MassLive recently asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the LGBTQ+ community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.
Profiles of these leaders will be published through the rest of February. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Tanya Neslusan, Executive Director of MassEqualitySebastian Restrepo
Tanya Neslusan
Age: 48
Communities: Sturbridge and Worcester
Their Story: Tanya Neslusan has been a political and social justice organizer since early in their life, but in 2020, they said it was a time of realization.
Neslusan wanted to show their teenage son the importance of doing work that they had a passion for and that made a tangible difference in the world.
Neslusan is the current executive director of MassEquality, a grassroots organization which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community statewide in order to prevent discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
In their work, Neslusan develops and delivers programming for and about their shared community and helps to organize for LGBTQ+ causes from the lowest of levels up to political lobbying, they said.
Neslusan said the work they do is not just a job for them, but more of “a calling.” They stressed in spite of the importance of their work towards the promotion and advancement of LGBTQ+ equality, that self care and tending to one’s own needs — even when advocating for others — is vitally important in order to give their all to those they serve.
In a MassEquality news release from January 2020, when Neslusan was appointed, it stated that they are a life-long resident of Central Massachusetts and previously worked at the corporate level in health insurance information technology.
Neslusan is also a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and holds a degree in political science.
In their words: “This isn’t a job that you get into for money or prestige, you need to really love what you do and the people that you serve. Know that you will never get rich doing this work, but that going to bed after knowing that you’ve spent your day working to make people’s lives a little bit better is rewarding in ways that money can’t buy.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
