As the Executive Director of Mama Dragons, a 501c3 organization that supports, educates, and empowers mothers of LGBTQ+ children in order to create affirming homes, Liz knows the power of telling our own stories and connecting with others across shared values. Leading her organization with a mission of working across the uncomfortable spaces – whether that is across the kitchen table, a hearing at a school, the pews in a church or the aisles of a legislature, Liz leans into listening and meeting people where they are at and walking with them along their journey to acceptance. Having had a positive impact on over 20,000 mothers, Mama Dragons leads the charge in changing hearts and minds in the hard spaces.
Liz has extensive advocacy and lobbying experience in LGBTQ+ and religious freedom at the Federal, State, and Local levels. While at the ACLU, Liz led a National Faith Coalition that supported efforts to advance protections for LGBTQ+ communities while preserving the rights of faith communities. She also co-facilitated the Transgender Education and Advocacy Project.
Liz’s work is heavily influenced by the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in.” Liz has a passion for creating a community around complex issues and lifting the voices of those who are most impacted, especially in places where ‘courageous conversations’ can change minds and open hearts.
In addition to her work on LGBTQ+ issues, Liz is a trained mediator, experienced facilitator, and event coordinator for everything from hyper-local Pride events to coordinating the rallies at the Supreme Court of the United States for the biggest cases of our time.
Liz has spent the majority of her life in the Rocky Mountains. She currently lives in a self-renovated old home in Montana with her obstinate hounds and an extensive garden.