors degree in accounting. She currently is living in Mount Wolf with her wife, dog, and two cats.
Christina (Chris) Stetler
She/Her/Hers
Secretary & Resource Specialist Volunteer
Chris grew up in Southern New Jersey, where she was taught from a very young age that all people are equal. She went to Elizabethtown College for Communications, where she met her husband Brian. Her background is in nonprofit fundraising, having worked with a number of national and local nonprofit organizations. She earned a MA in American Studies and spent several years in the history field, before returning to fundraising. Chris is the President of the York County Federation of Democratic Women (YCFDW), the Director of Finance and Fundraising for the Democratic Party of York County (DPOYC), a board member with The Movement, an active member of the Northern York County Democratic Club (NoYo Dems), and has volunteered with Equality Fest for the last several years. Chris lives in northern York County with her husband and four cats (Domo, Strax, Victoria, and Prudence). She loves reading, photography, running (love might be a bit strong), the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles, traveling, and history.
How to Contact Our Executive Committee
executives@rainbowrosecenter.org
Committee Chairs
Caleb Schenck
He/Him/His
Community Engagement Committee & Resource Specialist
Caleb identifies as a transgender man, and has been active in the Rainbow Rose Center since first walking into the office just before the pandemic hit. He has regularly attended and now moderates the Transgender Support Group Meetings for over a year. The Rainbow Rose Center have given him the confidence to live as his authentic self, and he is eager to help others do the same.
Jenny Beth (JB) Kissner
She/Her/Hers
Events Committee Co-Chair
Born and raised in Berks County, PA, JB moved to York in 1995. She attended York College of PA, where she received her BA in English/Theatre. Once her professional career began, she found use for her planning and organization skills in Finance and Accounting. For her current employer, JB oversees global expense reporting and chairs the GBS Community Engagement Committee. Jenny Beth has always been an advocate for the value of all human life, from serving as president of the high school Peer to Peer group to actively volunteering with local non-profits like Women United. She lives in West York with her husband, son, and two cats. She enjoys knitting, gaming, and art in all forms.
Kyle Howard
He/Him/His
Events Committee Co-Chair
Kyle was born and raised in southern York County. He moved back to the York area, after attending Syracuse University, to teach Chemistry at York College of Pennsylvania in 2017. Kyle enjoys fostering students’ interests in the sciences and helping them develop skills for their careers. He has been a part of event planning at both Syracuse University and Denver, Colorado LGBTQ+ Resource Centers. Kyle is excited to give back to the community through volunteering with the Rainbow Rose Center. He currently resides in West York and is a proud cat dad. Some of Kyle’s interests involve traveling, kayaking at Lake Redman and checking out local microbreweries.
Nate Tile
He/Him/His
Fundraising Committee
Nate is the Vice President of Business Development for our home-team York Revolution. With a background in sales and marketing, sponsorship, and community engagement, Nate is thrilled to take on the responsibility of raising funds for the Rainbow Rose Center. He is very involved in the community serving on several boards including the YMCA of York and York County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of York and Adams County, Southern York County Business Association and Explore York. For fun, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his daughter’s softball team, and watching baseball.
Marketing and Communications Committee Chair
Currently Vacant
The Rainbow Rose Center is seeking a Board Member who will also serve as the Marketing and Communications Committee Chair. The Marketing and Communications Committee Chair is responsible for the marketing and publicity of the Rainbow Rose Center. vThese activities include press releases, coordinating marketing activities, and website maintenance. If you are interested in joining our Board as the Marketing and Communications Committee Chair, please email Tesla Taliaferro at president@rainbowrosecenter.org and send your resume and bio.
