James is the Community Engagement Manager, supporting the fundraising team through project management of the annual fundraising campaign and events. Originally from Massachusetts, Alaska became home in 2013. He brings 25 years experience working in LGBTQ and HIV non-profit organizations that began in Atlanta, GA. Trained as a queer youth leader through YouthPride, James was politicized and educated on intersecting oppressions, coalition-building and community organizing by strong southern change-makers.
Most recently he’s served as Director of Client Resources for the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s) where he oversaw programs serving Alaskans living with HIV. He wrote and managed many grants (including from Pride Foundation) and represented the organization as an advocate locally and nationally. From Case Manager to Program Director, James deepened his understanding of the impact of social determinants of health, HIV and LGBTQ stigma and decolonizing AIDS Service Organizations. He led initiatives to change organizational culture and practices to better align with principles of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, sex-positivity, person-centered care and housing first.
James has a 20-year drag career as “Gigi Monroe” and founded “Juneau Drag” in 2014, Juneau’s Drag Story Time and Miss Gay Alaska America and Mister Alaska USofA MI, two pageants that send Alaskan drag queens and kings to compete on a national stage. He produces, performs in and hosts many events and fundraisers each year related to drag and the LGBTQ Community to increase visibility and hold space for queer family to express themselves on stage in a supportive environment. For his achievement in queer arts, he’s received the Mayor’s Award for Outstanding Art in 2015 and a coveted Rasmuson Foundation fellowship in 2019. He believes in the power of art and performance to change society and works hard to make sure queer artists are supported in Alaska and beyond.
He served as a board member of SEAGLA (Southeast Alaska LGBTQ Alliance) from 2013-2018, with the last two years as Chair and founded Juneau Pride. In 2016 he co-led the successful campaign for the passage of the Juneau LGBTQ non-discrimination ordinance. He also sat on the Board of Trustees of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council from 2020-2022.
He lives in a funky old house next to the state capitol and love it more and more with each repair. Emile and Norman are his feline “assistants”, but they do little more than walk across his desk during zoom meetings. James loves hiking, travelling, queer art and history, flowers, bright colors, and figure skating.