In our 48th year, PGN is proud to present a new kind of recognition — a list of 48 leaders who truly embody the spirit of resilience and impact within the LGBTQ+ community. Unlike the usual “most influential” lists filled with familiar names, we aimed to spotlight those who tirelessly contribute behind the scenes, whose work often goes uncelebrated. These individuals are the driving force for change, and it’s time they received the recognition they deserve.
Our editorial coverage helped guide us in selecting this year’s honorees, ensuring we highlight not only emerging voices but also those who’ve paved the way. We’re celebrating this diverse group’s dedication to improving lives and advancing equality during a ceremony on Oct. 10 at the historic Arch Street Meeting House, marking a meaningful moment in PGN’s legacy.
This year’s celebration coincides with two important events: OURFest and National Coming Out Day. The second annual OURFest: National Coming Out Parade and Festival is a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride, resilience and unity led by GALAEI, while National Coming Out Day serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for visibility and acceptance.
Together, these celebrations amplify the significance of honoring 48 remarkable leaders who continue to inspire, lead and create lasting change.
Bios for the honorees — compiled by PGN writers Liz Declan, Emily Leopard-Davis and Rayna Lewis — showcase the inspiring journeys of these remarkable leaders who have dedicated their lives to championing change.
Trailblazers
These trailblazers are pioneers in our community, effectively breaking barriers and paving the way for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
Daniel J. Anders
Administrative Judge for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County’s Trial Division
Daniel J. Anders was the first openly gay man to run for public office in Philadelphia. When serving as supervising judge of the civil division, he successfully eliminated the backlog from the pandemic by creating innovative case-management protocols. He is a past president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges — which has over 800 LGBTQ+ judicial members from across the world — and currently serves as the president of the International LGBTQ+ Judges Foundation.
Malcolm Kenyatta
State Rep. for Philadelphia’s 181st District, Candidate for Auditor General
Representative Malcolm Kenyatta is a barrier-breaking public figure, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color and one of the youngest people to become a member of the PA General Assembly in 2018. In 2022, he became the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color to seek a U.S. Senate seat in American history. In 2023, he was appointed by President Joe Biden to chair the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.
Sue Kerr
Founder of Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
Sue Kerr is a Pittsburgh-based journalist and LGBTQ+ activist. In 2005, she launched her blog, the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, which has since earned multiple GLAAD Media Awards. In recognition of her efforts to memorialize trans victims of fatal violence, she was named one of The Advocate’s People of the Year in 2022. Her accomplishments include a political Q&A series with Pennsylvania candidates delving into LGBTQ+ campaign politics. In 2022, Kerr also created the #ProtectTransKids yard sign project, successfully distributing over 2,000 signs and 10,000 stickers.
Rue Landau
Philadelphia City Councilmember At-Large; First Openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council
Rue Landau, a civil rights attorney and first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council, has spent her career fighting for social justice. Prior to being elected to office, she worked at Community Legal Services and directed the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing Commission. Since joining City Council, she has championed affordable housing, consumer protection, outdoor dining and the city’s arts and culture sectors.
Micah Mahjoubian
Chief of Staff at the Office for Sen. Sharif Street; Rules Committee Chair of the PA Democratic Party
With over 30 years of experience in issue advocacy, government and politics at the local, state and federal levels, Micah Mahjoubian has built a career at the intersection of politics, policy and technology. A longtime member and past Co-Chair of the Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club, Mahjoubian has spent much of his life helping elect candidates who prioritize issues affecting LGBTQ+ people. In 2010, he partnered with PGN Publisher Mark Segal to build the nation’s first LGBTQ+-friendly affordable senior housing project, John C. Anderson Apartments.
Alba Martinez
Director of Commerce for City of Philadelphia
Originally from Puerto Rico, Alba Martinez is Philadelphia’s first Latina and first LGBTQ+ director of commerce. Using her experience as both an executive at Vanguard, and in the nonprofit sector as a child welfare commissioner, Martinez is able to connect uniquely with businesses and constituents alike. Her goal is to help provide opportunity to Philadelphia’s small neighborhood businesses and to support the distinct needs of individual job seekers.
Emerging Leaders
These emerging leaders are driving change at local and state levels, bringing a fresh perspective to advocacy and community development while contributing to economic growth, health equity and political inclusion.
