SAGE Opens D.C. Office, Adds Staff

Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE) showed the growing power of its constituency with the opening of a new office in Washington, D.C. this month to advocate for LGBT older adults at the federal level. SAGE welcomed former U.S. Senate staffer John Johnson (pictured) as the new director of federal government relations.

In addition, SAGE added Robert Espinoza, who once worked in communications for the Gill Foundation, to its New York team as senior director for policy and communications.

The additions in D.C. and New York follow the February announcement that SAGE had received a three-year, $900,000 grant from the U.S. government to create the first national resource center on LGBT aging.

A news release from SAGE on Monday detailed the backgrounds of Johnson and Espinoza.

"John Johnson, director of federal government relations, has worked on federal policy since 1993, when he joined the staff of Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia. He joined the staff of Senator Max Cleland when Cleland won the seat in 1995. John has been a public affairs specialist for the Small Business Administration and was a policy analyst for the Episcopal Church, where he worked on issues relating to health care reform, hate crimes legislation, and civil rights initiatives. Immediately before coming to SAGE, John worked as an Advancement Officer at Washington National Cathedral. John holds a bachelor's degree from Valdosta State College in Georgia. He lives on Capitol Hill with his partner of 11 years, Andy.

"Robert Espinoza, Senior Director for Policy and Communications, most recently served as the director of research and communications at Funders for LGBTQ Issues, a national organization that mobilizes philanthropic resources to advance racial, economic and gender justice. Previously, Robert researched and authored policy briefs for Family Justice; served as the director of communications for the Service Employees International Union Local 105 in Denver and Boulder, Colorado; and was a member of the Communications Department of the Gill Foundation. He earned a Master of Public Policy from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Robert lives in Brooklyn, New York and was born in Pueblo, Colorado."