Board Members
JAC Stringer
Founder and Director
JAC Stringer is a transgenderqueer femme radical activist and performance artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2008, JAC founded The GenderQueer Coalition, a trans and genderqueer focused advocacy group that was restructured into The Trans and Queer Wellness Initiative in 2010. Being born and raised in Ohio, JAC strives to create trans* and queer visibility, community, and resources in the Midwestern United States and similar under-resourced communities. He is a Walnut Hills High School Alumni, obtained his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sexuality Studies, and is currently obtaining a Masters in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. JAC has lectured and performed across the USA and Canada with his work focusing on trans* and queer communities, gender identity disorder removal, (dis)ability, gender performance artistry, and identity empowerment. He is a leading activist in gender identity disorder removal and is a very invested in health care reform, comprehensive sex education, and sex workers' rights. He is a strong advocate for sexual assault awareness and prevention with a focus on trans* and queer identities and is a trained Survivor Advocate. JAC has founded and lead several activist movements, education projects, and artist initiatives including GenderBloc, The Queer Peer Education Program, GLOBAL Social Justice Conference, Cincinnati Youth Group, The Queer Canon Zine, Gender Queeries, (co-founder) Mind the Gap - A Drag Uproar, Blender! Trans Performance Showcase, and Fabulously Fluid! Genderbent Cabaret - Ohio's first and only genderf*ck performance showcase. JAC is an Advocates for Youth Alum, chair organizer for the Cincinnati [Queer Trans*] Youth Group, a member of the Femme Collective, and an organizer on several organizing boards and committees including TransOhio, The Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference, GLSEN, the Femme Conference, The Greater Cincinnati LGBTQ Youth Summit, The TransOhio Transgender and Ally Symposium, and The International Drag King Community Extravaganza. JAC is a life-long dancer, poet, pianist, and lyrical vocalist. Selections from his one-human show Glamboyant have been performed with Gender Queeries Tour and The Tranny Roadshow. JAC is a co-manager and performer in the internationally recognized professional drag troupe The Black Mondays of Cincinnati, Ohio and is founding director and producer of Fabulously Fluid! Genderbent Caberet and The Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference's Trans Performance Showcase, Blender!. JAC's writing has been published in several zines across the country and is a well known blogger on several sites including Helen Boyd's En|Gender, Amplify Your Voice, TransPride, and his own, MidwestGenderQueer.com.
Andrew Dittes
Technology Consultant - Board Member
Andrew Dittes was born and raised in rural northwest Ohio. After graduating from a small public high school near Toledo in 2001 he attended Wright State University, graduating with a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering in 2005. Andrew moved to Cincinnati to pursue a Master's in Computer Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. While at UC, Andrew joined and later assumed a leadership role in the UC Alliance. Andrew was also involved with the student group GenderBloc where he served as an activist and also web developer. Andrew graduated from UC in the summer of 2008. Andrew currently works as a web developer for a small Cincinnati business.
Jackie Willer
Treasurer - Board Member
Jackie Willer was born and raised in Cincinnati as the oldest of five children. She is a Purcell Marian Alumni (2003) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University on a four year full academic scholarship. While at Kent State, Jackie played on the club lacrosse team and served as team manager, treasurer, and coach. Her additional organizing experience includes treasurer of the National Honor Society, membership in the Student Athletic Association at Purcell Marian High School, student club presidencies, and student athletics. Since 2000, she has been a trained lifeguard as a part of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) Aquatics Division, including managing the largest CRC pool. In 2007, Jackie did her student teaching in a bilingual school in Mexico City teaching English to Mexican students. She currently loves being a preschool teacher for the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency in a Head Start program in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Julia Gardiner
Board Member
Julia Gardiner is a costume designer and artist by trade, advocate for understanding and equality by nature. Though ze has lived in Cincinnati most of hir life, ze has strong roots all along the East Coast and in the cultures of the international au pairs who raised hir. A 2004 graduate of Clark Montessori, ze went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College in 2008. While at Wellesley, Julia developed an interest in theatre. Wellesley’s all-female theatre environment enabled Julia to play roles of both king and femme, a practice usually reserved for the realm of drag. Ze headed several theatre crews and also designed and built sets and costumes. Taking classes in art, history, and women’s studies, Julia gained insight into the vast array of gender expressions and sexualities that exist in the human element and an understanding of society’s limit on these expressions. Since graduating from Wellesley, Julia has worked with GenderBloc and been on staff of the Queer Canon. Ze is currently working with the ever-controversial theatre company in downtown Cincinnati, New Stage Collective.
Board Advisors
Shane Morgan
Shane is the founder & Chair of TransOhio and currently serves as a member of the Stonewall Columbus Board of Trustees. Shane is a member of FTM-International, Stonewall Columbus, Equality Ohio and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). He has been an Ohio resident for 12 years and frequently facilitates transgender support groups in Central Ohio and speaks at conferences around the nation. Topics of Shane’s presentations include transgender homelessness & shelters, trans & queer community organizing, creating gender-safe & neutral spaces, and domestic violence & safety.
Dan Coleman
Dan Coleman is a GLBT activist, musician, campaign manager and organizer, community leader and entrepreneur. Dan is a graduate of Capital University with a Bachelor degree in Music Performance where he won the 2006 Concerto Competition. His time at Capital was the beginning of his advocacy in the GLBT community as President of PRIDE (the undergraduate GLBT organization) and his volunteering with Equality Ohio, Stonewall Columbus, and HRC. He is also a graduate of Indiana University with a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the renowned Jacob's School of Music. In addition to performing at IU, he was a Program Coordinator for the GLBT Student Support Services where he founded an award-winning event First Fridays and dramatically increased the programming efforts of the office. He also held an adjunct faculty trumpet position at Indiana State University in 2006-2007. In 2008-2009, he was the Community Organizer for Equality Ohio, state-wide GLBT advocacy and activist organization. He became actively engaged in the Student Movement at the University of Cincinnati in 2008 and has continued to be involved with Cincinnati activism since. He is published in the 2007 Princeton Review Book "The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life," serves on the Board of Directors for the Indiana University GLBT Alumni Association, and is a member of MCGSA where he advised the founding of the organization. When not serving as an activist, Dan continues to be an avid professional trumpet performer and teacher and is a proud Ohio native. Dan is currently a campaign manager for a gay candidate and campaign committee member and adviser to a lesbian candidate in Northwest Ohio.