Dr. Tariem Burroughs
Executive Director for External Partnerships at Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Dr. Tariem Burroughs is the Executive Director of External Partnerships at Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health. Holding advanced degrees in organizational development, education and sociology, he is a provider, evaluator and educator. Dr. Burroughs has chaired LGBTQ+ organizations like Liberty City and Philly Family Pride, as well as community groups like SEPTA’s CAC. He is a connector who advocates for a dynamic, interprofessional public health workforce to provide for the health and well-being of communities.
Andre D. Carroll
State Rep. for Philadelphia’s 201st District
After dedicating his life to uplifting underprivileged youth and organizing progressive campaigns, Andre D. Carroll won the recent special election and became the second Black, openly gay state representative in Pennsylvania. In 2019, as the campaign manager for Nicolas O’Rourke, Carroll developed the Working Families Party’s strategy to successfully elect Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia’s first third-party candidate, to City Council. Most recently, Carroll served as the senior strategist on Councilman Isaiah Thomas’s successful primary reelection campaign for Philadelphia City Council at Large.
Jo Miller
Woodbury City Ward 1 Councilperson, first trans politician in South Jersey
In 2022, Councilperson Jo Miller left law school early to combat the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping the nation. A year later, she was sworn into Woodbury City Council, becoming the first out-transgender person to serve in a partisan elected office in New Jersey’s history. Miller was also selected for the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s 2023 Empowerment Fellowship, where she honed her campaigning and legislative skills to better represent the LGBTQ+ community in public office.
Sydni Perry-Anderson
TransWork Administrator at Independence Business Alliance
Sydni Perry-Anderson is the TransWork administrator at the Independence Business Alliance, Greater Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. TransWork addresses critical needs for trans people in employment and entrepreneurship, and it is the first trans-focused program to be based within a chamber. Outside of TransWork, Perry-Anderson is an avid cyclist and ceramicist and she is passionate about building inclusive and accessible spaces in those communities as well.
Raymond Smeriglio
Senior Manager of Lift Zones team at Comcast; Commissioner for PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs
Raymond Smeriglio’s professional life has remained at the intersection of investment and opportunity. His current role is leading Comcast’s Lift Zones, a free community Wi-Fi program as part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion digital equity and economic mobility commitment. Smeriglio’s commitment to equity and inclusion spans beyond his full-time job, serving on the PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs, advocating on behalf of queer Pennsylvanians, and the Board of Directors for the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation.
Ashleigh Strange
Executive Director of PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs
Ashleigh Strange is the executive director of the PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, where they work to improve government programs that impact LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians and lead efforts to educate the community. Previously, Strange was the communications director for PA Stands Up and Make the Road PA. A graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in their hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, they now live in Allentown, PA, with their partner, child, cats and several failing plants.
Community Advocates
From grassroots organizing to leading community initiatives, these advocates have devoted their careers to advancing LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for marginalized groups within the community.
Jacen Bowman
Vice President of Philly Black Pride
Jacen Bowman, a distinguished celebrity makeup artist, dedicates his time to making a difference in the lives of young Philadelphians. Recently, he spearheaded a mural honoring Black and brown LGBTQ+ icons from Philadelphia’s ballroom scene. Bowman also attended the 2024 Democratic National Convention as a featured social media content creator. Currently, he is working as a field organizer for the Human Rights Campaign, promoting the “Knock for Kamala, Walz-ing to Victory” initiative across neighborhoods.
Tyrell Brown
Executive Director of GALAEI
Through their leadership at LGBTQ+/BIPOC/Latinx organization GALAEI, Tyrell Brown co-organized the 50th annual Pride festivities in Philadelphia in 2022. Brown founded Philly Pride 365 which has cultivated Philadelphia’s two largest Pride events consecutively, including the nation’s first parade for National Coming Out Day in 2023. This year, Philly Pride 2024 amassed an estimated 110,000 attendees and generated an immense economic impact for LGBTQ+ small businesses, local nonprofits and the city at large.
