Our Team
Dannie Ceseña (He/Him/They/Them), is the first Two-Spirit, Native, Director of the CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. Dannie has over 15 years of experience working with non-profits in program development and advocacy. He has extensive knowledge in creating TGI healthcare collaborations utilizing upstream interventions and addressing the root cause of lack of access to TGI affirming health care. His knowledge and leadership have assisted in the creation of two TGI community health care clinics, and a monthly TGI legal clinic in Orange County, CA. Dannie has become a trusted leader in LGBTQ health among partners in the California Tobacco Control Program. He is responsible for building We Breathe: Supporting Tobacco-Free LGBTQ Communities from the ground-up, and has established the program as a leader statewide, nationally, and even internationally. He has provided leadership and guidance for LGBTQ organizations who are new to working with the Department of Public Health, helping them navigate the complicated bureaucracy and ensuring LGBTQ project staff always have a place to turn with their questions and concerns. He is in high demand to present on LGBTQ health at trainings, meetings, and conferences throughout the country, and internationally.
Dannie is currently serving, and has served, on several appointed seats, including the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee and California Reducing Disparities Project Task Force, the Department of Managed Health Care’s (DMHC) Health Equity and Quality Committee and the Transgender Intersex and Gender Non-Conforming Work Group, Department of Health Care Access and Information Hospital Equity Measures Reporting Advisory Committee, Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Task Force, Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, and the Department of Health Care Services Consumer Advisory Committee Technical Advisory Group. He serves as a committee member for the Coalition of Demographic Data Equity, is a board member for GLMA (Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) and participates in their Policy and Government Committee, California Health Interview Survey SOGI Data Work Group, and International AIDs Society.
Dannie is a founding member of the Transgender Health Research Ethics and Advocacy (THREAT) Team which includes members form TGI-led organizations, trans-identified mental providers, and academic researchers. Dannie served as a Community Investigator on a research team at UCLA called “Just Research? Trans Futures in Health and Scientific Knowledge”. He is currently serving as a Community Investigator on The Role of Local Structural Stigma in Alcohol Related Inequities among SGM Young Adults at UC Berkeley, and Together for Wellness/Juntos at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Human Science and Behavior. He co-author of two research papers; Engagement, Use, and Impact of Digital Mental Health Resources for Diverse Populations in COVID-19: Community-Partnered Evaluation, and Impact of Online Mental Health Resources During COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ Adults and Compared to Male and Female Heterosexual Adults.
In summary, Dannie has demonstrated a record of community service and productivity in areas of high relevance for LGBTQ+ health related issues that have a statewide reach. Moreover, he has practical experience with developing boards and committees addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes. His experience and leadership have assured that any proposed research project design is current with LGBTQ+ related issues and needs reflecting California’s LGBTQ+ communities. Together with various research institutions, community organizations, and state departments, Dannie is a significant contributor to health care advocacy, mentorship, and LGBTQ health care reform.
Dannie has been awarded Community Icon of the Year by Orange County Pride, Pro Bono Community Partner of the Year by UC Irvine School of Law, the Diversity Spirit Achievement Award by City Career Fair, The Courage Award from the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association and the Beacon of Light Award from the City of Costa Mesa. He has been recognized by Congressman Lou Correa, CA Senator David Min, CA Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for his work in LGBTQ Health Care and Advocacy.
Dannie is a graduate of CSU Long Beach with Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Political Science, and is a graduate of National University with a Master Degree in Public Health. On his spare time, he enjoys trips to Disneyland, hiking, and traveling with his wife and two dogs, Iris and Xico.
Isaias Guzman (He/Him), CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network Manager of Programs, joined Health Access in 2018. Isaias received a B.A. in Political Science and Chicano Studies with an emphasis on issues of race, gender, and sexuality from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the team, Isaias was a paralegal with a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of low-income, homeless, and/or HIV+ people in obtaining public disability benefits. During his time with Health Access, Isaias has been able to work on addressing LGBTQ+ health disparities related to mental health, tobacco-use, COVID-19, Mpox, HIV/AIDS, SOGI data collection, and more. He brings forth a commitment to health equity through his experience organizing with LGBTQ+ communities on issues of health access with a focus on racial and gender health disparities, LGBTQ+ youth health and education, and LGBTQ+ policy advocacy and implementation. Isaias continues to advance the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities through his work in public health research, policy, and advocacy. He is excited to continue and advance The Network and its programs by advocating for LGBTQ+ health equity.
Isaias was born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents. He enjoys dancing, gaming, learning about Queer Latinx art, culture and performance, and exploring new hiking trails during his free time.
Ariela Cuellar (she/her) is the Senior Communications Specialist at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. Since joining in 2021, she has led statewide campaigns to improve the health and wellness of LGBTQ+ Californians, particularly through We Breathe, a project focused on reducing LGBTQ+ tobacco-related disparities, as well as other initiatives advancing mental health equity.
Ariela leads the development of digital and print content, including social media campaigns, educational materials, and toolkits, and supports other Network programs such as OUT Against Big Tobacco Los Angeles and the LBTQ Health Equity Initiative. She has facilitated trainings such as “Communications 101” and media advocacy workshops, equipping community organizations with skills in design, storytelling, and promotion to reach partners and organizations throughout the state. Additionally, she hosts communications committees and consumer-tests educational materials across Network projects, ensuring effective outreach and engagement for diverse LGBTQ+ audiences.
