We are a committed and dedicated group that encourages Santa Maria to strive for equity and equality for all in the LGBTQ+ community through grassroots collective efforts pushing Latinx narratives to the forefront.
Audy Macdonald,
President
California native, Audy moved to the Central Coast to pursue a career in Veterinary Technology and currently works at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center. Her passion for helping others has transcended into many fields over the years ranging from leading immersion service trips to Costa Rica and Mexico, to working with people with disabilities through the therapeutic power of horses, and now a founding member of HOPE / ESPERANZA. In her free time she always enjoys a good cuddle with her wife Jessie and dog Banjo.
Cee Chavez, Vice President
Cee is a special education teacher at Ernest Righetti High School where they are also advisor of the Gender & Sexualities Alliance (GSA). Additionally, they are a member of the school district’s Ethnic & Gender Studies Working Committee, working to promote and implement EGS classes in the school district. Cee has their BA in Deaf Studies and formerly taught American Sign Language at Allan Hancock College. They obtained their MA in Education and are currently furthering their education by training to become an End Of Life Doula. Cee would like to support everyone, especially those in marginalized communities, in having a peaceful and good death. Cee is passionate about social change and a strong advocate for mental health, using their platforms as an educator, board member, and EOL Doula to promote their visions for an ideal world. Cee is an avid traveler and writer who has been published in several journals. In their free time they are likely planning their next get away, snuggling with their pit mix, or writing poetry.
Anais Diaz, Secretary
Born and raised in Santa Maria, Anais is infinitely passionate about community connection and giving back to the community she has called home. Anais comes from proud immigrant monolingual parents who labored in agriculture for many years. She knows the meaning of hard work and the challenges people face to achieve the American Dream. Anais is employed with the Good Samaritan Shelter as their Outreach Coordinator. She works in the trenches locating Veterans throughout the county, connecting them with essential services to get them housed and stabilized. She also works with their Safe House Program, advocating for survivors of Human Trafficking. Anais is passionate about working with the homeless population and giving hope to the hopeless. She reaches those that many do not wish to work with, providing them a listening ear and persistently leaves them knowing someone. Anais is certified through the State Office of AIDS to test for HIV and Hepatitis C, and helped run a Syringe Exchange Program in Santa Maria, Lompoc and Santa Barbara. She is also an advocate for the North County Rape Crisis Center. Along with her older brother, Grace Towers, Anais strives to create a continuous safe space for the LGBTQ+ Latinx community. She is very passionate about creating awareness of the effects of substance abuse in both the POC and LGBTQ+ communities. With 5 years of sobriety she leads by example everyday, using her struggles as a testimony to encourage others. If you are struggling please reach out!
Eva Didion
Eva moved to California from Germany as a young adult. Her passion for social justice led her to a 30 year career in social work. She has been working with low income families, helping them to navigate through the red tape of government services. For the past 5 years, she has specialized in helping persons with disabilities obtain much needed treatment and benefits. She is a founding member of HOPE / ESPERANZA and dedicates much of her free time to this organization. Eva’s wife was active in the original Gay Liberation Front in Los Angeles and now inspires and motivates her to carry on the fight for equality and justice.
Gina Picard
Gina came to the Central Coast as a young girl, the daughter of an immigrant single working mother. She raised her own daughter here as well and is a long term employee of an agricultural business in Santa Maria. Gina has been active in the local LGBTQ community for years and has seen the community evolve. She would like to see even more social equality here and hopes that someday Santa Maria will have an office or center with services and space for LGBTQ youth and adults. To help achieve her vision, she became a founding member of HOPE / ESPERANZA. When she isn’t working to pay her bills or on social change, she is spending time with her family and friends, camping or hiking.
Anthony Loverde
Anthony served in the U.S. Air Force for 13 years before relocating to Lompoc, CA where he works as a defense contractor at Vandenberg AFB. His military career was uniquely different than most due to the policy known as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT). In 2008, he was discharged from the Air Force after coming out to his boss as gay when seeking assistance to a hostile work environment. After being discharged, he joined efforts with Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) in Washington D.C. and lobbied for repeal of DADT, eventually winning his reinstatement back to active duty in 2012. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He focused his thesis on telling the stories of LGBT service members. Today, Anthony enjoys bike rides with his dog, backyard chickens, beer & wine tasting and playing cribbage.
