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
A longtime HIV activist, Andrew Spieldenner currently serves as vice-chair of the United States People living with HIV Caucus and as the North American Delegate to the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board. Dr. Spieldenner has worked as a nonprofit leader and an academic professor for nearly a decade, focusing his research on the intersection of health and intercultural communication surrounding HIV and the LGBTQ community.
Alex Garner
Director of Community Engagement
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 Mobilization Coordinator
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.
Aria Shahbazpour
Community Mobilization Coordinator
Aria was born and raised in Iran. The experience of force migration in 2010, lead him on a hard journey that ignited the desire to advocate for LGBTQ &human rights. He spent 5 years working as an outreach worker for a Positive Living Association in Turkey which gave him the opportunity to work closely with the most vulnerable groups and fueled his passion for justice and equality. Aria is determined more than ever to continue to advocate for the rights of underrepresented groups including LGBTQ refugees and people living with HIV all around the world, shining a light on their endless struggles for basic human rights and dignity.
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.
