top of page

Board of Directors

Newsome Headshot 2023.jpg

Founder & President

Jake Newsome, Ph.D.

(he/him)

As an award-winning historian, educator, and advocate, Jake seeks to guide learners through a study of history to develop an ethical sense of compassion and a commitment to inclusive community building.

KP Headshot_edited.jpg

Community Educator & Board Treasurer

Kerry Phipps

(she/her)

Passionate educator specializing in critical thinking and driving LGBTQ+ empowerment through education. Committed to dismantling systems of oppression and shaping a more just future. Based in vibrant Washington DC.

Bry Sharland Photo.JPG

Board Secretary

Bry Sharland

(he/him)

An artist with a desire to tell the stories of forgotten queer victims, Bry works to humanize and show them as people that can be related to even today.

Crystal Mason (Photo by Don Bowden).png

Board Member

Crystal Mason

(they/them)

A Richmond-born artist, culture tender, and community strategist rooted in Black, queer, fat, feminist, and liberatory traditions, Crystal has spent more than 30 years nurturing QTBIPOC arts spaces and leading visionary projects at the intersection of liberation, storytelling, and cultural transformation.

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan.jpeg

Board Member

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan

(she/her)

A policy leader and advocate, Raffi currently serves as Associate Director at Massachusetts’ Federal Funds & Infrastructure Office. Formerly the first openly transgender staffer at the White House, she brings deep expertise in government, advocacy, and human rights.

Meet The Team

Melodie Moore Headshot.jpg

2026-2027 Public History Intern in Partnership with the Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at Christopher Newport University

Melodie Moore

(any pronouns)

A student, advocate, and researcher, Melodie explores queer and trans history through the lenses of cultural identity salience and how political systems influence formation of identity. 

Sanchez Headshot.jpg

Exhibition Manager

Jorge Sanchez

(he/him)

Jorge is dedicated to expanding literacy through lifelong learning and community engagement. His work bridges technology, nonprofit service, and cultural heritage education. He is currently a graduate student at Florida State University.

Past Interns & Team Members

Charlotte NicelyHeadshot-2.jpg

2025-2026 Public History Intern in Partnership with the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies at the College of Charleston

Charlotte Nicely

(she/they)

Charlotte is works to advance the public’s understanding of the Holocaust, how it affected queer and trans people, and how we can prevent homophobia and transphobia from reaching such extremes again.

Sam Ellyson Chicago Oct 2025.jpg

2025-2026 Public History Intern in Partnership with the Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at Christopher Newport University

Sam Ellyson

(he/him)

As a student of history, political science, human rights, and education, Sam seeks to ensure that the public is knowledgeable about the past so they can inform the present and future.

Sydney - Wideshot.png

Communications Manager

Sydney Altfather

(she/her)

Sydney is a communications-focused young professional with a passion for nonprofit work, feminist leadership, and inclusive community-building. She brings creativity, strategic thinking, and the occasional thrifted gem to every project she leads.

Chris Belden Headshot.jpg

2025 Political Engagement Intern

Chris Belden

(he/him)

As an advocate for vulnerable communities, Chris is dedicated to making politicians’ civil and human rights records more accessible to ensure we hold our leaders accountable for protecting our right to human dignity.

Danny Bean Headshot 2

Summer 2025 Public History Intern

Danny Bean

(any and all pronouns)

Danny Bean is a current M.S.E. in Higher Education and Student Affairs candidate at the University of Dayton. They plan to pursue their Ph.D. in either Philosophy or English upon their graduation in May 2026.

River Friloux Headshot.png

Public History Artist in Residence
(2024-2025)

River Friloux

(he/him)

As a sociology student, artist, and activist, River is dedicated to protecting and sharing the experiences of LGBTQ+ and disabled communities to ensure a compassionate future informed by the legacies of those who came before.