Ricky Buttacavoli
Founder of the Montgomery County LGBT Business Council and Ricky’s Pride PAC
A visionary LGBTQ+ advocate, Ricky Buttacavoli is the founder of the Montgomery County LGBT Business Council and Ricky’s Pride PAC. He played a key role in forming the Montgomery County Commission for LGBTQIA+ Affairs and has been influential in the passage of nondiscrimination ordinances and Pride flag raisings, including the first at the County Courthouse. He also serves on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s Montgomery County Advisory Council, PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs and the Montgomery County Community College Foundation Board.
Michael DelBene
President & CEO of Welcome America, Inc.
Michael DelBene is the president and CEO of Welcome America, Inc. and a member of the Board of Governors for the PHL Chapter of the Recording Academy. DelBene has considerable experience in Philadelphia’s nonprofit sector, including work as the head of major gifts at the National Constitution Center and leading fundraising at the Mann Center. DelBene prioritizes fostering inclusion at the renowned Wawa Welcome America Festival, focusing on intentionally incorporating Philadelphia’s neighborhoods in particular.
Breighton Golphin
Organizer of Philly Trans March
A Philly Native, Breighton Golphin, has been highly active in various local grassroots movements in Philadelphia that center trans rights, abolition, gentrification, housing rights, food insecurity, mutual aid, reproductive rights, workers rights, workforce development and plenty of other causes that have a direct impact on them as well as their community. Aside from community organizing, they are also a licensed tradesperson.
C.C. Tellez
Founder of Lez Run Philadelphia
An openly lesbian runner from La Paz, Bolivia, C.C. Tellez founded Lez Run Running Club and co-directs the Philly Pride Run. As a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in running, her efforts have led to races like the Philadelphia Distance Run adopting nonbinary registrations with equal prizes — a change that has influenced major races, including the World Marathon Majors. Tellez’s advocacy work has earned her numerous awards, including the DVLF Hero Award and the William Way Community Service Award.
Artists and Creatives
These artists and creatives have used their platforms to express the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ people, creating spaces for dialogue and visibility through their performances, art and literature.
David Acosta
Artistic Director of Philadelphia Cultural Alliance; Founder of GALAEI
David Acosta is a poet, writer, curator and cultural producer. A longtime LGBTQ+ activist, he founded GALAEI in the late ’80s and has been involved in numerous LGBTQ+ political, civil and cultural organizations and boards both locally and nationally. He has curated several solo and group art exhibitions and directed live performance and video pieces for stage, video and film. He is the co-founder and artistic director for Casa de Duende in Philadelphia.
Sapphira Cristál
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16 Runner-up
Long before her run on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Sapphira Cristál was winning 16 pageant crowns, including Miss’d America 2020/2021. The classically trained opera singer, composer and drag queen known for her theatrical lip sync style and six-octave vocal range twice served as the guest artist in Madonna’s Celebration Tour in 2024. Sapphira also appeared at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2019 and in 2023, when she was a headliner. Philadelphia Magazine named her 2023’s Best Drag Queen Who Actually Sings.
Kelli Dunham
Comedian; Co-Founder of the Philly Dyke March
Kelli Dunham is the typical nonbinary ex-nun nurse and trauma-informed storyteller-writer-comedian. Dunham has appeared on Showtime, BBC’s “Sunday,” PBS’s “Stories from the Stage” and the Moth Mainstage. Dunham is the author of seven hilarious nonfiction books about not-funny-at-all subjects and loves to talk with nurses and other helping professionals with impossible jobs about using humor to deal with vicarious trauma and work-related grief. Dunham is also a 2015 White House Champions of Change nominee.
TS Hawkins
Poet
TS Hawkins is an international author, performance poet, art activist, playwright, trauma-informed and award-winning educator, and member of the Dramatists Guild. Hawkins’s works have received numerous awards, including the Victory Foundation Award for Outstanding Theatre Education Program and Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly. Hawkins has been featured by BroadwayWorld, Philly Voice, NPR, WHYY, WURD Radio, Philadelphia Weekly, the Chicago Tribune, The Dramatist and dosage MAGAZINE. Recently, they also served as a Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn LGBT Center.
James Ijames
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Creator of “Fat Ham”
A Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-nominated playwright, director and educator, James Ijames has made a lasting impact on the theater world. He received the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist and has won two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play. His numerous accolades include The Terrence McNally New Play Award, the Whiting Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Ijames’s play “Fat Ham” was also a 2023 Tony Award nominee for Best Play.
