MSMGF is proud to announce the appointment of six new staff to our team since the AIDS Conference in Durban last year. We are working to build a team to better support the work of grass-roots activists and community-based organizations working to support the sexual health and human rights of gay and bisexual men worldwide.

Mahri Bahati, MPH joined MSMGF as Public Health Advisor in October of 2016. Mahri comes to us with varied experience across the HIV/AIDS continuum of care including anti-retroviral medication access, HIV prevention, harm reduction, and community mobilization. Her professional interests include LGBT health, HIV treatment adherence, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Mahri is excited to join MSMGF and be a part of positive change for LGBT people around the world.

Our Contracts & Grants Manager Zamora joined us in October of 2016. Zamora brings years of fundraising and administrative experience, including her work as a cultural events producer working through coalitions among communities of color and LGBT and feminist organizations. As a professor of Ethnic Studies, her classes include Chicana feminist analysis and an emphasis on understanding how gender, sexuality, class, language and nation have historically been used as tools in oppression. Zamora has lead several Native American drums and sees her work as a ceremonial singer and song teacher as an important form of community healing.

That October, we also welcomed Johnasies McGraw as our Operations & Board Coordinator. Johnasies has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade primarily in area of neighborhood and community development.  He’s held a variety of operations and program coordination roles while working at the grassroots level with community based groups.

Johnny Tohme, MS joined us as Community Mobilization Manager in November of 2016. Johnny comes to MSMGF from directing M-Coalition (the first network of MSM & HIV activists in the MENA region) in Beirut, Lebanon. Johnny started as an LGBT rights activist and is also a clinical psychology graduate who worked in sexual health service delivery, community behavioral research and community organizing. As part of the policy department, Johnny will be working on the consortium of MSM and Transgender networks, the youth reference group of MSMGF and will be involved with the programs departments.

In February, MSMGF welcomed Stephen Leonelli, MPP to the team as Sr. Policy Advisor. Stephen  has worked predominantly in China’s LGBTI and anti-discrimination movements, as well as with UNDP’s regional Being LGBTI in Asia Initiative and ILGA-Europe. Fluent in Mandarin and with a master’s degree in Public Policy, Stephen has joined the policy team at MSMGF to provide strategic analysis and capacity building for human rights advocacy.

Greg Tartaglione joined us in March of 2017 as MSMGF’s Sr. Communications Officer. At the MSMGF, Greg works to implement the organization’s strategic vision and unique voice in the ever-shifting landscape of public health and human rights. Greg brings his experience from Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and SIECUS as a social marketer, graphic designer, and brand ambassador to advocate for sexual health around the world.

Finally, Sherrie Hicks joined MSMGF in April of 2017 as our Sr. Accountant. Sherrie brings twelve years of non-profit accounting experience supporting domestic and international locations.  Sherrie’s IT accounting work has included implementation of Electronic Health Records of Dental Clinic records and accounting software conversion and customized Crystal Reports.  She also worked in the private sector for a CPA and accounting companies.  Sherrie has an accounting degree from Rose State University and an active member of National Association of Black Accountants and California CPA Associations. At MSMGF, Sherrie plays a vital role in budgeting, financial reporting, cost and productivity analysis, and in the preparation of MSMGF’s regular financial statements.

Click here to learn more about the MSMGF team

About MSMGF
MSMGF is an expanding network of advocates and other experts in sexual health, LGBT/human rights, research, and policy, working to ensure an effective response to HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men. We are directly linked with more than 130 community-based organizations, across 73 countries.

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF)
436 14th Street, Suite 100 | Oakland, CA 94612
contact@msmgf.org | www.msmgf.org | +1.510.849.631