Meet The Team
Our Staff
Sarah Hammond
State Director
Sarah Hammond is the State Director for Fairness Pennsylvania where she leads year-round public education and legislative efforts to advance LGBTQ+ equality in the Keystone State. Bringing extensive experience in government relations to Fairness PA, Hammond currently serves as the only full-time lobbyist 100% focused on LGBTQ+ issues in the PA legislature.
Prior to joining Fairness PA, Hammond was the Legislative Director of the Pennsylvania American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (PA AFL-CIO), where she represented over 700,000 union members and their families across the Commonwealth. She also served as Chair of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority’s subcommittee on Outreach and Education.
A 2020 Congressional nominee – Hammond was the first openly LGBTQ+ nominee for CD-11 and the youngest in south central, PA’s history. In 2023, she was appointed to Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission on Women, where she currently serves as Chair of the Women in the Workforce committee. She has been recognized in City & State’s Labor Power 100 and Government Relations Power 100, and named as one of Pennsylvania’s 40 Under 40. A proud native of Hanover, PA, Hammond is a graduate of Slippery Rock University and a card-carrying union member with the AFM.
She can be reached at sarah@fairnesspenn.org.
Our Board of Directors
elise michaux
CHAIR | Fairness Pennsylvania Institute
elise “e” michaux is from Connellsville, PA — a small rural community outside of Pittsburgh. She received her B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Slippery Rock University. She first discovered her calling to higher education during her sophomore year when she served as a FYRST year-leader, mentoring students through their initial transition to college.
You might notice that elise lowercases her name. During undergrad, elise was encouraged by a mentor to read queer activist and feminist bell hooks’ “Ain’t I A Woman” and it changed her life. As a nod to her and its profound impact, she too lowercases her name.
After graduate school, elise began her higher education career at Robert Morris University as a Counselor for Special Student Populations in the Center for Student Success. In this role, she specifically worked with student-athletes, assisting them in creating their academic schedules, connecting them to appropriate academic support services, and ensuring their overall wellbeing.
Currently, she serves as the Marketing and Communications Director at Erie County Community College of PA. She is charged with creating engaging content, both digital and print, that communicates all that is available at the newest community college in the country! She first signed on with the college as the Director of Enrollment Management in July 2021.
Outside of her professional duties, elise is committed to serving the communities that she is a part of. Passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, elise often presents and uses her social media platform to share on this important topic. As a proud alumna, she also serves on the Council of Trustees at Slippery Rock University. She also loves photography, specifically portraiture and has been shooting since 2016.
As a believer in lifelong learning, elise is currently pursuing her PhD in organizational learning and leadership at Gannon University where her research focuses on inclusive leadership practices and policies. Her publications and presentations focus around these topics as well.
elise now lives in Erie with her wife Dr. Aly Eagle and their dog Dexter. They recently married in September of 2022."
Nathaniel Yap
CHAIR | Fairness Pennsylvania
Nathaniel Yap spent seventeen years in the investment management industry and was the Head of Credit Research at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. He also previously held positions in asset management at JP Morgan and at Wells Fargo. Yap is now focused on political and civic engagement, having served on the personnel committee of the transition team for Governor Josh Shapiro, as well as on the City of Pittsburgh’s community task force on police reform under Mayor Bill Peduto.
Yap currently serves on Governor Shapiro’s Commission for LGBTQ Affairs, along with Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato’s Transition Committee. He previously was the Pennsylvania State Director for Ascend PAC, which has since merged with Run For Something. Yap continues to focus on voter engagement and supporting political candidates, particularly with campaign fundraising and volunteer recruitment. He currently serves as Regional Director of Allegheny County for Malcolm Kenyatta’s campaign for Pennsylvania Auditor General and is on the Finance Council for Senator Bob Casey’s 2024 re-election campaign.
Yap earned his graduate degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University. Yap and his husband are the proud parents of two children and reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Eddy Foster
VICE CHAIR | Fairness Pennsylvania Institute & Fairness Pennsylvania
Eddy Foster (he/him) is a gay man from West Chester, PA with over two decades of experience in campaign management, data analysis, and strategic consulting. He recently completed a five-year engagement as the Data Director for America Votes Pennsylvania. Prior to that, he ran campaigns at all levels of the ballot, including two stints on President Obama’s campaigns. Eddy also has extensive experience in the LGBT rights movement, including working to pass a statewide non-discrimination law in Pennsylvania and running a successful student-based campaign to pass Marriage Equality in Vermont.
