Dear Lacy,

:: See John’s Bio :: Leaders react enthusiastically to John’s appointment

After an extensive search, we are pleased to announce the new Executive Director of Equality California, John O’Connor.

John is a seasoned nonprofit leader with deep ties in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and will begin serving as executive director of Equality California and Equality California Institute on December 3.

It’s no secret that Equality California is coming off a long transition and John’s extensive experience leading nonprofits through turbulence and into solvency and stability made him the ideal candidate. Most recently, working as executive director of the LGBT Community Center of the Desert, he brought in new staff, established a new counseling center and forged important partnerships with area schools to introduce anti-bullying and suicide prevention workshops, while overseeing substantial budget growth and returning the organization to solvency.

John also brings important national and foundation experience to his new role. O’Connor was national director of the Gill Foundation, a foundation dedicated to advancing LGBT equality. He also served as program director of The David Geffen Foundation.

On behalf of the boards of directors, we are very pleased to welcome John aboard, knowing that his background and experience are exactly what we need as we chart our future. John is a bold leader with a history of steering nonprofits into the next phase of their journeys. He brings the experience that EQCA and EQCA Institute need to broaden our work and move forward to achieve LGBT equality in California.

In Solidarity,
Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California Board President
Cary Davidson, Equality California Institute Board President