The SAIGE Special Election for the 2026 President-Elect is now open! SAIGE is holding this special election for President-Elect. The successful candidate will begin their term on January 1, 2026. Members should submit their vote using the link that was emailed by SAIGE leadership.
Please cast your vote by COB, Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The successful candidate will be announced by the SAIGE Leadership by Friday, October 3, 2025. Information related to the candidates who were nominated for this position are included below.
2026 President Elect Candidates
Frank Gorritz Fitzsimons, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC, ACS, QS
Oppressive legislation has been rampant and devastating throughout LGBTQIA+ history. It was because of ongoing and increasing oppression that I became involved with SAIGE and their advocacy efforts across the country. Wanting to make a difference, I started out in supporting SAIGE-FL with my advocacy experience that spans over a decade of my professional and personal journey.
As the most recent President of SAIGE-FL, leadership through community focus and collaboration have been key elements of SAIGE-FL’s successes, allowing generations of counselors to remain vigilant and united through oppressive times. My active work in developing and maintaining advocacy chats has been a source of vitality for our counselors and Florida community who have been seeking resilience despite minority stress.
It is my platform to continue developing SAIGE Advocacy Spaces across the country and assist states in developing SAIGE branches that either may not be functioning or existent. I plan to collaborate with WPATH and Lambda Legal as part of promoting accessible training and awareness around obstacles related to affirming LGBTQIA+ counseling care for SAIGE members across the country. Burning brightly with passion to provide light and warmth embodies the energy I bring to SAIGE as the incoming president and president-elect.
Thank you for your consideration!
Marlon Johnson, PhD, LPC (TX), LPC-MHSP (TN), NCC
I am running for the role of president-elect to continue SAIGE’s vision of creating a more inclusive and expansive way forward for LGBTGEQIAP+ persons. The basis of my leadership style is to cultivate a culture of belonging for our clients, our students, and our practitioners. To do so will require SAIGE and its leaders to engage personal anecdotes and relevant data to develop strategic goals for our division. I believe these goals should center underrepresented voices (i.e., Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, and Middle Eastern/North African [MENA] voices, Trans and Gender-expansive Siblings, Queer Elders and Youth, Persons with Disabilities, and individuals within rural localities) These goals are only achieved through intentional partnerships and relationships with leaders from those communities so that we can make a practical impact on our profession and our communities. My work is to strengthen these relationships while supporting our Board and State Branches as they provide up-to-date information about public policy changes, advocacy support, LGBTGEQIAP+ educational opportunities, and, most importantly, space to CELEBRATE our WINS. We cannot do this work alone, but we can achieve something powerful when we work together. I hope to lead you with my ancestral gifts of resilience and Black Queer Joy!