Brittaney (Britt) DeArmond
She/Her/Hers
Programs Committee Co-Chair
Britt was born in Baltimore and grew up in Westminster, MD. Britt was raised by her single mom and was taught at a very young age that everyone has a story and that story no matter what, should be respected. Britt has a wonderful wife named Katherine and a bonus daughter named Morgan. Britt is a photographer and has been taking photos ever since she could hold a camera. She went to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh for Video Production where she instead found her love for photography grow even more. While being a relatively new member to Rainbow Rose, Britt loves volunteering at events and getting to know her community. Britt loves to travel and is never afraid of change. She is passionate about equal rights for all and hopes to help the rest of the team of the Rainbow Rose Center become an avid staple in the York County LGBTQIA+ Family.
Karin (Hector) Hiemel
She/Her/Hers
Programs Committee Co-Chair
Hector grew up in Northern New Jersey and spent her youth playing sports. She realized her lesbian identity during her undergraduate at Lock University and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Temple University. She has worked as a Mental Health and/or Drug and Alcohol Social Worker, and helped build the Whitman Walker’s national blueprint program for clients who were triply (MH/Addictions/HIV-AIDS) diagnosed. Hector spends much of her free time mentoring high-risk youth and being a tutor for the students in the International Law school program at the International Law school and tribunal at The Hague in the Netherlands. She has been happily married to her wife for 21 years and has seven fur babies.
Suzanne Pauley
She/Her/Hers
Resources Committee
Suzanne Pauley is a mother of two children and a wife. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She obtained a masters level graduate from Millersville University and is currently practicing as a Master’s level Social Worker in York County. She is pleased to advocate and be an ally for those who are oppressed and experiencing barriers to their rights. She values the work of the Rainbow Rose Center and is honored to be part of the board.
Volunteer Committee Chair
Currently Vacant
The Rainbow Rose Center is seeking a Board Member who will also serve as the Volunteer Committee Chair. The Volunteer Committee Chair is responsible for vetting and approving those who sign up to volunteer with the Rainbow Rose Center and to coordinate their efforts and engagement. If you are interested in joining our Board as the Volunteer Committee Chair, please email Tesla Taliaferro at president@rainbowrosecenter.org and send your resume and bio.
Board Members At Large
Anne Gray
She/Her/Hers
Also serves as the IT Coordinator
Anne is an experienced non-profit administrator and a dedicated sex- and body-positive peer and youth educator. She is involved with the York Census 2020 committee, the York County System of Care Leadership Team, the Goodridge Freedom Center, the YWCA York Synchronized Swim Team, and the York Robothon summer camp. Anne manages all IT and technology aspects on behalf of the Rainbow Rose Center.
Scarlett Denman, BS, RHIT, RAC
She/Her/Hers
Scarlett Denman is the Director, Health Information Management and Privacy Officer at OSS Health (Orthopedic Spine Specialist) in York, Pennsylvania since 2017 where she oversees medical records for hospital and clinics, coding, charge posting, transcription and release of information as well as handles all HIPAA/Privacy operations. She has extensive experience in revenue cycle management and managing hospital and physician practice departments. Scarlett went to medical school then decided she wanted the administration side, with her medical background and HIM she has a broad history of seeing both sides of medicine. She has been on numerous advisory boards, community boards for the years as well as speaks on HIPAA, Release of Information, Audits, Patient Accounts and more across the country. In her spare time she is a Reiki Master as well and maintains a private practice and teaches Reiki and Meditation. Scarlett is certified in RAC and holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration and her AHIMA credentials. In 2019 she attended and participated in the York Leadership Executive Connections program then joined their committee board.
Shannon McElroy
She/Her/Hers
A Baltimore native, Shannon transplanted to central Pennsylvania over a decade ago. She graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown with a degree in English and Capella University with a M.S. in Human Services and Nonprofit Management. Her background is in social work, marketing and communications, and program management. Her heart lies with HIV services where she has been an advocate and friend to the HIV community for over ten years while serving as a representative on the Pennsylvania HIV Planning Group. Shannon has worked and volunteered for nonprofit organizations for many years and was one of the first LGBT Learning Collaborative Coordinators for the National Association of Community Health Centers. She lives in York City with her wife and two cats. She loves crafting, reading, horror movies, visiting her sisters in Florida, and spoiling her two nieces.
