February 14, 2017
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Among the 23 appointees of the Mayoral Commission on LGBT Affairs are: clockwise from top left, Libby Peters, Anthony Leon, Yoshiaki Yamasaki, Heath Fogg Davis, Malcolm Kenyatta, Stephanie Haynes, Sharron Cooks and Jeffrey Jordan.
The 23 members of the new Philadelphia Mayoral Commission on LGBT Affairs, announced Tuesday, will have input on city policies to support the lives of LGBT people in the city and support the Office of LGBT Affairs in its work.
“Philadelphia values and promotes diversity and the contributions of our LGBT community,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “I appreciate the commitment of these stellar individuals to serve on the LGBT Commission, and I believe the city will benefit from their rich and varied perspectives.”
The members, chosen after a rigorous application and review process led by the city's Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Office of LGBT Affairs and the Mayor’s Office, reflect the diversity of the LGBT community, the statement said. That diversity includes transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer communities, as well as ethnicity, religion, race, gender, disability, profession, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, geography, housing status and age.
“I am overjoyed and honored to work with the newly appointed Commission on LGBT Affairs. These 23 individuals represent some of the greatest, most dynamic minds of our community and I am grateful for their steadfast commitment to Philadelphia’s LGBTQ population,” said Amber Hikes, the new LGBT affairs director, in a statement. “I look forward to serving with this vibrant team as we address the needs of our community and elevate the voices of our most underserved community members.”
Here are the members of the Mayor’s Commission on LGBT Affairs:
Deja Lynn Alvarez, Trans Activist and Director, Divine Light LGBTQ Wellness Center
Chris Bartlett, Executive Director, William Way Community Center
Kimberley Brown-Flint, former WWCC Board member
Leonore Carpenter, LGBTQ civil rights attorney and Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Sharron Cooks, transgender activist, consultant and 2016 Democratic National Convention delegate
Francisco Cortes, Education Administrator, Galaie
Amanda Dougherty, lawyer and bisexual advocate
Jason D. Evans, community activist
Heath Fogg Davis, Professor of Political Science, Temple University
Soheila Gigi Nikpoue, LGBT Sports/Actively Assists Lesbian Asylum seekers
Kati ‘Jazz’ Gray-Sadle, LGBT Radio show host
Kae Greenberg, Assistant Public Defender, Public Defenders Association
Stephanie Haynes, Executive Director, Philadelphia Family Pride
Deborah Johnson, Visitor Services Manager, African America Museum of Philadelphia
Jeffrey Jordan, Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church
Malcolm Kenyatta, Member Engagement Coordinator, Chamber of Commerce
Anthony Leon, Youth Education Manager, Mazzoni
Barrett Marshall, Attorney/LGBTQ legal services expert
Libby Peters, Rowing Coach, University of Pennsylvania
Bianca Pichardo, Latinx Activist, Galaei Board member
Raquel E. Saraswati, Muslim LGBT activist/writer
Evan Urbania, Chief Executive Officer, Chatterblast
Yoshiaki Yamasaki, Executive Director, Health Care/The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium
