Organizer Team

Ariel Vegosen, Founder & Executive Director

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Ariel is a professional gender inclusivity facilitator and advocate, workshop facilitator, writer, educator, mentor, performance artist, and consultant. Ariel is the founder of Gender Illumination and for over 20 years has facilitated trainings, workshops, and retreats for organizations, corporations, nonprofits, schools, communities, and faith-based groups. This work has taken Ariel all over the US and internationally. Ariel has facilitated Gender Inclusivity Trainings for major tech companies as well as major policy institutes. Ariel is an ordained Hebrew Priestess and ritualist. Along with gender justice, Ariel's work focuses on intersectionality, commitment to working from an anti-oppression lens, and creating communities across diverse cultural backgrounds. Ariel loves to play with pronouns, bring joy into all aspects of life, and creatively spark conversations and connections. Ariel is available for workshops, performing, teaching, coaching, and speaking engagements.

Jamison Henninger, Mentorship Program Advisor

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Jamison Crowell is a trans advocate and leader with experience as the Executive Director of the DC Area Transmasculine Society (DCATS) - a nonprofit that offers support groups, social events, and other programs to advance the lives of transmasculine folks. His background is in being an open data advocate and analyst for nonprofits where he facilitates trainings around the world to ensure government's produce and disseminate better data to inform policy-making for the benefit of all people. He is the core consultant and advisor to the Gender Illumination Mentorship Program.

Jonathan Edzant, Web Manager & Serving Me Editor

Jonathan is a San Diego-based photographer, performer, DJ, and content creator with a passion for impactful storytelling through all things artistic. He graduated with a BA in musical theatre from the University of California Irvine and obtained a Digital Marketing Professional Certification from San Diego State University. As a photographer with over 8 years of professional experience, he has worked with a variety of clients, such as Youtubers with 1M+ subscribers, signed musicians, small business owners, and agency models. Jonathan is proud to have created the Gender Illumination website and to be the editor of Serving Me Magazine, a Gender Illumination program.

Lydia Martín, Performance Art Organizer

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Lydia Martin is a musician, dancer, composer, and educator. They graduated from Mills College with a MA in Music Composition where they produced a master’s thesis that explored community, gender, power dynamics, and conflict resolution. These are themes still seen in Lydia’s work today. They perform with several musical groups such as Silk Mother, Gamelan X, and Gamelan Sekar Jaya. Lydia has taught music and performed in the MultiGenderVerse with Gender Illumination. They recently completed the Darmasiswa scholarship from the Indonesian government studying the music and dance of Bali.

Earnest Vener, Board Member and Ritual Leader

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Earnest is a trans Jewish educator in the Boston area. They teach 2nd and 3rd grade at Temple Beth Shalom. Earnest is passionate about Jewish storytelling, talmud study, and mentorship. Earnest received an M.A. in Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union and a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley. Prior to moving East, Earnest ran an outdoor Jewish religious school in the Oakland Redwoods. Earnest is a new parent and they enjoy spending time with their partner and child, studying Torah, playing board games, and working to build a more equitable world. Earnest offers rituals through Gender Illumination that are specific to trans and ebny community.

Dean Henderson, Board Member

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Dean Henderson is a business economist with over a decade of experience implementing quantitative models to assess and manage financial risk. Dean is an advocate for trans rights and he holds a B.A. in Political Science from Swarthmore College and a M.S. in Applied Economics from John's Hopkins University. When he isn't glued to a computer screen, he enjoys running, traveling, and attending conferences on gender and is very proud to be part of the Gender Illumination team.

Rio Antonè, Workshop Series Talent Coordinator

Rio is a trailblazing non-binary icon, renowned artist, entertainer, and activist. They are recognized for their tireless efforts in promoting gender identity education and self-love. Rio's impressive career spans multiple fields, including media influencing, public speaking, fashion styling, stage performance, hosting, acting, producing, and creative directing. Rio was the first-ever Mx Las Vegas Trans Pride title holder and the first recipient of the Spirit of the Lion Award from MGM Enterprise, a recognition of their outstanding contributions to the community. They are a recipient of the Spotlight Award from Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and have been featured as the face of the Skittles and GLAAD campaign. Rio serves as an ambassador for Stanford University's PRIDEnet and inspires and empowers the LGBTQ+ community through their work, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to promoting love, acceptance, and inclusivity. Rio is a workshop facilitator with Gender Illumination and the talent coordinator.