Executive Director Dennis Coleman Named to Equality Federation Board

Austin, Texas (September 7, 2011) – Equality Texas (EQTX) and the Equality Texas Foundation have announced the addition of new members to their boards of directors.

Chris Bell – Equality Texas board of directors. Chris Bell has a unique way of identifying the key points of any dispute and, as a skilled communicator, a gifted way of making a winning argument and interrogating a witness. Whether as a lawyer, news reporter or politician, Chris Bell’s passion has always been fighting for others.  He takes it seriously and does it well.

“I have always been an advocate for equality and I’m excited to join the organization doing the most to make it a reality in Texas,” Chris said upon his appointment to the board.

Chris is married to Alison Ayres Bell and they have two boys, Atlee and Connally. They reside in Houston.

Gary Carter – Equality Texas & Equality Texas Foundation boards of directors. Gary Carter is a native of Georgia, but a longtime resident of South Central Texas.

Gary owns and operates the Castroville Cafe, and has served as President and Vice-President of the Castroville Area Chamber of Commerce.  For the past several years, Gary has been one of the driving forces behind the success of Equality Texas’ Spirit of Texas Brunch in San Antonio.

Gary said, “I am proud of our ongoing efforts to raise awareness in San Antonio of the important work being done by Equality Texas. I look forward to continuing those efforts as a board member.”

Wade Hyde – Equality Texas & Equality Texas Foundation boards of directors. Wade Hyde’s background spans over two decades of diversified marketing, public relations, customer relations, and technology communications experience working with nationally-recognized companies and organizations, including Blockbuster Video, FoxMeyer Corporation (now McKesson), and Anthem Health (now AmeriHealth).

Wade is a published writer and columnist, a member of the National Writers Union, and currently serves as an adjunct instructor of marketing at El Centro College in Dallas.

“There’s no question that Equality Texas has accomplished some remarkable feats in our state over the past few years,” Hyde said. “As a new board member, I’m excited to be able to help this great organization accomplish even more in the next few years.”

Full listing of board members.

Equality Texas / Equality Texas Foundation Executive Director Dennis Coleman was named to the board of directors of the Equality Federation at their annual meeting last month in Madison, Wisconsin.  The Equality Federation is a national alliance of state-based advocacy organizations.  The Federation works to achieve full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in a state-based movement.

Federation Executive Director Rebecca Isaacs said, “We are very excited to welcome Dennis Coleman to the Equality Federation Board. His demonstrated leadership in Texas will be a great asset to the Federation as we press for equality for LGBT people in all 50 states.”