A. Latham Staples

A. Latham Staples is the founder and CEO of the Empowering Spirits Foundation, a national LGBT grassroots-based civil rights organization based in San Diego. Staples and his husband were one of the first same-sex couples to legally wed in California. After the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which defined marriage to be between only a man and a woman, he sold A. Latham Staples & Associates, a health-care firm, to focus solely on civil rights issues. Staples' diverse background includes working as corporate sales manager at Dell in Oklahoma City; vice president of PR and marketing of Red Ridge Entertainment in Nashville, Tenn.; as a reporter in Waco, Texas; and as a musical performer since age 5. Staples has a bachelor of arts in journalism and political science from the Honors College at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Alexis Scott

Alexis graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2007. In law school she served as student body president, public relations director for OUTLaw, and competing member of the Mock Trial team. Upon graduating, she accepted an associate position with Anthony J. Solare and was recently named partner. Solare & Scott provides legal services focusing on criminal defense – including juvenile and military cases, family law and civil litigation. A true believer in justice and equality, Alexis hopes to influence positive change in our legal and political system. You can contact Alexis at (619) 234.7575 or online at SolareandScott.com.

Arlon Staggs

Arlon Jay Staggs received his doctor of jurisprudence degree from Mississippi College School of Law in 2000. He is a professional writer, business owner, professor and activist. Even though his opinions are usually spot-on, they are not necessarily the views of SDGLN.com. He can be reached at arlonjay@arlonjay.com.

Ben Cartwright

Ben Cartwright is SDGLN's Higher Education & Nonprofit Liaison and has been a campus and community activist in San Diego for over 10 years. His community involvement began as a student at SDSU and from there he launched into a number of other community activities. He has written for a number of local publications including Update, Hillquest and GLT. Cartwright won the Lambda Archive's 2007 Community Hero Award; 2008 Nicky Award for Outstanding Community Activist; and 2009 Nick Award for Outstanding Writer/Columnist.

Brian White - di·verge Fitness

Brian is a highly respected expert in personal training and weight loss. He specializes in achieving body transformations for people who have special events coming up in their lives or just plain need to lose weight. Brian has created the Dirty30 Weight Loss Program, published a book, "Secrets From A Personal Trainer" and helped hundreds of people lose weight. Brian has been continuing his education since 1995 in the areas of wellness, weight loss and exercise, and he continues to create innovative workout methods that allow clients to lose weight successfully for the first (and last) time in their lives. Fun is the main component of his programs – because he believes if you aren't enjoying it, it isn't worth it!

Carlos Marquez

Carlos Marquez is the director of community programs & public affairs at The Center where he oversees public policy and community programs. Before joining The Center, Marquez worked in government and community affairs for the Service Employees International Union, Local 221. Marquez has also served as a public policy associate for the United Way of America and a research associate for the ACLU’s National Legislative Office. Marquez is active in the community as the local chair and national executive board member of Pride At Work. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from San Diego State University.

Craig A. Morgan

Craig A. Morgan is a N.A.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist as well as a Certified Metabolic Typing Practitioner. His interests include golf, tennis, basketball, skiing and cooking.

David Zappasodi and Craig Morgan met in 2001 at a fitness club in San Diego, where they both worked as personal trainers. They immediately saw in each other a mutual desire to help their fitness clients at the deepest level possible, and would often have long discussions about cutting edge health concepts, holistic approaches to exercise and nutrition, and the weaknesses that they saw in the fitness industry. In 2003, the two founded Integrated Health & Fitness in San Diego. The name that the company operates under was changed to TRU Health & Wellness in 2008. From the beginning, the company defined health in their own way, and the TRU definition of health is the foundation upon which all developments and growth have been built on.