Lavender Caucus Leadership

International Lavender Caucus Leadership

Co-Presidents

Carrietta Heirs

About Carrietta Heirs

Carrietta Hiers Born April 12, 1959, under the zodiac sign of Aries. I’m the mother of one incredible daughter and the oldest of 7 children whom I helped to rear after my mother succumbed to breast cancer at the young age of 39 in 1980. Currently working as the Vice President for the DC/CBO area for SEIU UHWE. I’ve been with the Union in some of capacity for 40 plus years 22 as a member moving through the ranks of an Organizer prior to becoming a vice President Being employed at Johns Hopkins Hospital while being an active Union member, delegate e-board member while advocating for the rights and benefits of my co-workers.

I also serve as the National Co- chair for the Lavender Caucus for 1199 SEIU which is the umbrella for advocacy groups of like-minded Unions who ensure that rights such as advancement, anti- discrimination clauses, insurance issues domestic violence and violence in the workplace protection rights just to name a few are maintained and given the same as heterosexual individuals. I've held this post and others on the International and regional levels for the past 16 years.

One of my most proud endeavors is that I'm also one of the co-founders of ALPHA ETA OMEGA SORORTIY INCORPORATED which was established in January 2009 along with 4 other dynamic women. I currently hold the position of National President this is my second term, Co-chair of the Membership and Budget and Finance Commissions. I am proud of the legacy that we’re providing and leaving for our future Sorority Sisters to come.

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Alan Gordon

About Alan Gordon

Alan Gordon has been a proud member of SEIU since 1990. During those thirty-three years he has served in multiple roles within SEIU Local 668. Currently he serves as chief shop steward and is on the statewide committee for his job classification. He serves on the board for PA Pride At Work. He is honored to serve in his current role as Co-Chair of the Lavender Caucus, having served on the board since 2016.

His vision for the caucus is that it will become instrumental in organizing under served occupations that traditionally attract people of color and the LGBTQ community. Noting that unions have a reputation for not always being accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community, it is his hope the caucus can change that perception. More importantly, expanding the caucus’ role in educating the LGBTQ community on the importance of participating in elections. In order to achieve these goals, he is working to strengthen the bonds between the various locals and the caucus in order to grow the caucus so it can achieve the larger goals.

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Co-Vice-Presidents

Travis Simon

About Travis Simon

Travis B. Simon is a Vice President of the International SEIU Lavender Caucus and the current Director of Political and Legislative Affairs for SEIU 500. A passionate leader and advocate for LGBTQIA+ people and working families, Simon serves on the Board of Directors of AFL-CIO’s Pride at Work as SEIU’s representative. He has worked on the national Respect for Marriage Act which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022 and sits on the national Equality Act Steering Committee.

During his tenure at SEIU, Simon has worked in broad coalitions to expand the collective bargaining rights for tens of thousands of working people. Through his strong leadership and collaborative spirit, Simon has helped improve the working conditions and secure fair wages for workers across the DMV region. A passionate champion for workers’ rights and LGBTQIA+ equality, Simon believes in the power of a union and that no one should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An avid history enthusiast, he lives in Northern Virginia with his husband, Daniel and their dog and cat.

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Jared Reece

About Jared Reece

Jared Reece is a Vice President of the International SEIU Lavender Caucus and the current Chair of SEIU Local 1000’s Lavender Committee. He is an outspoken honest member-leader committed to organized labor and the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality. On behalf of Local 1000 Jared also serves as a delegate to the California Central Labor Council as well as a delegate to SEIU International.

As a California State Worker for nearly a decade, Jared has been involved in a number of efforts for working class members. Within Local 1000 he is the Vice President / Chief Steward of District 784 which represents a portion of downtown Sacramento, CA. He also serves on Local 1000’s Statewide Chief Steward’s Committee, Local 1000’s Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program, and is a member of AFL-CIO’s Pride at Work.

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Treasurer

David Zeller

About David Zeller

David Zeller (He/Him/His) has been a treasurer of the national lavender caucus since 2012. He has been a rank and file member of the lavender caucus since 2004. He is an honored retiree member of SEIU WI. David was a steward of his chapter for 30 years before retirement. He served on the bargaining team and as Chapter President. He served the Local on the board, as secretary, vice president and as a member of the finance committee, arbitration committee, delegate to the south federation of labor, and served as secretary to SEIU state council. David is passionate about equality, workers rights and fair pay. David has lived through Act 10 in Wisconsin.

