Jeff Simmons
Jeff Simmons, executive vice president
at Anat Gerstein, Inc., has more than
three decades of experience in private
and public sector communications, media, and
journalism.
In his role at Anat Gerstein, Jeff works with
non-profits that advance social and racial
justice and equity issues. Notably, he has
worked over the last five years with Alliance
for Positive Change, which provides support to
New Yorkers impacted by HIV/AIDS, chronic
health issues, and substance use.
Jeff currently hosts radio shows on WBAI
99.5 FM—Driving Forces on Thursdays at 5 PM
and City Watch on Sundays at 10 AM — where
he regularly focuses on issues important to
underserved communities and consistently
books prominent leaders in the LGBTQ
community.
Jeff previously served as senior vice president
for communications at the Alliance for Downtown
New York and ran communications for former
New York City Comptroller William C.
Thompson, Jr. While at the comptroller’s
Office, he regularly spotlighted the
agency’s efforts to ensure Fortune
500 companies adopt policies
barring discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation and gender
identity.
A born and bred journalist, Jeff
formerly worked at The (Bergen)
Record of Hackensack, New York
Post, New York Daily News, and
NY1, where he led the station’s
Pride coverage. It was during his time
at The (Bergen) Record that Jeff penned
a guest column for National Coming Out Day
to educate readers about LGBTQ issues and
his own personal journey.
Jeff lives with his husband, former New York
City Council candidate Alfonso Quiroz, and two
Brussels Griffons in Queens. You can follow
him on Twitter and Instagram at @JackHites.
Norman C. Simon
Norman C. Simon is a trial lawyer
whose work has also included
notable leadership roles in LGBTQ
legal circles.
Norman is a partner with Kramer Levin
Naftalis & Frankel LLP and serves as cochair
of Kramer Levin’s advertising litigation
group. He works on behalf of brands in false
advertising cases and he has long worked as an
advertising attorney.
Norm’s other commercial litigation
experience includes employment, contract and
licensing disputes, and internal investigations.
Norm has complemented his successful
corporate work with an impactful pro
bono practice, playing a role in prominent
LGBTQ rights cases of the past decade. Most
recently, Norm was an author of an amicus
brief on behalf of numerous major religious
organizations in the Bostock v.
Clayton County Supreme Court
case.
Norm authored amicus
briefs other major LGBTQrelated
Supreme Court cases,
including Lawrence v. Texas,
US v. Windsor, and Obergefell
v. Hodges. Norm also led a
team of Kramer Levin lawyers
in the litigation seeking marriage
equality under the New York State
Constitution.
Norm was previously the chair of the
board of the Empire State Pride Agenda
and has served for years on Lambda Legal’s
national leadership council. He is also a
member of the LGBT Bar Association of New
York.
Anat
Gerstein, Inc.
Kramer Levin
Naftalis &
Frankel LLP
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