Yoojin Park
Drag Performer
Yoojin Park is a Korean American trans activist and drag king. Also known as Eugene Rideher Betta, he has dedicated his art to advocating for LGBTQIA+ young people and queer/trans performers of color. With only a year and a half of performing under his belt, he has already made waves producing the only all-ages drag competition, the only all-transmasculine cabaret and the only BIPOC king show in Philadelphia.
Health and Wellness Champions
These champions have prioritized LGBTQ+ health and wellness, driving progress in mental health services, HIV care and inclusive health practices.
Dr. Vicky Borgia
Family Medicine Physician at Radiance Medical Group
A board-certified family medicine physician, Dr. Vicky Borgia is the founder of Radiance Medical Group, a community-supported direct primary care practice. With 25 years of experience advocating for and treating medically disenfranchised patients, she focuses on LGBTQIA+ care, Health at Every Size®, and reproductive health through a liberatory lens. Dr. Borgia aims to create a compassionate, inclusive health-care experience and is fiercely dedicated to her patients (unless you try to schedule during the Phillies playoffs).
Dr. B.J. Howard
Family Physician at AtlantiCare
Dr. B.J. Howard, a board-certified family physician, is passionate about serving underserved communities, including people of color, military personnel and the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals. A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Howard served in the Army, rising to the rank of Major before retiring in 2023. At AtlantiCare, they continue to provide gender-affirming care and enjoy the organization’s strong commitment to equity.
Sonalee Rashatwar
Therapist and Body Positivity/Sex Positivity Advocate
Known on social media as TheFatSexTherapist, Sonalee Rashatwar specializes in politicized therapy and is the co-owner of Radical Therapy Center. Last year, they were the keynote speaker at Philly FatCon and have written for health.com about their personal struggles with fatphobia. Rashatwar earned their BA in environmental studies, geography and urban studies from Temple University before earning their master’s in social work and master’s of education in human sexuality from Widener University. They are licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Sultan Shakir
President and Executive Officer of the Mazzoni Center
North Philly native Sultan Shakir has been the president and executive officer of the Mazzoni Center since 2021. He came on as their first permanent executive since 2018. Prior to this, he was the executive director of SMYAL and held two roles at the Human Rights Campaign. Since taking charge of the Mazzoni Center, Shakir has navigated the organization through pandemic-related financial challenges, managed an MPox outbreak and vaccinations, and hosted mayoral candidates to discuss LGBTQ+ issues.
Javontae Lee Williams
HIV Prevention Program Manager at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Javontae Lee Williams is a public health advocate, speaker and trainer specializing in public health leadership, men’s health and racialized health disparities. As the HIV Prevention Program Manager at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, he leads initiatives to end the HIV epidemic. Williams holds a Sociology degree from Temple University and a Master of Public Health from West Chester University, with a career focused on translating research into practical health solutions for marginalized communities.
Baligh R. Yehia
President of Jefferson Health
As president of Jefferson Health and Chief Transformation Officer at Jefferson’s Enterprise, Baligh R. Yehia, MD, MPP, MSc, FACP oversees over 30 hospitals and 600 sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A national leader in community health and equitable care, he’s board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Yehia’s people-centered approach drives innovation and growth, and he has published more than 150 works on topics like access to care and patient engagement.
Business and Innovation Leaders
These business leaders have fostered innovation, building companies and platforms that are helping to shape Philadelphia’s economic landscape while advancing diversity and inclusion.
Casey Cook
Executive Director of Bread & Roses Community Fund
Casey Cook is an activist and community organizer who has served as the executive director of Bread & Roses Community Fund since 2006. Bread & Roses is the Philadelphia region’s leading funder for racial, social and economic justice. Before joining Bread & Roses, Cook was the executive director of Prevention Point Philadelphia for six years. They also co-founded the Trans-Health Information Project, now called the Trans Equity Project, with Gloria Casarez and Ben Singer. Cook currently serves on the board of directors for Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia.
David M. Davis
Managing Director of Accenture Consulting
David M. Davis is the Managing Director of Accenture, leading their Public Sector Portfolio in Pennsylvania. During his 20 years at Accenture, he has provided support to federal, state and local governments. During the pandemic, he was responsible for helping Pennsylvania deploy benefits to populations impacted by food insecurity, guided Philadelphia students back to school, and addressed digital equity. He was recently appointed to the Penn State Board of Trustees by Gov. Josh Sharpiro and approved by the State Senate.