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Secretary

Mary Smith

About Mary Smith

Mary Smith (She/Her) has been an active SEIU union member since 2017. Over 13 years of healthcare experience and 6 years of nursing experience. Mary has been a SEIU Lavender Caucus International board member for a year and newly appointed secretary for the Lavender Caucus. She serves as the communication chair for the Central Region. Mary believes in equality for all but a huge advocate for transgender rights.

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Membership Chair

David Ott

About David Ott

David Ott (He/Him/His) is an active LGBTQ union member with years of union and healthcare experience. He has spent his working life in nursing at a Hospital, with most of those years working in Surgical Services.

As a local SEIU Health Care Wisconsin member, David has been on the Board of Directors serving on the Building, Political Programs, Legislative, and Arbitration Committees. In addition to serving on the Board, David has been a Union Steward, Council Co-Chair and has negotiated several labor contracts.

David has been active at the SEIU International level serving his third, four-year term on the Lavender Caucus Board of Directors as the Membership Chair. He also currently serves as the Treasurer of the Central Region and served as the Co-Chair prior to his current role as Treasurer. David has attended SEIU International Conventions and was a participant in a National Lobby Day in Washington, DC. Outside of SEIU, he is also a member of Pride at Work.

In addition to having a strong union focus, David’s past volunteer efforts include serving on the Wisconsin HIV Prevention Planning Council and volunteering at Madison’s OutReach LGBTQ Community Center as a member of the Speakers Bureau and working the phone lines to provide peer and crisis counseling along with referral services.

David believes it is critical to have a strong union fighting the rights of all individuals, especially its LGBTQ members.

Communications Chair

Daniel Mendoza

About Daniel Mendoza

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At Large Board Members

Nicole Crist

About Nicole Crist

Nicole Crist (they/them) is a western region delegate of the International SEIU Lavender Caucus and a member of SEIU Local 1000’s Lavender Committee. They are a member-leader committed to organized labor and the fight for LGBTQIA+ equality. Nicole has been a member-leader with Local 1000 for 23 years. Within Local 1000. Nicole is a District Bargaining Unit Representative for Office and Allied in their District Labor Council and serves at the pleasure of over 2500 members. Nicole was a vital member of the bargaining team representing over 95,000 state employees for the 2023-2026 contract negotiations. Nicole also serves on the Upward Mobility Taskforce, Call Center Taskforce, Local 1000’s Custodian to Office Apprenticeship Program, and is a member of AFL-CIO’s Pride at Work. In October 2023, Nicole will be the newest CA delegate for the Central Valley Labor Council. Outside of the SEIU labor and political arena, Nicole is a member of Reproductive Freedom for All (formally NARAL) to help in the fight for reproductive rights.

Rhiannon Gatton

About Rhiannon Gatton

Hello my name is Rhiannon A Gatton but everyone calls me Reno. I have been a SEIU nurse for 8 years. I currently serve as the Chair for Wisconsin Central Lavender Caucus, and I’m on the National Board for SEIU Lavender Caucus. I also am on the SEIU Nursing Council for Meriter. I have been a SEIU Stewart the last four years on our Unions Bargaining team representing Perioperative services negotiating our contracts, and plan to continue to serve as such.

Beyond all of these things I have three Bachelor Degrees , Human Biology with an emphasis in Health Science, Psychology with a minor in Chemistry , and a BSN. I am also the newsletter editor for WISPAN (Wisconsin Society for PeriAnesthesia Nursing).

Debbie Springer

About Debbie Springer

I have been a member of SEIU Local 1107 since 2005. I am currently the Executive Vice President of the Public Sector for my local. I also serve as one of the co Chairs of our Political Organizing Committee and member of the Racial Justice Committee. I have been a member of the Lavender Caucus for many years and just recently I was appointed to the Executive Board of the SEIU International Lavender Caucus. I am also a member of Pride at Work.

Updated Nov 20, 2023