Gillian Kratzer
TREASURER | Fairness Pennsylvania Institute & Fairness Pennsylvania
Gillian Kratzer is a mom, a political professional, and an active part of the PA Dems. She is currently the Deputy Director of Better PA, an organization dedicated to advocating for policies that help working people. Previously, she was an organizer for SEIU HCPA, in which position she helped to empower healthcare workers to create a safer and more equitable workplace. In addition to her professional role, she is a respected member of the PA Democratic State Committee. Elected as Blair County Democratic Chairperson in 2014, she is serving her third term as a county chairperson and state committee member. Gillian has a BA of Political Science from Penn State University and a Masters in Political Management from George Washington University.
Under her leadership, the Blair County Democrats have continually increased Democratic vote share in major elections. Though working in a majority red county, Gillian has worked tirelessly to recruit volunteers and candidates to run in races that have gone uncontested for years. In 2022, she expanded her role in state Democratic politics when she was elected as the Chair of both the North Central Regional Caucus and the Rural Caucus of the PA Dems.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, Gillian has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights for much of her life. Her advocacy took on a new dimension when her daughter came out as trans. Her experiences with the many barriers that exist to getting her child the gender-affirming care she needs especially for people who live in rural areas and small towns across PA. She hopes that, as an organization, Fairness PA can push for better access to healthcare for the trans community for her daughter and every amazing trans kiddo in the Commonwealth.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan
BOARD MEMBER
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Audrey Scanlan is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. She was elected to this position on March 14, 2015, and ordained and consecrated as the eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania on Sept. 12, 2015, in Harrisburg.
Audrey comes to Pennsylvania from Connecticut, where she served on diocesan staff as the Canon for Mission Collaboration and Congregational Life. Before that, Audrey was the Rector of two yoked congregations in central Connecticut and has also served two other local congregations in her ministerial life. She has a particular interest in congregational vitality, creative and adaptive use of church buildings, local mission and community engagement. Audrey is the co-founder of Rhythms of Grace, a worship and formation program for children with special needs, has co-authored three volumes of lesson plans, and holds a doctorate in the Theology of Disability.
Audrey and her husband, Glenn have been married since 1984 and are the parents of three adult children—Emma, William, and Harriet. Hiking, cooking, running, and playing the cello are among Audrey’s hobbies.
Tony Brooks
BOARD MEMBER
Tony Brooks is a long-time historic preservationist, local history lecturer, and architectural tour guide in Wilkes-Barre. Brooks is the director of the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society and curator of the 1793 Zebulon Butler House Museum. He also serves as a Wilkes-Barre City Councilman, being elected twice by his colleagues as Council President. He has been active in the parish/diocesan/national affairs of the Epsicopal Church.
Brooks likes to stress the importance of having a place at the table. As a member of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Marker Review Panel, Brooks was at the table to explain firsthand that Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia was much more than just a bookstore in the 70s and 80s. It was the first time the PHMC commemorated a gay business. Brooks has also given testimony on LGBT issues before the Pennsylvania Senate.
Ted Bordelon
BOARD MEMBER
Ted Bordelon is an accomplished political strategist dedicated to driving transformative change through strategic electoral victories, direct and impactful communication strategies, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ empowerment in the realm of politics. With a trail of successes behind him, Ted's journey is characterized by his role in reshaping political landscapes, amplifying marginalized voices, and steering campaigns towards resounding triumphs.
As an adept campaign architect, Ted has been instrumental in historic milestones. Serving as both manager and GC, he deftly navigated Rue Landau's groundbreaking 2023 City Council campaign, positioning her to become Philadelphia's first LGBTQ+ City Council member. In the 2018 Blue Wave, Ted led press operations at 314 Action, contributing significantly to the election of Joe Cunningham to Congress in SC-01, flipping the seat for the first time in decades. He also played a pivotal role in MI-AFL CIO's 2020 efforts that secured victories for Joe Biden in the presidential race and Gretchen Whitmer as Governor. Notably, as Campaign Manager, Ted orchestrated the monumental triumph of Greg Yorgey-Girdy in 2021, facilitating his appointment as Philadelphia's inaugural Gay Black judge, and successfully electing multiple judges to Philadelphia's esteemed courts.
A staunch advocate for equality, Ted revitalized Philadelphia's Liberty City LGBTQ+ Democrats into a dynamic force, skillfully guiding the organization through two endorsement cycles. His role in founding Agenda PAC showcased his determination to counter anti-LGBTQ+ candidates, leading a 100%-volunteer fueled, remarkable fundraising drive in 2022 that raised $250k for this purpose.
Ted's prowess in communications is evident through a prolific record of securing coverage in reputable media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Politico. He has harnessed his skills to propel Democratic SuperPACs, including 314 Action and For Our Future, expanding their influence on a national scale and ensuring their messages resonate effectively.
He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels MPA program, and completed his undergrad at La Salle University. He lives in Fishtown with his boston terrier Mack.