Meet the Team

GEOFF PECKMAN,

Pronouns: he/him

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Geoff had a creative streak and a love of art since he was old enough to hold a crayon. After 7 years of art school, Geoff found jobs with the American Red Cross and the NYC Board of Education which allowed him to give back to the community. Eventually Geoff found a home in Westchester County where he could write songs and poetry, work in clay as a ceramic artist, and further expand his design talents.

Coming out to the LGBTQ community in 2000 and wanting to further his contribution, Geoff soon connected with The Loft, his local LGBTQ organization. At the start he would present his work at a variety of craft fairs and art exhibits. Years later, Geoff would reconnect with The Loft and create their fresh, new logo. He has continued to volunteer and use his skills designing artwork and logos for a variety of Pride events and group activities, as well as organizing an “Out at the Movies" group and other events.

Geoff is still writing and drawing and creating new art whenever possible. He has now joined with his partners to help create Queery. Through art, multi-media and language, he hopes to draw you in to all that Queery has to offer. Check out how Geoff and his partners are working to improve and expand the knowledge and understanding of those both in and outside our LGBTQ communities.

JAMES YOUNG,

Pronouns: he/him & they/them

Starting Westchester County's First LGBTQ Youth Program in 1992, James has had a long commitment in exploring queer culture and its positive effects on the dominant heteronormative culture. 

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James is the recipient of the 2007 GLSEN Hudson Valley Leadership Award for his work with LGBTQ youth in both Rockland and Westchester Counties where he worked with numerous high schools and colleges on LGBTQ safety. He coordinated the Common Threads Youth Empowerment Retreat for several years in Rockland County where students and advisors as far as Rochester attended annually.  He served on the planning committee at Pride Works, an annual conference held in Westchester County for high school students and their advisors.

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Young has had the opportunity to co-design, facilitate and train with PeaceWorks in Reading, PA, working with youth on various isms (i.e., sexism, racism, etc.) and learning more about intersectionality, power and inclusion.

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As the faculty advisor for Rainbow Alliance at Monroe College in the Bronx for three years, the college marched in their first NYC Heritage of Pride Parade in 2016 and created gender neutral restrooms on both Bronx and Westchester campuses. 

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Young is currently a volunteer at the Loft, the LGBTQ center in White Plains.  There, he has been a presenter at the annual gala, facilitator at the men’s group, and a community builder.  In the past few years, Young has created Tech Talks, a program connecting people through technology, Veg Out, a vegetarian potluck social to promote connections through socially conscious consumption. And most recently, he won the 2019 Pace University's Lavender Alum Award and serves on the Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board.

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Young is excited to bring his talents and experience to Queery as he is eager to be part of the movement that brings about equality and celebration of diversity using critical thinking and questioning.

JEFF GURKIN-YOUNG, 

Pronouns: he/him

Coming out as an adult has empowered Jeff to discover his passion for working on LGBTQ rights as an advocate.

Jeff has assisted the owner of Arthur Murray in Westchester County, NY to amend their outdated policies on same-sex dancing to make their business more queer friendly. In Nashville, TN, he created a gay bear's social group to build community.  While earning his MBA at Monroe College, he served as the president of Rainbow Alliance, the LGBT club on campus.  While there, the club increased visibility with various projects, added gender neutral bathrooms to every building on both campuses, and marched in NYC's Pride March for the first time. Currently, Jeff serves as a volunteer a facilitator at The Loft LGBTQ Center in White Plains, NY.

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Jeff is thrilled to be at Queery working with his partners to further advocate for LGBTQ rights, visibility and acceptance. He wants to assist in educating people on the various aspects, struggles and triumphs found in Queer Communities.