Lorena Plaza
Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at Independence Blue Cross
As Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at Independence Blue Cross, Lorena Plaza leads the company’s financial planning, forecasting, budgeting and management reporting. She previously worked at Lombard International Assurance as VP of Financial Planning & Analysis and Chief Risk Officer, and at MetLife and New York Life as head of International FP&A. Plaza is the executive sponsor of Independence’s Pride associate resource group and serves on the board of Independence Business Alliance.
Matthew Ray
Co-Owner of GroundFloor Studios; Chief Creative Officer at ChatterBlast
In 2009, Matthew Ray co-founded Chatterblast Media, the region’s largest queer-owned-and-operated marketing, advertising and creative firm. Through Chatterblast, Ray has worked with partners and projects locally and nationally, including The City of Philadelphia, SEPTA, GLAAD and Immigration Hub. Ray has also taught at colleges. This includes the first social media marketing classes at his alma mater, Temple University, which he also developed. In 2023, he and his business partner, Evan Urbania, opened GroundFloor Studio, an innovative production studio and event space in the Gayborhood.
José E. Vélez-Silva
Vice President of Multicultural Strategy, Operations ＆ Community Engagement at Comcast
Before becoming Vice President of Multicultural Strategy, Operations & Community Engagement at Comcast, José E. Vélez-Silva was Vice President of Integrated Multicultural Brand Marketing, leading efforts to boost brand consideration and market share among multicultural audiences. He also managed advertising agencies and campaigns. Prior to Comcast, he was Head of Client Services and a partner at Global Works Group LLC, where he oversaw multicultural advertising campaigns for various brands.
Zach Wilcha
CEO of the Independence Business Alliance
Zach Wilcha is the first CEO of the LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, the Independence Business Alliance (IBA). He is also a founding partner of Philadelphia’s Diverse Chamber Coalition. Under his leadership at the IBA, the organization has grown in staff and membership, saw an increase in diversity among the board and members, and started award-winning programming. This includes TransWork, the nation’s first trans economic uplift program to be run by a Chamber of Commerce.
Educators and Scholars
These educators and scholars are reshaping the way LGBTQ+ history and inclusion are integrated into academic curricula, providing critical insights and knowledge that promote understanding and respect.
Tara Rose Brown
Organizing Director at the Philly Children’s Movement
Tara Rose Brown MSW, MEd is a social worker, counselor, youth advocate and educator. She currently serves as the Organizing Director at the Philly Children’s Movement. Brown bases her work heavily on Black queer feminist theory, collective ideologies and grassroot efforts. She also centers radical intersectional justice and is a fierce supporter of community. Prior to coming to Philly Children’s Movement, she worked at the Health Resource Program in the Philadelphia School District.
Rebecca Fisher
Co-founder of Beyond the Bell Tours
Rebecca Fisher is the co-founder of Beyond the Bells Tours, an inclusive historical tour company that is “committed to putting the people back in people’s history.” Their two cornerstone tours are the Gayborhood/LGBTQ History Tour and the Badass Women’s Tour. Beyond the Bell was founded in 2018 and has since become one of the top-ranking tour companies in the Philadelphia area. Fisher graduated from Haverford College with degrees in Italian Studies and Peace, Justice and Human Rights.
Scott Gratson
Director of Undergraduate Studies at Temple University
Scott Gratson, Ph.D., Ph.D. is the director of undergraduate studies at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication and director of communication studies, advising nearly 400 students since 2004. He oversees programs in Tokyo and Kyoto and created the NYC Study Away and NYC Pride programs, now expanded to Washington, D.C. He also consults for the TUTV program “Queer Temple” and is currently pursuing his third doctorate at Oxford University.
Jonathan D. Katz
Associate Professor of Practice at University of Pennsylvania
Jonathan D. Katz is a pioneer in queer art history and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored several books and articles that often serve as the first queer accounts of many artists. Katz has curated numerous national and international exhibitions, including the first major museum exhibition on queer art at the Smithsonian. He was the first American to achieve tenure in queer studies and founded Yale’s lesbian and gay studies program, among others.