Gabby Perales Headshot.png

2024-2025 Public History Intern In Partnership with the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies at the College of Charleston

Gabby Perales

(she/her)

With a research interest in the transmission of intergenerational trauma, Gabby is dedicated to sharing the narratives of underrepresented groups of the Holocaust.

Nic Suarez headshot.jpeg

Fall 2024 Public History Intern

Nic Suarez

(they/them)

Nic Suarez is a Cuban American graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University. They are currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Education Policy. Prior to Columbia, Nic attended Syracuse University.

Sirkin 4.jpg

2024 Senior Public History Intern

Julia Sirkin

(she/her)

Julia Sirkin has a Masters of Applied History from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She previously studied Film Production and looks forward to combining her degrees to pursue a career in museum curation.

Natalie Peyton.jpg

2024 Public History Intern
In Partnership with the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies at the College of Charleston

Natalie Peyton

(she/her)

Natalie is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Jewish Studies. Her research revolves around genocide and the Holocaust, especially regarding the experiences of female resisters.

DSC_0136.HEIC

Fall 2023 Public History Intern

Grace Shaffer

(she/her)

As a researcher, author, and life-long student of history, Grace is committed to learning from the past and building a better world for queer communities today.

IMG_9923.jpg

Inaugural Intern

Ayelet Kaminer

(they/them)

As an educator, performer, and compassionate humanist, Ayelet strives to uplift and improve people’s lives through the transformative power of storytelling.

Ferrero Headshot.jpg

Translator

Amilcar Ferrero

(he/him)

Born in 1993 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Amilcar Ferrero is an accomplished English teacher and actor. Since completing his studies in 2015, he has dedicated himself to teaching English and providing translation services.

Advocates

Folks who volunteer their time, expertise, and efforts to support us are recognized as PTL Project Advocates. As a grassroots initiative,  PTLP would not be possible without contributions from the following volunteer Advocates!

Sophie Adams Headshot1.png

Research Advocate & Reader

Sophie Adams

(she/they)

A recent graduate of UC Santa Barbara with her Bachelors in History, Sophie plans to continue her pursuit of research and education on the intersection of Gender & Sexuality Studies and Genocide studies.

Cor Blevins Headshot.png

Reader

Cor Blevins

(he/him)

As a researcher, educator, and sexologist, Cor seeks to provide the queer community with the resources they need to create their life stories.

Sonia Profile Pic_edited.jpg

Research Advocate

Sonia Booth

(she/her)

Sonia is a museum educator residing in New Hampshire. In college, she studied Cultural Anthropology and she remains fascinated by people and their stories. She believes that stories have the power to change peoples’ hearts and to spur them into action that benefits the world.

Mel Ellis Profile Photo.jpg

Digital Asset & Research Advocate

Melissa Ellis

(she/her)

Based in Newcastle, England. History Graduate from Newcastle University with a research specialism in homosexuality during the interwar years and Nazi period in Europe.

Sarah Ernst Headshot.jpeg

Research Advocate

Sarah Ernst

(they/them)

Sarah Ernst is a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Southern California's Van Hunnick History Department. Their current dissertation project looks at queer persons also targeted by the Nazis in mass killing programs, including Jewish, Sinti/Roma, and disabled individuals.

Kristen Walker Staley Headshot.jpg

Reader

Kristen Walker Staley

(she/her)

As a museum professional and lifelong student of history, Kristen shares the lessons of the Holocaust with compassion and clarity, helping PTLP save and preserve LGBTQ+ stories that have been erased from the historical record.

Claire Wimbush Headshot .JPG

Reader & Research Advocate

Claire Wimbush

(she/her)

An Archive Researcher for the international Tracing Service (ITS) at The Wiener Holocaust Library in London, Claire’s work focuses on uncovering lost histories and clarifying the fates of those lost during the Holocaust.

CONTACT US

Email or connect on social media! 

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

Sign up to our monthly newsletter to stay informed

© 2023 The Pink Triangle Legacies Project. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page