The following is an alphabetical list of the professionals, facilitators, and parents who took part in the various sessions for the 2023 Philly Family Pride conference. This conference would not be possible without their commitment to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ led families.
Jen Bradley (she/her) is mom to four amazing humans, a founding and core member of the Philly Children’s Movement, and a Professor of Education at Swarthmore College.
Tiffany Byrd, MSW (she/her) is the Interim Executive Vice President at A Second Chance, Inc. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, prior to moving to West Virginia to study Social Work at West Virginia State University. Tiffany later obtained her Master’s in Social Work locally at West Chester University. Tiffany is the oldest of nine siblings and values family and the kinship triad. Tiffany is a Philly Family Pride parent and advocate. More about Tiffany.
Katy Chatel (she/ze) is a queer solo parent of a 10 year-old donor conceived kid, auncle, and a certified foster to adoption parent who has cared for newborn through teens. Ze is also the Development Director for COLAGE where ze helps to build relationships and capacity to empower people with LGBTQ+ parents.
Sam Gerlach (he/him), currently a K-8 educator at Benchmark School, has been an active member of Philly Children's Movement since its inception. Sam facilitates workshops for parents, teachers, students and peers with a focus on BIPOC issues and equity.
Galia Godel (she/he) is the program manager of the LGBTQ Initiative at Philadelphia Jewish Family & Children’s Service. He is the organizer of J.Proud, the Greater Philadelphia consortium of Jewish organizations committed to LGBTQ inclusivity, and teaches LGBTQ workshops to Jewish and secular organizations. She has a Masters’ degree in Human Sexuality Education from Widener University, and also works as both a sex educator for learners with intellectual disabilities and a communication coach. When not teaching, Galia can be found singing loudly at his synagogue or attempting ambitious home improvement projects.
Lex Horwitz (they/them) is a passionate queer, non-binary transgender Jewish LGBTQ+ Educator, Consultant, and Public Speaker. They support communities by creating inclusive, welcoming, affirming and safe environments where everyone can thrive. Lex works with educational institutions, nonprofits, medical centers, athletic organizations, and businesses creating and presenting LGBTQ+ curriculum and training, developing inclusive policy, producing educational resources, and providing feedback and action steps to address areas of growth. In providing powerful judgment-free safe spaces where all can engage in critical conversation on gender, sexuality, and community, Lex supports people in becoming effective allies in action to the LGBTQ+ community. Lex received their B.A. in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies from Bowdoin College, where they competed on the Varsity Men’s Squash Team and became the first out transgender athlete in all of collegiate squash, and the first out transgender athlete to compete at Bowdoin. More at LexHorwitz.com.
Alicia Ingiosi (she/they) is an Administrative Assistant at Disability Rights PA (DRP). In 2001, Alicia started a career in special education, working primarily with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Having grown up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, Alicia found this work incredibly helpful as it raised awareness around diversity, accessibility, and equity. During this time, Alicia established programs and coordinated services in a wide range of socioeconomic settings on behalf of individuals, families, school districts, and organizations. After 15 years in special education, Alicia transitioned to early childhood education for another 5 years before realizing a desire to return to a more advocacy-based setting. Alicia is also passionate about the intersection of rights pertaining to gender, LGBTQ+, race, and accessibility, and in 2022, advocated for and organized an organization-wide training on gender/sexuality/pronouns. Alicia earned a Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University, a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Boston University. Alicia’s mom and kids sure are proud of all these accomplishments!
John Jarboe (she/her) is the founder of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret company and its Artistic Director. A Philadelphia-based theatre artist, John graduated from the University of Michigan, with a BFA in Theatre. In addition to directing, choreographing, producing and performing with the Beards, John finds time to collaborate outside the cabaret world as an actor, musician, teaching artist and consultant. Photo by Kevin Monko
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (he/him) is a third-generation North Philadelphia native, thought leader, and legislator, currently serving in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He earned a B.A. in Public Communications and a minor in Political Science from Temple University, a M.S. in Strategic and Digital Communications from Drexel University and completed the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executives in State and Local Government program. Rep. Kenyatta is a barrier-breaking public figure, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color and one of the youngest members elected to the PA General Assembly in 2018. In 2022, he became the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color to run for the U.S. Senate in American history. In 2020, he was chosen by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention along with a group of other ‘Rising Stars’. He lives in North Philadelphia with his husband Dr. Matthew Kenyatta and their dog Cleo. More about Malcolm.
Brynne Madway (she/her) is an LGBTQ+ staff attorney with disabilities at Disability Rights Pennsylvania. Brynne works on a variety of cases at DRP and has particular expertise in mental health law. Brynne also works closely with DRP’s monitoring team to make sure that people with disabilities are protected in institutional settings. Before starting at DRP, Brynne was an associate at a large law firm and served as one of the leaders of the firm’s LGBTQ+ employee group before leaving for another nonprofit. While in law school, Brynne served on the executive board of the school’s LGBTQ+ student organization for three years. Brynne lives in Philadelphia with her wife and two adorable cats.
Charisse Moses (she/her) is a Philadelphia native, Philly Children's Movement co-founder and advisory core member, and proud Girls High Graduate. She comes from a long line of activism, and has planned community events and facilitated workshops designed to help families and educators better discuss race relations
Adam Moskowitz (he/him) has worked in childcare for the past six years. Currently, Adam directs a childcare facility in Philadelphia and serves on the board of directors of Philly Family Pride.
Pax Ressler (they/she) is a non-binary performer, devisor, music director, and composer who believes singing is one of the most human and communal things we can do. She blends and infuses her love for cabaret, musical theatre, and harmony into her music work, including writing an album of non-binary love songs and gardening Philadelphia’s paid civic singing collective, Rise Choir (@risechoircollective). Pax is a passionate advocate and organizer of the local non-binary and trans theatre community with Genderfunk Philly (@genderfunkphilly). Their compositions have been shared in The Bearded Ladies' Barrymore Award-winning Contradict This! A Birthday Funeral for Heroes and in productions at La Mama Experimental Theatre and at the Guggenheim in NYC. More at paxressler.com or @paxressler.
Alexander Stefanini MS, LPC (he/him) has been working with kids, teens, families and adults since 2004. Alex received his Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2004. He is the owner of Arrive Therapy in Paoli. More about Alex.
Skott Stotland (they/them) is a PFP parent and board member since 2021.
Kayla M. Walker (she/they) is an educator with a passion for centering the heart in all the places it’s most needed. As a community-oriented Aquarian and loving eldest sibling, Kay has spent most of the last decade co creating communities of care with students of color and LGBTQ+ students. Grounded in holistic wellness, play, self-exploration and transformative leadership, Kay holds space to explore the questions “who am I?” and “what are my unique offerings to my community?” Kay’s yoga teaching centers the belief that “we can move differently and still move together” as an affirmation of students’ agency to move in ways that create a feeling of “home” in their body that ultimately informs their lives off the mat.
Naomi Washington-Leapheart, M.Div. (she/her) is a faith organizer and PFP parent. Naomi was our conference keynote speaker in 2018, a part of the PFP keynote conversation in 2020 and previously served as a PFP board member. More about Naomi.