Nhakia Outland
Founder and Executive Director of Prevention Meets Fashion
As the founder and Executive Director of Prevention Meets Fashion (PMF), Nhakia Outland leads a nonprofit that uses fashion to educate the queer and Black communities about reproductive and sexual health needs. With 15 years of experience as a social worker, adjunct professor and sexuality educator, she has made significant contributions to the field. In 2023, Outland and her team launched the Sex Worker Prevention Project (SWPP) to address the needs of that community, including safety equipment and HIV testing, identified through interviews with current sex workers.
Ellamarie Quimby
Camp Director at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center
Ellamarie Quimby is a Philadelphia-based youth worker and artist who currently serves as the Camp Director at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center in Elmer, NJ. Over the last 20 years, her work experience has included the University of Alaska, DC Public Schools, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Interlochen Arts Academy. As the queer indigenous daughter of an immigrant, Quimby is committed to fostering inclusive, intersectional and loving spaces for growth and opportunity for all young people.
Media and Communications
These media professionals have brought LGBTQ+ stories to broader audiences, challenging stereotypes and creating opportunities for representation in mainstream media.
Conrad Benner
Founder of StreetsDept.com
Conrad Benner is the founder of StreetsDept.com, a photoblog about Philadelphia’s public art space. He is also a curator for Mural Arts and hosts WHYY’s Art Outside podcast. Benner’s work explores art in public spaces and the artists who create it. His curatorial work for Mural Arts includes “To the Polls,” a 2020 initiative aimed at encouraging civic engagement through voting, and “Front Street Walls,” a program that creates opportunities for new artists to paint their first murals.
Victoria A. Brownworth
Journalist
Victoria A. Brownworth is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and award-winning author. She has received multiple honors, including the Society of Professional Journalists Award in 2022, the 2023 Sarah Pettit Memorial Journalist of the Year Award from NLGJA, and the Curve Award for Lesbian Journalism. Her work appears in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Advocate, Bay Area Reporter and Philadelphia Gay News. Focusing on social justice and politics, she co-founded Tiny Satchel Press in 2010 with her late wife, Maddy Gold.
Kelly Frank
President and General Manager of CBS Philadelphia, Philly 57 and CBSPhiladelphia.com
Kelly Frank joined CBS Philadelphia after serving as Director of Content for CBS affiliates in Ohio and Florida. Previously, she was an executive producer at CNN, overseeing multiple show teams and special event coverage, including the Japan earthquake/tsunami and the Gulf oil spill. Frank contributed to teams that won three Peabody Awards for their coverage of the 2008 election, Gulf oil spill and Arab Spring. Under her leadership, CBS has received numerous accolades, including more than 50 Emmy Awards.
Neil Frauenglass
Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Philadelphia
As the Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Philadelphia, Neil Frauenglass brings more than 25 years of marketing experience to the role from places like Ann Taylor and McCann Worldgroup. Throughout his career, he’s led integrated, multi-channel teams across agencies and countries to create award-winning campaigns for clients. Frauenglass is committed to creating work that positively affects culture, such as last year’s Visit Philadelphia ad that featured a Drag Queen Story Time event, which aired amidst conservative uproar about such events.
Adam Joseph
Senior Meteorologist at Action News
Adam Joseph is the senior meteorologist at Action News, joining the company in 2005. His work at the station has earned him many awards, including Philadelphia’s Best Meteorologist from Philadelphia Magazine in 2009. During his time in Philadelphia, he met and married his husband, and they welcomed their children a few years later. He has used special stories and shows to educate viewers on the LGBTQ+ community, including giving blood on the first day it was legal for gay men.
Miguel Martinez-Valle
Reporter at NBC 10 and Telemundo 62
As a bilingual reporter for NBC10 and Telemundo Philadelphia, Miguel Martinez-Valle has earned multiple Emmys for his coverage. His work includes events like the 2020 Beijing Olympics, and he hosts a yearly “Celebrating Pride” special. Coming from a supportive family in Guaymas, Mexico, he draws inspiration from his experiences as an immigrant and LGBTQ+ person. Recently, he was elected treasurer of Philadelphia’s chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and is co-lead for NBC’s OUT Employee Resource Group.
Philadelphia Gay News will celebrate the 48 Most Influential LGBTQ+ Leaders from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 10 at the Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St. To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.