The Mid-Atlantic Deaf & Interpreter Fund: An LGBT Friendly Interpreting Service

MADIF is a group of individuals with who have dedicated themselves to providing access for the Interpreting/Deaf/HoH (Hard of Hearing) community. Inclusion for everyone regardless of auditory status is our ultimate goal. We achieve this by offering ASL classes, grants for student interpreters and mentoring. We  offer interpreting services at a discounted rate to LGBTQ festivals, businesses, non-profits and events within the region. To do this, funding is critical. Please donate today!

Meet Our Team

PRSIDENT Acting

President:  David “pug” Spellman
Dave has  lived in Baltimore since 1997. He was introduced to the leather community in 2003 when he joined the Shipmates Club of Baltimore. In 2008 Dave won the title of Mid-Atlantic Community Bootblack and soon was made a member of Hooker & Boys which he is still an active member of. In 2016 Kevin Lowery (the Founder of MADIF) asked Dave to join to the board of directors of an organization he was starting up. The Mid-Atlantic Deaf Interpreter Fund. Dave was an active member of the Board until 2019 when we lost Kevin to Liver Cancer.
The board then voted Dave in as the new President of MADIF. Dave is currently serving as MADIFS President.

Treasurer: Shayne Patrick StanleyShayne was the Secretary for Phi Beta Lambda 1992. Graduated with a Degree in Accounting from South Hills Business School Pa. Shayne served as bookkeeper and secretary for Boalsburg Pa. Township. He was also bookkeeper for J& L services and All electric services in Baltimore Md. for several years.

Secretary/IT : Jamie Stanley has been part of the Baltimore LGBTQ community for over 20 years and was previously an activist in the LGBTQ community of New York City. Jamie is an artist and a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC where she earned a B.A. in not only fine Art but Web Design and Communications. Jamie earned certificates in business administration at Towson University. Jamie has been a member of the MADIF board since 2018 and has served as web-designer and IT Tech since 2018. In 2019 Jamie was asked to also serve as MADIF’s Secretary, which is a position she is currently holding.

Board Members

Indigo  , He is long time member of the LGBT+ leather and kink community in the Washington DC area. He has been involved since 2013 and has given much of his time to fundraising and charity events all over the region. In 2016 he served as Mid-Atlantc Drummerboy 2016 (an LGBT+ fetsh and kink title) which allowed him to connect with people from all over the region. He is also an Associate Member of the ONYX Mid-Atlantic chapter and helps to promote PrEP advocacy and education through being a part of the PrEP Squad DC promotional campaign.

Buz Norwood has been a part of the Mid-Atlantic communities for more than 35 years, and is proud to serve on the Board of MADIF. She lives in Baltimore with her wife, Lee. Buz is on the board of the Carter Johnson Leather Library. She has served as board chair of the Leather Heart Foundation and sits on the organization’s advisory board. Buz is a former board member of the GLCCB and a former title holder, Ms. Baltimore Eagle 1999. In 2017, the family was honored to have the 19th annual 12 Days of Christmas dedicated to them, in recognition for their many years of commitment to the fundraising event. Buz and Lee are proud recipients of the 2016 Pantheon of Leather Couple of the Year award. Buz also received the 2015 Leather Woman of the Year award for “Outstanding Service to COMMAND MC and the Leather Community”.

Eli Cole is a professional American Sign Language Interpreter. She earned her BA in Sign Language Studies (2005) from Madonna University in MI, she has since worked in various regions of the US including: Detroit, Texas and the DMV area. Eli moved to the DC metro area in 2008, where she continues to ensure communication modalities are met and are in accordance with the consumers’ needs and preferences. Upon meeting fellow interpreter and access advocate Kevin Lowery (2018), Eli was enlisted to support the mission and ensure that accommodations and access for Deaf LGBTQ+ community members are provided. She has been a MADIF board member since 2020.