ALLENTOWN, Pa. — In the Lehigh Valley, Ashleigh Strange is known as a champion for LGBTQ rights.
Strange now will advocate for those issues statewide as the new executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.
Strange was appointed to the job Monday and replaces former Executive Director Henry Sias, who resigned in November, citing health reasons.
Moriah Hathaway, the executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women, served as the interim executive director on the Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.
In their new role, Strange will engage with federal, state and local agencies to promote use of government programs affecting LGBTQ Pennsylvanians and work with the commission to educate the community, Gov. Josh Shapiro's office said Wednesday.
Strange, 35, previously was communications director for PA Stands Up and Make the Road Pennsylvania.
Stange also chairs the PA Stands Up Institute Board and is vice-chair of Planned Parenthood, board chair of the PA Stands Up Institute and as vice-chair of the Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates Board.
From Alaska to the Valley
A native of Alaska, Strange received a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Strange's most recent role was as an interim internal coordinator at Scientist Rebellion, an international environmentalist group that campaigns for de-growth and climate justice.
Strange and partner Chloe Cole-Wilson, a local artist and artistic director of Basement Poetry, and their cat, Nike, live in Allentown.
