About Us
Who We Are
Structurally, OUTBermuda is a company ‘limited by guarantee’, used primarily for charitable of social purposes and does not pay dividends. As mentioned elsewhere, the company was formed in November 2014, rebranded in March 2015 and was registered as a charitable organisation on 22 May 2016. We have a Board of Directors and appointed Officers who manage the work of the charity on a volunteer basis. Please find a copy of our Charitable Organization Registration Certificate here. We are always looking for continued diversity and community feedback so if you are interested in becoming a part of OUTBermuda, either as a volunteer or in more formal capacity, please reach out to us.
Our Mission
The issues facing the LGBTQ community in Bermuda are as diverse as the community itself – work place inclusiveness, bullying in schools, discrimination, unequal treatment under the law, public ridicule and physical violence are but a few of the areas in which LGBTQ people face adversity.
OUTBermuda promotes and supports the wellbeing, health, dignity, security, safety and protection of the LGBTQ community in Bermuda by providing educational resources on issues of diversity, inclusiveness, awareness and acceptance as regards LGBTQ people, and seeks generally to advance human rights, conflict resolution and the promotion of equality and diversity relating to the LGBTQ community in Bermuda.
Committee Members
Program Committee
Sara Corday – Co-Chair & Pride Lead (Board)
Taj Donville-Outerbridge – Co-Chair & Advocacy Lead (Board)
Christina Arden – E&W Lead (Board, Ex-officio)
Arlene Galvez – E&T Lead (Community Rep)
Taylor Ebbin (Community Rep)
Ashun Wolffe (Community Rep)
Fundraising Committee
Buddy Fleming – Chair (Board)
Zakiya Johnson Lord (Board)
Dean Parris (Community Rep)
Communications & Marketing Committee
Michael DeCouto – Co-Chair (Board)
Tiara Webb – Co-Chair (Board)
Governance & Finance Committee
Abigail Clifford (Co-Chair)
Ravi Pachai (Co-Chair)
Elizabeth Schaefer (Community Rep)
Executive Director
Joshua Samuels
(he/him/his)
Joshua is the full-time executive director at OUTBermuda, providing strategic leadership to the board and managing charity operations. With 20 years of global experience in nonprofit management, Josh has consistently advanced equity work for marginalized groups, particularly young people, racialized communities, and migrants - including LGBTQ+ refugees.
Throughout his career, Josh has spearheaded the implementation of strategies around equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. He has worked with refugee and migrant communities in the US and the UK - critically examining power structures and co-creating programs that honor beneficiaries and center people with lived experience. In his most recent role before joining OUTBermuda, Josh developed a new equity project for the UK’s largest national mental health charity. Working collaboratively with leading Black mental health charities, he established the Black Mental Health Collective - a national movement influencing systems change and challenging racial health disparities.
Born and raised in Bermuda, Josh spent the first half of his career on the island serving as a Christian pastor. His journey toward embracing his queer identity has given him unique insight into the joys and challenges LGBTQ+ people experience, particularly at the intersection of race, sexuality, and religion. Josh welcomes dialogue around these intersections as an avenue for building understanding and solidarity. Joshua holds a master's degree in Biblical Studies as well as an MA in Migration Studies from the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK.
One of the overarching purposes of his life’s work is to cultivate the unique contributions of all people, especially those on the margins. As an openly gay, Black Bermudian, Joshua wants to see a Bermuda where all people feel safe, supported, and celebrated, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He is committed to leading the work at OUTBermuda in a way that acknowledges systemic injustice and celebrates the island’s diverse LGBTQ+ community.
Board of Directors
Abigail Clifford
(she/her)
Abigail is the Group President & Chief Executive Officer of BF&M Insurance Group. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, including the international reinsurance industry. In 2013, she joined BF&M and held various business and support positions during her tenure including Group Chief Operating Officer, EVP Life & Health Division and Group Chief Administrative Officer.
Prior to joining BF&M, Ms. Clifford spent over 14 years at Partner Reinsurance Company working in Bermuda and in the US. Her most recent role was Group Chief Human Resources Officer. She holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington College.
Taj Donville-Outerbridge
(they/he)
Taj is an unapologetic black, queer, and non-binary multi-award-winning human rights activist, writer, and student. Born and raised in Bermuda, they have long history of LGBTQ+ activism, founding Bermuda’s first LGBTQ+ youth group, ‘The Village’ and being a founding member of the Bermuda Pride organizing team. Taj is also a regular contributor to the island’s media outlets on issues related to youth, LGBTQ+ rights, and politics.
Currently living and studying in the UK, they continue to be an active human rights champion at the university level, at the national level, and internationally. Taj has been an elected student leader since starting his undergraduate at King’s College London, where lead the LGBTQ+ groups on campus. They also sit on several youth and student advisory committees across the UK charity sector, advocating for the intersectional needs of the black queer community.
