Austin, Texas – February 5, 2018– Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ Texans, today announced new elected officers and members of the Equality Texas Foundation Board of Directors and new members of the Equality Texas Board of Directors.

“Equality Texas takes great care and diligence in identifying key leaders in Texas to strengthen our mission to ensure every Texan is treated equally in the state of Texas,” said Chuck Smith, CEO of Equality Texas. “We are pleased to have experienced and diverse leaders from across the state join us on the board of directors to bring their experience and passion to stamp out discrimination against the LGBTQ community and fight for equal treatment under the law.”

The new EQTX Foundation board members are:  Travis Cosban, MD, El Paso; Emilie Kopp, Austin and Mark Sadlek, Dallas.

Travis Cosban

Travis Cosban is an emergency room doctor for Team Health for Las Palmas Del Sol Hospital in El Paso.

“As a member of the LGBTQ community, I feel it is important we have representation from a full spectrum of professions. I am honored to join the work of Equality Texas in this crucial fight to ensure policymakers work for progress for LGBTQ Texans,” said Travis Cosban, EQTX Foundation Board Member from El Paso.

Emilie Kopp

Emilie Kopp is the Director of Marketing at Volusion in Austin.

“As a millennial, small business owner, I worked “virtually,” out of my house or in a coffee shop, on my laptop.  Like many other progressive professionals, the proposed legislation during the 2017 legislative session had a negative impact on my decision to live and work in Texas. I can no longer remain a passive participant in the causes that matter most to me.  I’ve decided it’s time to act in any and every way possible so that I can make a positive impact,” said Emilie Kopp, EQTX Foundation Board Member from Austin.

Mark Sadlek

Mark Sadlek is the President and Owner of Harvest Your Potential in Dallas.

“I fiercely believe in the need for equality for the LGBTQ community, and believe it is no longer acceptable to think we can’t effect change in the state of Texas,” said Mark Sadlek, EQTX Foundation Board Member from Dallas.

The EQTX Foundation also elected officers: Chair: Elizabeth Myers – Austin; Vice-Chair: Steve Atkinson – Dallas; Secretary: Scott Elliff – Corpus Christi, Treasurer: Trey McCampbell – Corpus Christi.

Equality Texas also elected new board members for the Equality Texas Board of Directors.  They are Awais Azhar of Austin and Cynthia Benton of San Antonio.

Awais Azhar

Awais Azhar is a Ph.D. Student at the University of Texas at Austin.

“I grew up in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan before moving to the United States for education, and it was there that I first became aware of my sexuality and gender-expression. Seeing the repressive and fearful environment within which LGBTQ+ individuals live in Pakistan, I am well-aware of how important it is to fight for LGBTQ+ rights and how important it is to ensure that past victories are not lost. I want LGBTQ+ Texans and Americans to enjoy every right and freedom their heterosexual, cisgender and gender-conforming counterparts take for granted,” said Awais Azhar, Equality Texas Board Member from Austin.

Cynthia Benton

Cynthia Benton is a Senior Project Manager, AVP at Wells Fargo in San Antonio.

“My interest in serving results from my passion for the work that Equality Texas does to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans. I am thrilled to work with this great organization,” said Cynthia Benton, Equality Texas Board Member from San Antonio.

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Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization working solely to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.