The Indy Pride Board of Directors is an all-volunteer board of directors, who act as a working board, filling executive positions to take care of most working functions of the organization. Indy Pride, Inc. has recently grown large enough to hire a Director of Events and Programming, Director of Marketing, Director of Development, Festival Director and Office Manager to create more efficiencies and consistency within the organization from year to year. The members of the Indy Pride Board of Directors continue to contribute their time, talents, ideas, and opinions to advance the goals of the organization.
Below you will find the Slate for the 2025 Indy Pride Board of Directors. These are members of our current board that are up for re-election or members of the community who have been nominated by the community and interviewed by a volunteer committee for your consideration. Please scroll down to see photos and bios of these candidates.
Madi Crist (They/Them)
Madi has been an active member of Indy Pride since 2022, serving as the Co-Chair for Festival Vendors for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Indy Pride Festivals. Some of their favorite moments with Indy Pride have been interacting with hundreds of businesses, nonprofits, artists, etc. who are passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Indianapolis! Madi’s professional background has been in higher education and nonprofit, giving them the communication, project management and community engagement skills to benefit Indy Pride as it moves forward. They are very excited about the opportunity to serve Indy Pride and the LGBTQ+ community in Indianapolis through this position on the Board of Directors, and to continue to advocate for queer joy, queer spaces, and queer people!
Hails Sherwood (They/Them)
Hails is elated by the prospects of serving on the Indy Pride board. They’ve been an HIV public service worker & harm reduction advocate for the past 6 years and a professional drag performing artist for nearly 4 years. Uplifting, inspiring, and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community has been a passion of theirs since publicly coming out in their early 20s. They love their community, spouse, friends, & pets more than anything on this earth.
Josiah Harrison-Benjamin (He/Him)
Originally from Danbury, Connecticut, Josiah has a passion for creating inclusive communities and elevating queer joy. To him, queer joy is about creating an inclusive space where folks can live authentically and experience collective peace and serenity. His first pride experience was New York CIty Pride in 1996. Being in this vibrant community helped me to not only experience queer joy for the first time but to cement his identity as a queer black man. In college at the University of Maine he was the president of Wilde Stein, the oldest queer straight alliance in Maine. While there, he created a queer Thanksgiving celebration for students who didn’t have a safe environment to celebrate Thanksgiving. Josiah enjoys traveling, cooking, photography, music, hiking, and anything involving the ocean or lighthouses. As a first generation American he will contribute a unique perspective of the American Dream which should be inclusive of all folks from every background. Diversity makes us stronger and a more collective force.
Jake Langbehn (He/Him)
Jake is a current downtown Indianapolis, IN member of the LGBTQIA+ community. He brings with him a perspective of the queer community from multiple regions and trips across the United States and was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. He came out as Bisexual in 2020 and has been a part of Pride festivals in Chicago, Indianapolis, Orlando, and Columbus, OH. Jake attended the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington and was the President of his fraternity Kappa Eta Phi. He is currently a Staff Accountant for Graymont Medical. Jake believes he brings a diverse background and passion for the LGBTQIA+ community with the various connections he’s have made. His favorite memories in Indianapolis have been volunteering with drag queens, riding tricycles at the Hoosier 250, and dancing like no one is watching in our queer spaces. After the devastating 2024 presidential election, it is important now more than ever to stand firmly with every aspect of the queer rainbow of Indiana, and Jake will continue to do just that.
Sheila Wolfe (She/Her)
Sheila has lived in the Indianapolis area virtually all of her life. She is a graduate of Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business, and a proud mother of two sons who are the most important things in the world to her. Connor, her eldest, is a proud gay man currently studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. Cory is on the Autism Spectrum and lives with Sheila full time. Presently, Sheila is self-employed as a special education consultant working throughout the state training families on special education law and assisting them in getting appropriate educational plans for their child with a disability in their public school. In her “pre-motherhood life”, she had the honor of working directly with the Mayor’s Office, representatives of local government, and CEOs of all the local major corporations as the Associate Director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC). GIPC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was formed to address civic, cultural, economic, and governmental issue facing the community. Her responsibilities included all fundraising and financial management for the organization and its various project funds, as well as management of the task forces formed. Sheila’s friends will tell you she loves to have fun and enjoy live music, dancing, Colts football, I.U. basketball, and hobbies such as junk journaling, painting, and gardening whenever she can. Everything she does in life is a result of a passion. She is looking forward to applying this passion to finding ways to enhance the joy of life experienced by the LGBTQ+ community in Indianapolis.
