MEET THE TEAM AT EQUALITY VIRGINIA.
Get to know the board members and roles we have to help defend LGBTQ rights in Virginia.
Staff
Narissa Rahaman (she/her)
Executive Director
Narissa Rahaman is an experienced advocate and campaign manager who currently serves as Executive Director of Equality Virginia. She previously served as Associate Regional Campaign Director for the Human Rights Campaign, managing legislative and electoral efforts across southern states. She brings 10+ years of experience in long-term strategic planning and implementation of organizing efforts, legislative advocacy, strengthening of partnerships, coalition management, and staff development.
Reed Williams (she/her)
Director of Digital Engagement & Narrative Strategy
Reed Williams graduated from the University of Virginia with high honors in 2024 with a B.A. in Political & Social Thought and English Literature (with a concentration in poetry writing). Her TEDTalk at the TEDWomen 2023 Conference in Atlanta with award-winning NYTimes photojournalist, Lindsay Morris, “How a sanctuary for self-expression can change lives” about her childhood as a trans girl in South Carolina and experiences at a gender-affirming summer camp reached over 500K views after publishing online. Before joining Equality Virginia, she worked as a camp counselor for Harbor Camps, the first ever gender-affirming summer camp created for trans youth, and as a grant writer for New Vision Youth Services, a non-profit for homeless and at-risk youth based in South Norfolk.
Narissa Rahaman (she/her)
Executive Director
Reed Williams (she/her)
Director of Digital Engagement & Narrative Strategy
Board
Jonathan Yglesias (he/him)
Director
L.Frances Brown (she/her)
Director
Liam Hudson (he/him)
Director
Nico Climaco (they/any)
Director
Rob Logan (he/him)
Treasurer
Rodney Nickens, Jr- Rodney (he/him)
Director
Charley Burton (he/him)
Director
Charley is the owner of Charley Speaks. Charley conducts speaking engagements and training where through his storytelling and inspirational chat involves his audience on what it is like to be a Black Transman living in the south.
Daniel Jones (he/him)
Director
Daniel is an HR Director for a global sciences company with a career rooted in people-focused work across human resources, insurance, and healthcare. Originally on a pre-medical track, he transitioned to studying psychology to better support the human side of organizational and community life. His professional approach is grounded in equity, access, and the belief that systems work best when they serve people holistically. Originally from Michigan, Daniel moved to Northern Virginia nine years ago, where he lives with his wife and their two rescue pups. He is the founder of RockOutWorld, an inclusive music academy dedicated to developing artists of all ages and fostering creativity. He also serves his local church by playing keys and organ, and volunteers at community events to support outreach efforts across Northern Virginia and the D.C. metro area. Daniel is passionate about fostering inclusive spaces, and equitable work environments—particularly for marginalized individuals—and actively advocates for policies and practices that ensure access to affirming care, psychological safety, and belonging in the workplace. In his free time, he enjoys all things music, traveling, nature walks, reading just about everything, playing a wide variety of competitive games, and spending quality time with family.
Joe Cobb (he/him)
Director
Joe currently serves as a council member for the City of Roanoke and previously served as Vice Mayor from 2018 – 2020. He also works as Chaplain at Hermitage Roanoke.
Jonathan Yglesias (he/him)
Director
Jonathan has worked in the anti-violence movement as an advocate and organizer for 20 years. Currently, he is the Director of Mission Advancement for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, where he guides sustainability efforts in support of a strong state coalition and a broad network of member agencies, survivors, policy leaders, and communities responding to and preventing violence. While his formal education includes a Masters in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University, Jonathan’s work is rooted in believing the power of stories and learning from movement builders who started the work before he could drive. For balance, Jonathan relies on his family and friends (both humans and animals alike), the ongoing search for Richmond’s most beautiful and secluded walking route, and books and movies. Usually in that order.
L.Frances Brown (she/her)
Director
L.Frances within the intersectionality of all her lived experiences: Black woman; Mother of Black sons; Parent to a Transgender adult; Graduate of a Historically Black College/University; Registered voter; and retired School Psychologist of urban school districts. She was initially led to support the LGBTQIA community as an advisor for the Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) at my assigned high school in Richmond, Virginia where I was the on-campus resource person to queer and questioning students. She co-founded and serves as Executive Director of Replenishing Roots, LLC. In this capacity, she is the leader of this diverse group where parents and caregivers of BIPOC individuals have the opportunity to give voice, identify, and discuss without censor the complexities of raising BIPOC gender expansive individuals in America. She recognizes her personal and professional experiences have enabled her to engage more effectively with diverse individuals particularly in underrepresented and marginalized communities. She lives by the motto: “Dignity and respect should never depend on who you are; what you believe; who you love; or what zip code you call home.”
Liam Hudson (he/him)
Director
Liam is a dedicated advocate for housing access, health equity, and LGBTQIA+ rights. As the Founder & CEO of the Lean In Project, Liam has led initiatives that uplift and empower LGBTQIA+ Virginians through advocacy, community engagement, and resource development. With a Master of Management in Health Policy and certification as a Trauma-Informed Care Trainer, Liam brings a deep understanding of the intersections between housing, health, and social justice. His career spans direct service, state-level housing administration, and program management, always centering equity and systemic change.
Nico Climaco (they/any)
Director
Nico joined the Equality Virginia Board of Directors in 2025. Nico is a facilitator and relationship-builder working towards realizing racial, economic, and social justice in our organizations and communities. Nico carries a north star that our liberation is collective and belief that we realize our dreams for a just society when people are brought together in community. A lifelong student, Nico’s work is informed by roles of a guide, weaver, builder, and an Ella Baker-ethic kind of leadership.
Rob Logan (he/him)
Treasurer
Rob is a native of the Roanoke Valley, where he worked in the non-profit sector for three decades. He presently volunteers with several other organizations including the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, the Friends of Mountain View foundation, and the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS®.
Rodney Nickens, Jr- Rodney (he/him)
Director
Rodney is the Founder of R&N Strategies, a civic engagement firm in Hampton Roads focused on building people-powered movements through organizing, advocacy, and storytelling. He is also the creator and host of The Rodney Kendell Podcast, a dynamic new platform for bold conversations on politics, justice, and culture, available on Substack and YouTube. Rodney’s political journey began in 2008 as a campus organizer for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, sparking his lifelong commitment to civil rights. His passion for justice led him to the forefront of the marriage equality movement after California’s Proposition 8, where he mobilized communities—particularly within the Black LGBTQ+ space—across D.C., Maryland, and California.