Her contributions to statewide campaigns and legislative efforts have expanded access to LGBTQ+ affirming care, particularly for Trans, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) communities. Ariela also serves on various state appointments, such as the Covered California Marketing, Outreach, and Enrollment Assistance Advisory Group, advising on outreach strategies to ensure healthcare access for all Californians. Passionate about suicide prevention, Ariela's personal experience as a survivor of suicide loss drives her advocacy and participation in the 988-Crisis Workgroup and LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Advisory Group, where she works to improve crisis services for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Previously, Ariela worked at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center as a Community Engagement and Marketing Strategist, amplifying the Center’s mission through multimedia outreach and in-person engagement activities. A proud second-generation Salvadoran-American from Vallejo, CA, Ariela identifies as a queer Latina and enjoys supporting local drag shows, spending time with her spouse and dog, playing video games, and practicing photography. She holds a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Sociology from UC Davis.
Astin Williams (she/they) is a Program Coordinator for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. Astin previously oversaw the #Out4MentalHealth program and currently manage the LBTQ Health Equity Initiative. Astin joined the Network in November 2022, bringing over a decade of experience in LGBTQ and reproductive health advocacy across Northern California.
Before joining the Network, Astin implemented comprehensive sexual education in collaboration with County Public Health Departments, Unified School Districts, California State Universities and local non-profits. Astin's work focuses on empowering Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) communities through an intersectional approach, providing tools for self-advocacy and promoting bodily autonomy.
Ryan Oda (he/they) is the We Breathe Program Coordinator at the CA LGBTQ+ HHS Network, where they work to empower CTPP-funded projects to engage the LGBTQ+ Community in statewide and local tobacco prevention efforts. Ryan previously worked at Equality California advocating for LGBTQ+ Communities and tobacco retail licenses in Los Angeles County. Ryan earned their Bachelor in Political Science from Cal State Long Beach in 2019.
Ryan currently resides in Los Angeles/Tongva Land with his partner, and their cat Mystique (AKA Kitty Girl).
Jess Esquivel (she/her) is a Program Coordinator at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. She is a first-generation, Latinx, pansexual, health equity advocate and educator born and raised in the Central Valley of California. Having joined the Network in June of 2023, Jess has led a countywide campaign towards addressing the health disparities within the LA County queer community. Under this program, she has been able to provide trainings create inclusive resource documents, and partake in community-building efforts by hosting internships and community engagement programs for queer-identifying individuals invested in public health work. Some of her most proud pieces of work include:
- Training: Understanding How Environmental Injustices Affect the LGBTQIA+ Community
- Article: Sex & The City: An Unlikely Intersection of Tobacco-Control Advocacy, Generational Reconfiguration, and Queerness
- Educational Document: Tobacco Use & (A)Sexual Desire
Jess is also an Adjunct Faculty within the Public Health Sciences department at Bakersfield College. She especially aims to uplift cultural competency within her classrooms, both through inclusive pedagogical practices and developing spaces that capture the nuances that LGBTQ+ folx experience in all levels of public health.
With over five (5) years of teaching experience, coupled with six (6) years of advocacy work within the realms of sexual and gender minority rights, inclusion, and public health, Jess is keen on both the patience and diligence required to initiate change but also ensure the sustainability of change on all fronts.
Jess graduated from Bakersfield College with an A.A. in Anthropology, the University of California, Irvine with a B.A in Anthropology and Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Goodwin University with a Master’s in Public Health. Jess enjoys reading, learning and unlearning, and spending time with her loved ones, and finding ways to integrate her professional work with her personal life, as she ultimately tries to achieve a sense of harmony and self-fulfillment in all that she does.
Lu Lukah Orona (he/they) is the Network Organizer for The LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, a role they stepped into in August 2024 after previously serving as the Communications Intern under We Breathe. Since joining the team, Lu has contributed to educational materials, written content, and panel discussions, all with a focus on reducing healthcare disparities for LGBTQIA+ individuals. As a trans person of color, Lu is committed to increasing visibility for communities often marginalized, using their lived experience to spark the passion to continuously advocate for those left in the shadows.
Lu earned a B.A. in History from the University of California, Riverside, where they specialized in Queer and Gender Studies, consistently incorporating queer perspectives into their academic work and research. Passionate about art and advocacy, Lu passionately integrates creativity into both their studies and activism. Their work aims to highlight LGBTQ+ narratives in areas like health, politics, art, and education.
Lu finds joy in their creative pursuits, including both digital and traditional art, which they often collaborate on with their husband. Outside of advocacy, Lu enjoys exploring nature, cosplaying, and indulging in cartoons and anime. They share their life with their partner and their beloved family of 40 pets.
Kaya Czyz (she/her) is the OUT Against Big Tobacco - Los Angeles Program Intern at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies and French at the University of Southern California, where she has found a passion for health policy, rights-based approaches to health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. As a queer, health equity advocate, Kaya works with The Network to address tobacco-related health disparities within the LA County's LGBTQIA+ community. Through this program, she works alongside the OABT-LA Program Coordinator to conduct trainings, plan events, engage in coalition, outreach, and recruitment development, and plan strategic campaigns. Alongside her work at The Network, Kaya works with her university to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights through research, content creation, participation at conferences, and ambassadorship. Through this role, she has extensively learned about human rights integration in sexual and reproductive health, health communication, and different programming strategies to address universal access to health. Outside of her passion for health equity, Kaya enjoys cooking, being in nature, making art, thrifting, and exploring LA with friends.
Tania A. Ruedas Ortiz (she/they) is the We Breathe Communications Intern at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. They believe in keeping information “C.U.T.E.” (Clear, Understandable, Thematic, and Educational). Tania is a graduate of the University of La Verne, holding Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and Speech Communication, and is currently a Public Policy graduate student at the University of California, Riverside. Tania enjoys traveling to new cities and countries, reading science fiction novels, and spending time with their family.
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California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network Recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion for Supporting the Initiative’s Vision
The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network is pleased to be recognized by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, The CA LGBTQ HHS...