Zachary R. Nicholas
President
Zachary R. Nicholas (Zac) is a Family Medicine physician with Contra Costa County Health Services. He completed his medical residency in Stockton at San Joaquin General Hospital. He lives in Martinez and provides full-spectrum primary care to all populations with a focus on sexual and gender health and substance use disorder. He has also conducted extensive research on harm reduction policies and community availability of naloxone to prevent opioid overdose deaths. Zac is committed to improving the lives of all marginalized communities through committed allyship and elevating oppressed voices for meaningful change.
Jonathan Lee, PhD
Treasurer
Jonathan Lee (pronoun: verbal Mandarin "ta"), is a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. His family survived the Cambodian genocide and arrived in the United States in 1981 when he was 5 years old. He identifies as Chinese-Vietnamese-Cambodian American. He received his doctorate in religious studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2009. He has published 16 books, and numerous articles and essays on Asian American histories, folklore, cultures, and religions. Currently, he serves as editor-in-chief of Chinese America: History & Perspectives, a peer-review journal published by the Chinese Historical Society of America. He is dedicated to anti-racist pedagogy in education and has been invited by several Silicon Valley corporations and public agencies to speak on equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging issues. He and his husband are fathers to two adopted sons. He has served as Rainbow's Board President (July - October 2023) and Interim Executive Director (October 2023-August 2024).
Douglas Cyr (Doug)
Secretary
Douglas Cyr (Doug) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Senior Counselor with the San Francisco Health Services System Employee Assistance Program. He has worked in community mental health since 1994, training at UCSF’s Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute and later serving as the Program Director for New Leaf’s Men’s Substance Abuse Program. He served on the RCC Board from 2012-14, and was part of Anthem’s Pride Mentoring Program in 2021. That same year, he was awarded the Fellow credential from the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and in 2023 assisted in publishing the book, “Melting Into Sweetness: Tools for Aging Gently and Dying Gladly.” He lives in Walnut Creek with his husband and is grateful to be returning to serve on the RCC Board.
Grant Kerr
Grant (he/him/his) is a 20+ year resident of Concord CA. Having migrated from his hometown of Bloomington, IN. Where he volunteered regularly for many grassroots community-based endeavors. Grant faithfully served a three-year term as the Director of the Bloomington GLBT Switchboard. A volunteer-based evening/weekend listening line service for the GLBTQ+ communities of South-Central Indiana. Grant also worked with IU’s Office of GLBT Student Support to establish continuing services to IU and the surrounding community. He is a proud member of the historic Club 1220 bar family in Walnut Creek. Where he works as a door person & bar back. He appreciates that both 1220 and RCC share the continuity toward building our collective lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + intersex people community. A previous volunteer for RCC, Grant has rediscovered his call to visible activism in the face of our social and political climate. Choosing to serve alongside the Board of Directors for RCC. As well active participation in RCC group events.
Melissa Verner-Morales
Melissa is an Executive Chef who graduated from culinary school in San Francisco in 2014. She moved to Antioch three years ago with her wife (who she’s been with for over 20 years) and their beloved Norwich Terrier, Bear. Passionate about cooking both professionally and in her spare time, she also enjoys swimming, traveling, and spending time in Truckee, where she loves exploring Tahoe and swimming in the serene waters. Pride is her favorite holiday which she looks forward to celebrating every year.
Lindsay Litowitz Souza
Lindsay Litowitz Souza is a Program Coordinator at Los Medanos College, where she's responsible for building community through events and programs. She leads the Pride365 initiative at work, and is looking forward to serving her community at the county level. She is passionate about social justice, and earned her Masters in Higher Education Student Affairs from University of San Francisco. Lindsay lives in west county with her wife and many pets. She enjoys board games, crafts, decorating, and audiobooks.
Chris Holden
Staff Representative to the Board (non-voting)
Chris received his Bachelor of Science at Boston’s Northeastern University and an addition graphic arts degree at Epping Forest College, London, England. His most recent work experience was as a Program Coordinator for 140+ disabled/formerly homeless seniors in a supportive housing setting. Prior to that, Chris lived in Zurich, Switzerland for 7 years and traveled extensively through Europe and Asia and taught English in Dharamsala, India.