County Honors LGBTQ Leaders From Newark, Montclair, South Orange

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Essex County Board of Commissioners. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

On June 26, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners held its second annual LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebration. The Board acknowledged outstanding queer community members throughout the County for their accomplishments and hard work in advocacy, public health, media, the arts, and more.

The honorees this year included Anthony Arenas from Newark, Marie Cottrell from Montclair, Brit Harley from Newark, Kareem Willis, Ph.D. from Newark, and Gary Paul Wright from South Orange.

“There is a long history around the world of queer people being forced to deny who they are and who they love,” said Commissioner Patricia Sebold, who opened the program. “While the fight for acceptance is not over, today in Essex, things are changing. We are proud to add our support to the celebration of Pride Month, and declare that this county is a welcoming home to the LGBTQ community. Congratulations to all our honorees, and thank you for all you do!”

Reverend Kevin E. Taylor of Unity Fellowship Church NewArk delivered opening and closing prayers during the occasion. Musical accompaniment was provided by Lawrence Dandridge of the Aurway Ensemble.

See more pictures of the event here. Watch a recording of the event here.

Honorees included:

Anthony Arenas, presented by Commissioner Robert Mercado, is a passionate and caring person. He was born in Jersey City, with his family later moving to Newark. He attended and then graduated from Newark’s Barringer High School. Anthony worked in the Parks Department for the City of Newark, then as a Newark Police Community Specialist, and then as a Computer Tech for the Municipal Courts. Today he serves as Aide to Newark Councilman At-Large Carlos Gonzalez. Anthony was also part of the Mayor of Newark’s LGBTQ Commission and served as Vice Chair. He has deep roots in the great city of Newark. Anthony has always been naturally outgoing and full of fun. He can be counted on at the drop of a dime. Never saying “no”, he always takes on the responsibility of helping those in need and providing for his family. He is supportive and generous, placing the needs of others before his own. His profound love for the people and his community brings him great pride and joy. Anthony has a passion for community service. He attends several events and meetings throughout the city to support greater access of important services for all, and to foster positive relationships with residents. As a community servant, his interests and goals are diverse to best serve the complex and multi-faceted communities of Newark.

Marie Cottrell, presented by Commissioner Brendan Gill, is a visionary leader dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and fostering inclusive communities. As the Executive Director of Out Montclair, she brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. With a background in corporate events, brand experience excellence, marketing, operations, and community organizing and advocacy, Marie has been instrumental in driving positive change for marginalized groups in Montclair and surrounding areas. In her previous roles at Out Montclair, Marie’s leadership has been characterized by innovation and collaboration. Under her guidance, the organization has expanded its reach and impact, offering vital support services, educational programs, and advocacy initiatives to empower LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. Beyond her professional endeavors, Marie is deeply involved in grassroots volunteer work. She believes in the power of community engagement and strives to create spaces where everyone feels valued and accepted. With Marie at the helm, Out Montclair continues to be a beacon of hope and progress for the LGBTQ+ community, inspiring positive change and fostering a more inclusive society.

Brit Harley, presented by Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, is an esteemed leader in community media innovation and a passionate advocate for youth and local communities. With a deep commitment to Newark’s well-being, she serves as the driving force behind the Newark News & Story Collaborative, where she spearheads the transformation of community storytelling and media. By highlighting stories that echo the diverse experiences of Newark residents, Brit’s work brings to the forefront the rich tapestry of voices within the city. Her engagement strategies build meaningful relationships with residents, advocating for spaces that reflect them and their lived experiences. Brit’s journey into community media was catalyzed by her innovative work as a Free Press News Voices fellow at WBGO 88.3fm, Newark Public Radio, laying the groundwork for what would become the Newark News & Story Collaborative. With the support of the 2021 John S. Knight Community Impact Fellowship at Stanford University, she nurtured this initiative into a standalone community organization dedicated to empowering community members. Over 50 Newark residents have been trained in journalism, storytelling, and media production, aiming to alleviate the information disparity in underrepresented areas. During her Senior John S. Knight fellowship, Brit continued to focus on developing narratives and organizational models that resonate with and serve the interests of Newark’s communities. Following her departure from WBGO in June 2021, Brit has dedicated herself to the growth of the Newark News & Story Collaborative and the creation of Five Wards Media. Her Newark roots are not a backdrop but a continuous thread that weaves through her extensive contributions to youth and community programs, establishing her as a foundational figure in Newark’s community building ecosystem.

Kareem Willis, Ph.D., presented by Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, is a dynamic scholar, activist and proud member of the LGBTQ+ Community. Kareem earned their doctorate from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark where he learned how to harness his passion for social advocacy, justice and empowerment for the betterment of the lives of other persons. Through his research and practice, Kareem explores the underlying social equity and social justice issues and concerns (broadly defined) within Public Administration, Public Management, and Non-profit Management, Leadership and Philanthropy. As a social impact enthusiast, the essence of his work serves to strengthen historically disempowered and disenfranchised individuals and communities by providing access to and creating spaces and resources that will help them realize their limitless potential. Kareem’s work afforded him a nomination for the Them Cloud Kids Ubuntu Awards in the “Love Is Love” category and was the recipient of the “Rutgers University Clement A. Price Human Dignity Award” as well as the “JanHerman Veenker Leadership and Vision Award” from Circle of Friends.

Gary Paul Wright, presented by Commissioner Patricia Sebold, is the Founder and Executive Director of the African American Office of Gay Concerns. He is very active within the LGBTQ community in Newark, where he served two 3-year terms as a Charter Member of the City of Newark’s LGBTQ Mayoral Advisory Commission. He was appointed to the Essex County Executive’s LGBTQ Advisory Board in 2011 and is currently serving a second three-year term. Gary Paul also served as a Charter Board Member of the newly established Newark LGBTQ Community Center. With respect to his work in HIV/AIDS, he has been, in his own words, “giving out condoms for almost thirty years.” He began volunteering for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) in 1985 and joined the staff in 1986. He was the creator of GMHC’s House of Latex, which just celebrated 24 years of providing HIV prevention information, services and outreach to the “Ballroom” and “House” community. After leaving GMHC, he worked for three years at the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Soon after, he began his work in New Jersey with the NJ AIDS Education and Training Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ. In 2000, Gary and several friends founded the African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC). Within two years, the organization received funding from the NJ Department of Health to provide HIV prevention services to gay and bisexual men of color. After opening their doors in March 2002, the AAOGC quickly became a significant resource for the LGBTQ community. Soon after, there was an influx of questioning youths, especially male-to-female transgender clients. As a result, the agency created its own transgender peer advocacy program, entitled T.G.I.F.—Thank Goodness I’m Fabulous, the only state-funded program designed to recruit and retain transgender women of color in HIV prevention. In 2014 he was elected to serve a two-year term as Chair of the New Jersey HIV Planning Group. He had previously served two terms as the Vice-Chair, as well as Chair of the Gay, Bisexual and Men who have Sex with Men Workgroup, and he is a member of the Governance and Executive Committees. He also continues to be a member of the NJ Governor’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Other Blood-borne Pathogens, and currently serves as Board Chair of the Board of Trustees for Broadway House for Continuing Care, in Newark. The AAOGC is now a state-approved HIV Rapid Testing site, with licensing through the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Other HIV prevention/intervention programs include Many Men, Many Voices for gay and bisexual men, and SISTA-T for young transgender women of color. Gary Paul and his partner of 33 years, Peter Oates, live in South Orange, with their fur-baby, Eleanora. They were officially married on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2013, at Broadway House for Continuing Care.

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