MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights was founded in 2006 as The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) by an international group of activists who were concerned about the disproportionate HIV burden being shouldered by gay and bisexual men.
We have since expanded our work to focus on the broader sexual health and human rights needs of all men who have sex with men.
Our Team
MPact’s team is a reflection of our commitment to upholding a diverse global perspective on issues concerning the health and human rights of gay and bisexual men. Our staff of experts in the field are dispersed through different regions and our work extends to 62 countries around the globe.
MPact is led by an international Board of Directors and a collegially appointed Steering Committee of globally recognized advocates and HIV professionals representing every major region of the world, the majority of whom are ages 29 and under.
Andrew Spieldenner, PhD
Executive Director
Andrew Spieldenner, Ph.D. is Executive Director. Openly living with HIV, Dr. Spieldenner has over two decades of community advocacy and HIV experience. Dr. Spieldenner’s research is at the intersection of health and culture, particularly looking at HIV and the LGBTQ community. Dr. Spieldenner’s edited books include Intercultural Health Communication, Post-AIDS Discourse in Health Communication, and the award-winning A Pill for Promiscuity.
Alex Garner
Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications
Alex Garner was most recently the Senior Health Innovation Strategist at Hornet, the gay social networking app. He crafted all sexual health messaging, developed social marketing campaigns, created digital content for a global audience, and led Hornet’s research efforts. Alex has over 25 years of experience working as a community organizer. He has been a freelance writer for over two decades, capturing the experiences and perspectives of the queer community. As a writer and an artist, he has utilized the cultural arts to advance the narratives of LGBT communities.
Tony Nguyen
Administrative and Contracts Coordinator
A recent graduate in Public Administration from San Diego State University, Tony Nguyen gained experience from a multitude of sectors. He has worked on studies focused on LBTQ+ Liaison Police Officers and affordable housing. Administratively, he has provided support to both the City Manager’s Office in the City of El Cajon and the Planning Department for the City of National City. As a Service Administrator, he managed a multi-family housing construction project affiliated with Stanford University’s Faculty and Staff Housing Program. Tony brings his organizational and administrative skills to provide support to various departments in MPACT.
Axel Bautista
Community Engagement Manager
Axel was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, which is where he currently lives. He studied sociology at UNAM and has been working in the HIV field since 2016, with a particular focus on human rights, healthcare access, community building and empowerment, activism, and social media content. Axel previously served on MPact’s Steering Committee. He like walks, watching movies, and big cities.
Careers
Our mission at MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights is to bring global attention to local concerns. We are directly linked to more than 120 community-based organizations in 62 countries who are fighting for the sexual health and human rights of gay and bisexual men around the world.