New Haven Pride Center

 John Allen

John Allen

John is a Program Director at Marrakech, Inc., based in Woodbridge. He has been with the Center since the beginning. He is currently writing his dissertation on sexual expression and intellectual disabilities for a doctorate in educational leadership at SCSU. His book on the Rainbow Support Group (Haworth Press, 2003) features many of the members of the group that meets the second Monday of each month at the Center.

Kristal Barnes

Kristal Barnes

Kristal was born in California but raised in Missouri and Kansas.  She has her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities.  She has over 20 years experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and is currently a Behavior Analyst Consultant.  Kristal moved to Connecticut 4 years ago after coming out as a lesbian in Kansas to pursue a new life with her partner.  She has been actively involved in the LGBT community with True Colors, Love Makes a Family, Stonewall Speakers, and the Connecticut Transadvocacy Coalition.

Dorian Harding-Morick

Dorian Harding-Morick

Dorian Harding-Morick was born in Poughkeepsie, NY and grew up in Albany, NY and in Delaware.  She earned a BA from Wesleyan College and lived in the San Francisco for 12 years before relocating to the east coast. She works for Yale University in their Development Dept. Dorian has been very active on the board since her installation, having been involved with membership and the Web site.

Marcos Nadeau

Marcos is a recent addition to the board, and is a recent addition to the area as well, having moved to the area a couple of months ago from Rhode Island.  He works as an area manager for a local bank.

Joshua O'Connell

Joshua O’Connell

Joshua, a Fairfield University graduate, has been a freelance writer, editor and graphic designer for the Connecticut Post for seven years.  He mentored high school teens at the Post’s CTTeens program for five years. Josh has been the designer of the NHGLCC News since last summer and was recently elected as co-facilitator of the ages 18-28 group GLANCE. He has also been hard at work on the revised NHGLCC Web site, which will offer a “virtual Center” experience.

Simon Rich

Simon Rich

A lifelong resident of Connecticut, Simon grew up in Ansonia. He graduated from Yale University in 1962 with a BA in Psychology. He taught high school for 35 years until his retirement from teaching in 1998. He also worked for many years as a remote manager for America Online. His varied interests have included opera, antiquing, films, more opera, cooking, tournament bridge and much more. He is currently enjoying retirement, keeping busy with a small telecommerce business and attempting to give back to our community in as many ways as possible -- through volunteer service, community education and being there for those who need our support.

Maureen Thomas

Maureen Thomas

Maureen was born in Pittsburgh but has lived in New Haven since the early 1970’s. She received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Penn State.  Most of her career she has been a psychologist specializing in developmental disabilities. Currently she is a program manager in the Connecticut State Department of Mental Retardation. At the NHGLCC she has been a co-facilitator with John Allen of the Rainbow Support Group for about 8 years. This is a group of individuals from the LGBT community who have a developmental disability. On a more personal note she is a lesbian mother, and her son Christopher is also gay and lives in NYC working as a freelance writer and editor. Since his teenage years Chris has been active in the Gay Rights movement and currently does a LGBT interview radio show in NYC. Both her son and John Allen have inspired her to become active in the gay community.