::Reverend Alicia Heath-Toby Bio::
Rev. Alicia Heath-Toby, a native New Yorker, who presently resides in Newark, New Jersey with her wife of 18 years, Saundra "Honei" Toby-Heath. Rev. Alicia has been an agent of social change for as long as she can remember. As a Black lesbian, she has been committed to the eradication of homophobia and sexism; gender discrimination and religious marginalization. In 1995, she began her journey at Liberation In Truth UFC; where she began spreading her wings and her voice on issues of parity, inclusion and representation in the "Black Church".
In 1984, she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Holy Cross College. After leaving college, she was fortunate to meet a group who were on the cutting edge of HIV/AIDS, the Black Commission on AIDS.
In 1998, Rev. Alicia's life took another interesting turn, she was asked to assist in the development of Loving In Truth; Liberation In Truth UFC's HIV prevention program. In the 5 years with Loving In Truth, Rev. Alicia committed herself to HIV prevention, education and social justice; in regard to safer sex practice, condom use and particularly in communities of color.
In 2004, she joined what was then called, Women and Family Services Department at Gay Men's Health Crisis, as the Coordinator of the Lesbian AIDS Project.
Prior to joining GMHC, Rev. Alicia and her wife Saundra, accepted the invitation to join Lambda Legal and six other New Jersey couples in the lawsuit, which has come to be known as Lewis vs. Harris; a case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in the state of New Jersey. In those 4 years, Rev. Alicia was reminded many times that it is in God's divine will that all humankind have the right to peace, joy and love! God certainly wouldn't have it any other way!
::Reverend Rose Hardy-Levant Bio::
Reverend Rose Hardy-Levant, MA, CSW is an Assistant Pastor at Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church. She has been a part of their Liturgical staff since 1999.
She is Coordinator of Out-Patient Behavioral Health Services at Barnert Hospital in Paterson, NJ . Rev. Hardy-Levant has worked in the field of mental health services for 25 years. The populations she has provided treatment for include severe and persistent mentally ill adults, MICA, and HIV / AIDS patients.
Rev. Hardy-Levant received her education and training from Fairleigh Dickinson University, graduate work at Seton Hall University and The Newark School of Theology.
Rev. Hardy-Levant has been involved in a variety of Ministries at LIT including the Woman's Whole Health Ministry, Spiritual Development and the UFCM Mental Health Ministry.
She has spoken out on a number of social justice issues in many settings including from the pulpit. She is an active member of Garden State Equality and Lambda Legal.
She has lectured as well as conducted workshops at a variety of settings that include UMDNJ, The Mental Health Association of NJ, and GALY of Bergen County. She is currently working on an initiative that will bring education awareness and increase the role African-American clergy can play in encouraging our community to seek professional treatment for emotional illnesses. Reverend Hardy-Levant is partnered to Randi Levant and share a son Quincy .