How to Contact Our Committees
If you are interested in having the Rainbow Rose Center at your |
| Events Committee |
For questions regarding events including performer and vending opportunities, please contact:
events@rainbowrosecenter.org
If you are looking to make a donation or become a sponsor, |
|
Marketing & Communications Committee |
If you are interested in our programs, or if you would like to help |
If you are a resource provider serving, or friendly business servicing, |
If in interested in getting involved as a volunteer, whether as a Resource |
| Or fill out a volunteer application here: forms.gle/DnJTJzFehVFHmpPbA Requires background check, and involves an interview and intake process. |
Advisory Committee
Adrian Shanker
He/Him/His
Adviser, Executive Director of Bradbury-Sulivan LGBT Community Center
Adrian is editor of the critically acclaimed anthology Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health and the executive director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA. A specialist in LGBT health policy, he developed leading-edge health promotion campaigns to advance health equity through behavioral, clinical, and policy changes. Adrian administered data collection for the 2015, 2018, and 2020 Pennsylvania LGBT Health Needs Assessments. He co-authored “Queer and Quitting: Addressing Tobacco Use as an LGBTQ Issue”, in The Routledge Handbook for LGBTQIA Administration and Policy. Adrian serves as Commissioner and health committee co-chair on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.
Reverend Carla Christopher
She/Her/Hers
Adviser, Founder of Equality Fest
Carla Christopher is a poet-activist, cultural competency trainer, and ordained redevelopment pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Carla was the 4th Poet Laureate of York, PA and has toured the globe as a performer, multiple published and award-winning author, public speaker, and workshop facilitator/trainer in areas of creative writing and storytelling, advocacy and activism, community engagement, survivor empowerment, and diversity or cultural competency. Carla currently serves as Associate Pastor of Outreach and Faith Formation at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Lancaster, is co-chair of the 7 county Toward Racial Justice Task Force of Lower Susquehanna, and a congregational coach. She blogs regularly for queer church websites, co-facilitates a peer-support group for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, moonlights with the poetry-funk fusion band, Groove Ink, and shamelessly spoils her Great Pyrenees puppy.
Carla is the co-founder of Equality Fest and the original mind behind the Rainbow Rose Center.
Reverend Eva O’Diam
She/Her/Hers
Adviser, Faith Community Liaison
At Manchester College, where she earned a degree in sociology, Eva was interested in ministry but grew disillusioned with the church during her last year of college and became a probation officer in Wabash, Indiana. About 18 months later, a Church of the Brethren pastor influenced Eva to return to the ministry, and she has since worked at various positions in pastoring, alternative ministry, and HIV/AIDS assistance. She currently lives with her wife and partner of more than 25 years, Mary Kelly, and is the pastor of Dover United Church of Christ and active with the York Association Open and Affirming Coalition.
For questions regarding LGBTQIA+ and faith-based matters, contact: faith@rainbowrosecenter.org
Pictured here with Peg and Delma Welch, Equality Fest 2018 Legacy Award Icons.
Bryan Tate
He/Him/His
Adviser
One of York County’s longtime leaders in the arena of estate planning and civic endowment, Bryan worked for the York County Community Foundation for 14 years, serving as vice president of community investment and then vice president and chief development officer for the overall organization. Currently the newly elected Register of Wills for York County, he’s also worked with the York County Estate Planning Council and Leave a Legacy York. Bryan is a consultant for community foundations across the country through his company, Building Unrestricted LLC, where he focuses on helping foundations establish civic endowments and grow their assets. Bryan is a York County native and graduate of Spring Grove Area High School, is president of the Rotary Club of York. He lives in York City with his husband, Ralph Serpe.
If you have some advice or suggestions for the Board, please email it it to advisors@rainbowrosecenter.org