Marriage Equality Rhode Island: Board of Directors

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Board of Directors

The Marriage Equality Rhode Island Education Fund Board of Directors is a dedicated and talented group of Rhode Islanders whose purpose is to determine the organization’s mission and sustain its vision.

Joyce M. Anderle

Joyce currently serves as Chair of the Marriage Equality Rhode Island Education Fund. She has worked as a school administrator around Rhode Island, most recently as Assistant Principal of Coventry High School. She lives in Coventry and serves on the Base Building Committee.

"The struggle for marriage equality is an ongoing one and it requires the efforts and strengths of all of us to achieve this civil right for each of us."

Patrick Crowley

Patrick works as the Assistant Executive Director of the National Education Association of Rhode Island. He currently serves as Chair of the Legislative Committee and lives in Lincoln with his wife Karen Bradbury, and their children, Michael, Dayna, and Daniel.

“The quest for equality is too important to wait for the courts to wake up or for some epiphany by enlightened folks as to the need for this. It must be advocated for on a daily basis, in the public and in the houses of power.”

Rev. Eugene T. Dyszlewski

Gene is the Chairperson of the Rhode Island Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality. This is a coalition of more than 100 Rhode Island religious leaders from several denominations who support marriage equality. Rev. Dyszlewski is the Pastor of Riverside Congregational United Church of Christ and lives in Cranston with his wife, Dr. Margaret Paccione and their daughter Nicole.

“I have a personal and pastoral commitment to equality. I believe that achieving same-gender marriage has a practical, as well as, symbolic value. It is a tremendous step in removing the social stigma from the GLBT community by normalizing their status in society. It should be done. It can be done. It will be done in Rhode Island.”

Rich Hite

A long-time member of MERI, Rich currently serves as Chair of the 501(c)(4) Board of MERI, Inc. Rich is the State Records Coordinator with the RI State Archives & Public Records Administration, and lives in Cranston. He currently serves on the Communications Committee.

“My niece is gay and I became interested in the fight for marriage equality largely as a result of seeing the consequences of a relationship ending that she experienced — one that would have been a marriage if it had been legal.”

Kathy Kushnir

MERI Executive Director Kathy is an attorney who has worked as a public defender and has her own private practice. Previously, Kathy served as Executive Director of the Gray Panthers of Rhode Island and as Vice President of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood of RI, where she worked on the national and local levels with the legislature and media advocating for women’s health care issues.

"I am honored and humbled to lead our righteous call to equality for all our friends and neighbors, sisters and brothers. Only once before in my life have I felt that I am at that rare moment where I can get something so profoundly important done. This is one of those times, bringing us all to our best selves."

Karen Loewy

An attorney with New England’s Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, (GLAD), Karen has been deeply involved in the fight for marriage equality throughout New England, serving as co-counsel in both the Massachusetts and Connecticut marriage cases. She has been engaged in marriage equality work in Rhode Island for the last eight years, advocating on behalf of same-sex couples before every branch of government and in the private sector, and assisting married same-sex couples in obtaining recognition for their relationships. Karen also works on a broad variety of cases on GLAD’s docket, from successfully resolving the first case under New Hampshire’s sexual orientation anti-discrimination laws, to helping secure parental rights for a lesbian co-parent in Maine, to assisting a transgender woman challenging the IRS’s denial of her deduction of expenses related to sex reassignment.

“Loving, committed same-sex couples deserve all the protections and responsibilities that only come from being married. Every day I meet couples who are raising children or planning retirement without the legal protections of marriage. It’s time to right this wrong and make Rhode Island a better, fairer, stronger state.”

Kevin Nelson

Kevin was led to MERI by his faith convictions. Kevin is a Supervising Planner in the RI Department of Administration, Division of Planning. He lives in East Greenwich and serves on the Legislative Committee.

“God has taken me on a spiritual journey whereby I have overcome past beliefs and prejudices to a point where I am certain that it is my duty to listen to God’s call and personally become involved in working for justice. Basic human rights can never be subject to the assent of the majority. Faced with the realities that so many people are facing discrimination (and worse) I can no longer sit back and do nothing.”

Peter Quesnel

An early member of MERI, Peter is a Library Media Specialist in the Providence Public School Department. Peter recently chaired MERI’s executive director search committee and serves on the Base Building/Outreach and Legislative committees. He lives in Providence with his husband Tom. They were married in Provincetown, MA, in 2008.

“Like many Rhode Island same-sex couples, Tom and I were married in Massachusetts. Knowing just how precious our marriage is to us, I continue to feel compelled to fight for this cause. I believe that every Rhode Island couple should have this right and look forward to the day when marriage is available to all Americans.”

The Rev Linda A Shevlin

Linda has worked as a geriatric nurse in NY and MA, and has served as a United Methodist Pastor in New England since 1978 — serving churches in MA, ME, and RI. Currently a resident of Cumberland, Linda is presently not serving churches due to a physical disability. Linda has a long term commitment to social justice, believing that faith requires action. She received a special award from the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church for “Excellence in Preaching the Whole Gospel” — balancing in her preaching the personal faith aspects with the social action aspects.

“I am committed to the cause of full inclusion on GBLT persons. I feel that a lot of people are in agreement with the goals and objectives of MERI but may not have the time, and if I have the time, I have a responsibility to offer to use it.”

Tiffany A. Rauch-Dickson

An interactive advertising producer for Digitas/Prodigious Worldwide and former attorney and public relations professional, Tiffany lives in Providence with her wife, Jessie. They were first married 2002, but were able to make it legal on their anniversary in 2006.

"I am involved MERI's work because I believe that all families, including same-sex families, should be protected. This isn't about weddings, it's about taking an important step forward in recognizing the validity and humanity of lesbian, gay, bi and trans relationships and in protecting our civil rights."

C. Kelly Smith

A founding member of MERI, Kelly is the principal of Buddha Smiles Consulting, which provides organizational development, strategic planning, fund development and marketing support to nonprofit organizations. Kelly serves as Treasurer of the (c)(3) MERI Education Fund, is Chair of the Base Building/Outreach Committee, and is a member of the Legislative Committee. She lives in Providence.

“I see our work with other groups across the nation and throughout the world as part of a global human rights movement. I am passionate about securing marriage equality as a means by which to protect our families and secure the dignity which we all deserve. I am also eager to help everyone who wishes to join our movement become involved in creating change.”

Marriage Equality Rhode Island

Board of Directors

Joyce M. Anderle

Patrick Crowley

Rev. Eugene T. Dyszlewski

Rich Hite

Kathy Kushnir

Karen Loewy

Kevin Nelson

Peter Quesnel

The Rev Linda A Shevlin

Tiffany A. Rauch-Dickson

C. Kelly Smith

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