Internationally, Taj serves as the Treasurer and only black executive board member of the International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organization (IGLYO), which is the world’s largest network of LGBTQ+ youth and student organizations.
In their limited free time, Taj enjoys spending time with friends, baking, and watching TV shows/films. They are also known for their unique style and can frequently be found walking the fashion categories at Balls across the European Ballroom Scene.
Michael DeCouto
(he/him/his)
Michael has served with Clarien Bank (formerly Capital G Bank Limited) since 2006. His responsibilities include development and implementation of the Bank’s integrated marketing plan, the digital transformation of the company, development and governance of the corporate brand, and all corporate communications.
In 2018 Michael was awarded a Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his work as chairman of the communications committee for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda. In 2013 he served as a member of the sales and marketing committee of the Bermuda Tourism Board. From 1999 to 2006, Michael worked with the Bermuda Government Department of Tourism, beginning as Manager of Creative Services and ending his tenure as Director of Marketing. In this capacity he led all aspects of global consumer marketing for Bermuda. He was consulting Creative Director of Global Crossing from 1998 to 1999, establishing an international image for the firm through advertising and collateral development.
Fluent in three languages, Michael began his marketing career with NYNEX (Bermuda) Limited in 1995. He attended the ABA School of Bank Marketing and Management, and Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He also studied advertising at the New York Institute of Technology, and integrated marketing and communications at New York University.
Sara J. Corday
(she/her)
Sara is a dedicated and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, embracing her identity with joy and authenticity. Educated in Bermuda and Nova Scotia, Canada, Sara has a B.A. in History from Acadia University and has worked in the hospitality and non- profit sectors, before settling at Butterfield Insurance as an Underwriter in 2014.
Passionate about exploring the world and learning about different cultures, Sara enjoys traveling to new destinations with her wife, April, where they love to explore the history and heritage of any new country. When she's not jet-setting to far-off lands, Sara enjoys cozy evenings at home with her wife and their two cats, indulging in her guilty pleasure of reality shows about love or documentaries about shipwrecks (she’s complicated y’all). Above all, Sara is driven to make Bermuda an accepting and welcoming place for everyone through purposeful education, constant visibility and unwavering love.
Ravi Pachai
(he/him/his)
Ravi is a founding Director of OUTBermuda and returned to the Board in 2021. Ravi is passionate about human rights and has a particular interest in the intersectionality of race and sexuality. He is a past Commissioner for the Bermuda Human Rights Commission, and he has been actively involved in a number of LGBTQ+ related professional networks including LGBTQ+ Insurance Network (Link) Bermuda and Pride-related business resource groups. Ravi is a qualified actuary having worked in the insurance industry for over 17 years. Born in Bermuda, he has lived in Canada, Mexico, Sweden and the UK. Ravi is living back home in Bermuda with his husband Steven and together they enjoy travelling and gardening.
Jameka Smith
(she/her/hers)
Jameka is a founding Director of OUTBermuda. She and her wife Charlene Smith, who is also a member of OUTBermuda, made a landmark spousal certificate application submission to the Department of Immigration in 2013 that was repeatedly challenged for filing and acceptance on the grounds that they were a same sex couple. In 2019, it was finally approved, granting Charlene employment and residency rights in Bermuda and legally recognizing her as Jameka’s spouse. Jameka has worked in the profession of landscape architecture for over 20 years, in both Bermuda and the USA. Outside of work, she can be found exploring trails, gardens and parks, with her wife and their son, or reading ancient philosophy books. Jameka believes that everyone deserves to live a healthy, safe, and blissful life.
Buddy Fleming
(he/him/his)
Buddy Fleming is a dedicated Luxury Real Estate Specialist and the Director of Luxury for Keller Williams Bermuda, bringing over 16 years of Luxury industry experience to his role. With a background that includes Luxury Hospitality leadership as well as residential real estate sales at Tuckers’ Point, Buddy has developed a deep understanding of the high-end client and their unique needs.Known for his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to exceeding client expectations, Buddy ensures that the buying and selling experience in Bermuda is both enjoyable and stress-free.
Buddy is happily married to his husband, Brad, and living with their puppy, Charlie.
Outside of real estate, Buddy is known for his active contributions to the community as a certified personal trainer and fitness coach, board member of Friends of Hospice, and works frequently with Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), reflecting his commitment to both personal wellness and community betterment.
Buddy is both humbled and honoured to join the board of OUTBermuda and is looking forward to playing a vital role in the company's future.
Zakiya Johnson-Lord
(she/her/hers)
A founding Director of OUTBermuda, Zakiya identifies as a Black Bermudian lesbian mother. She attended the Bermuda High School for Girls for 12 years before earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the U.S. Zakiya began her career as a clinical therapist in Alabama. She has also lived and worked in Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C. She has worked in development and donor engagement for LGBTQ+ organisations and is presently serving as senior philanthropic advisor for Movement Voter Project, mobilising voters to build long-term progressive power. She and her wife currently live in D.C., where they are raising their young son, who is Black boy joy and magic.