Ashley Hopkins-Benton is a Senior Historian and Curator of Social History at the New York State Museum. Her research and collections focuses include women’s history, LGBTQ+ history, immigration, sculpture, and toys, and she works to build collections representation of underrepresented voices. She co-curated "Votes for Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial," a 2017 exhibition and accompanying catalogue, with Jennifer Lemak, and is the author of "Breathing Life Into Stone: The Sculpture of Henry DiSpirito."

Dr. Jeffry Iovanne is a historian and historic preservation planner from Buffalo, New York. His areas of interest and specialization include the social history of the built environment, LGBTQ heritage conservation, queer site-based history, and New York State history. His approach to preservation combines social and architectural history and moves beyond the built environment as a material object to document and conserve the intangible stories and heritage connected to “place.”

Margaret Middleton is an American independent exhibit designer and museum consultant currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With a degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Design and nearly 20 years of experience in the museum field, they work at the intersection of design and social justice.

Middleton developed the popular Family Inclusive Language Chart and consults with museums on implementing inclusive practice with special focus on children, gender minorities, and queer people.

Lauraberth (they/she) is a Professor of Museum Studies at New York University. Lima is also an established Cultural Consultant with 15 years of experience in education, community engagement, curatorial practice, and cultural competence building in cultural institutions. Lauraberth brings a social justice lens to consulting through interdisciplinary expertise in intergenerational engagement, BIPOC representation in the arts, health equity, museum and art education, youth development, early childhood education, as well as programming for LGBTQ2SIA+/gender expansive communities.

Kit Thomas (they/ she) is a Two Spirit Haudenosaunee artist from the St. Regis Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne. Kit draws inspiration from their Indigenous heritage and incorporates traditional motifs and symbols into their work. Through their art, Kit aims to challenge stereotypes and promote greater understanding and acceptance of two-spirit people. Their work is deeply rooted in their culture and identity, exploring the intersections of gender, sexuality, and spirituality.

Chanel Jessica Lopez is a Dominican Afro-Latina born and raised in Spanish Harlem, she is an
advocate & activist for the Transgender / TGNC communities for the past 15+ years, she is a plus size model and has done some acting. She has been featured in documentaries, including “The Death & Life of Marsha P. Johnson", had her own documentary highlighted on the VICE Channel, and has done public speaking telling her story as a survivor of Domestic and Sexual Violence. She has received numerous awards for her government and community work. Lopez is the former Transgender Community Liaison for the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and is currently the First Transwoman to be an Appointee for the NY State Governor as the NYS Deputy Director of LGBTQ Affairs. Chanel’s aspirations are to some day run for office and have her own talk show.