Patrick Wagner (He/Him)
Patrick is an Indianapolis native and is an Associate Director of Portfolio and Project Management at Eli Lilly and Company. Patrick is a Director on the DePauw University Alumni Board, where he sits on the Institutional Equity Committee; he is a six-year member of the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, where he has been fortunate to share the stage with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Gary Beech, and Tony Award-winning Judy Kaye; and he is proudly a three-season member on the “Kick Ball Change” kickball team with Stonewall Sports – Indianapolis.
Kris Wentland* (She/They)
Kris graduated from Indiana University in May 2024 with my MPA and currently works for the U.S. Department of Energy supporting energy efficiency for low-income and tribal communities across the country. Although she’s new to Indianapolis, she’s not new to organizing Pride. In 2018 Kris was a co-organizer for the first pride celebration in Berea, KY and has organized multiple drag shows thereafter. Her spouse grew up in Indianapolis and they live near the fairgrounds with their two dogs and two cats. In her free time, Kris loves gardening, cooking, and doing anything outside. She looks forward to bringing a sustainability mindset to Indy Pride so we can do our part to combat climate change and support our community.
*January Appointee
Erika Haskins* (She/Her)
Erika is a creative force and community advocate rooted in Indianapolis, with strong ties to St. Louis. While her Midwest upbringing shaped her foundation, Erika draws significant inspiration from East Coast culture, a vibrant influence reflected in her bold and expressive fashion. As a photographer, Erika uses her lens to capture compelling visuals that break through barriers of discrimination, hate, and oppression. She is also a passionate writer and poet, channeling her experiences and emotions into spoken word pieces addressing social, political, and personal themes. Erika’s activism is at the core of her identity. She has been a tireless advocate for social justice, leading efforts in Indy to dismantle systemic inequities and create meaningful change. It was during this fight for justice Erika found an unexpected blessing—her best friend, fiancé, and life partner—discovering what she calls a “revolutionary kind of love.” In addition to her activism and art, Erika shares her journey and unique perspective as a co-host on a LGBTQ based podcast, Put it in the Air Podcast, where she offers an intimate look at her life, values, and creative pursuits.
*January Appointee
Alex Richardson (He/Him)
Alex Richardson, Ph.D. is a new Hoosier, recently taking up residence with his partner in the Massachusetts Avenue neighborhood of Indianapolis. Alex is the Associate Director for Content Strategy and Engagement at The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, and a professor in the Department of Philosophy at DePauw University. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics—the world’s largest professional ethics organization. Alex looks forward to working on behalf of all Hoosiers to create an inclusive and joyful community in Indianapolis and beyond.
Jose Castillo Jimenez (He/Him)
Jose Castillo Jimenez has proudly served on the Indy Pride Board since 2020 and is thrilled to continue for another two years! Jose has been a passionate advocate for creating safe and joyful spaces for all queer people in Indy and beyond, with a special focus on uplifting people of color. By day, Jose works at a charter school dedicated to serving immigrant students, fostering a strong sense of identity, and breaking down barriers to success. In his free time, Jose loves dancing, cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.
Lupe Pedraza (She/Her)
Lupe Pedraza has proudly served on the Indy Pride board since 2022 and is thrilled to continue her work for another term. As a Mexican immigrant, Lupe has embraced life in Indianapolis over the past 19 years, bringing her passion and dedication to the city’s queer community. She works as a psychometrist and research assistant with IU, balancing her professional career with her love of travel and caring for her two beloved cats. Lupe is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and celebrating queer joy. She envisions a more equitable and vibrant Indianapolis for all and looks forward to furthering Indy Pride’s mission to uplift and empower the LGBTQ+ community.
Komal Sheth (She/Her)
Komal Sheth has proudly served on the Indy Pride board since 2022 and is excited to return for another term. A proud Indy transplant of over ten years, Komal has built a life in Indianapolis with her wife and their two rescue dogs. As the founder of Sheth Strategies, her branding and strategy agency, she partners with purpose-driven brands and nonprofits to create impactful, mission-aligned brand identities. Komal is deeply passionate about making Indianapolis a more joyful and equitable place for the queer community and looks forward to continuing her work with Indy Pride to champion inclusivity and celebrate diversity.
Katie Warthan (She/Her)
Katie Warthan has been a proud board member of Indy Pride since 2022 and is excited to return for another year. She is a proud ally for the LGBTQIA+ community and fights to ensure equality for everyone. Her favorite memories with Indy Pride are volunteering at the annual festival, planning the career fair, and cheering on participants at the Hoosier 250. Katie is currently the Director of Communication and Marketing for the Eiteljorg where she brings over 19 years of experience working in brand strategy, content creation, and event execution. She is a proud Hoosier native and currently lives in Whitestown with her husband and two children.