The following is an alphabetical list of the professionals, facilitators, and parents who took part in the various sessions for the 2024 Philly Family Pride conference. This conference would not be possible without their commitment to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ led families. Information is be updated check back for more details
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Jadzia Axelrod
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Angel and Genéa Brice , both Philly natives, met in 2007, dated for a few months, rekindled in 2012, married in 2021, and recently celebrated their 3yr wedding anniversary. Both educators and complete opposites, raising their teenage daughter, 3 pets, while enjoying, growing, and learning from one another daily. This couple loves sharing their "secret to success" by uplifting and encouraging others to lead with love and grace. While there is truly no secret, love and willingness can shift an atmosphere for the better.
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 (he/him) 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.
Rue Landau Councilmember At-Large
Keynote
Rue Landau is a civil rights and housing attorney, a public school parent and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice and equity for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities. She has a vision for Philadelphia that lifts up every neighborhood and ensures that every person has the opportunity to thrive.
She started her career as an activist and housing organizer. She was on the frontlines in the fight for economic justice, demanding access to affordable housing and health care during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as an active member of ACT UP, Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) and Women’s Health Action and Mobilization (WHAM!).
Then, for more than a decade, Councilmember Landau worked as an attorney at Community Legal Services helping low-income renters in Philadelphia avoid illegal eviction from their affordable housing. She fought and won lawsuits that kept thousands of the city’s most vulnerable and high-risk families together by successfully challenging government bureaucracies.
Later, Councilmember Landau served as the director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and the Fair Housing Commission (FHC), the city’s civil rights and housing enforcement agencies. During her 12-year tenure, Councilmember Landau transformed the agencies into national models for government and community engagement, social justice, and equitable opportunity.
Working with City Council, she led initiatives to strengthen and expand the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance, adding civil rights protections including wage equity, fair chance hiring for people with criminal records, reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and good cause eviction safeguards, among others. She also oversaw community relations initiatives to combat hate and bias and to bring communities together to prevent conflict and promote understanding.
After leaving the commissions in 2020, Councilmember Landau taught housing law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law as a Beck Fellow and served as the director of law and policy at the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Now, after winning the November 2023 general election, she plans to use her years of knowledge, skills, and relationships to serve all Philadelphians as an at-large member of Philadelphia City Council.
Councilmember Landau’s roots in Philadelphia expand beyond her proven work history. She is an active member of her synagogue Kol Tzedek in West Philadelphia. A proud graduate of Temple Law School, Councilmember Landau has served on numerous boards of non-profit and community organizations and currently is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association, as well as a committeeperson in the 2nd Ward. Councilmember Landau is married to her wife, Kerry, and together they received the first same-sex marriage license in Pennsylvania, when it became legal on May 20, 2014. They live with their son, a public school student, in Bella Vista – right around the corner from Councilmember Landau’s identical twin sister. She grew up just outside the city, in Cheltenham, and she’s been proud to call Philadelphia her home for more than 30 years.
Keynote
Rue Landau is a civil rights and housing attorney, a public school parent and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice and equity for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities. She has a vision for Philadelphia that lifts up every neighborhood and ensures that every person has the opportunity to thrive.
She started her career as an activist and housing organizer. She was on the frontlines in the fight for economic justice, demanding access to affordable housing and health care during the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as an active member of ACT UP, Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) and Women’s Health Action and Mobilization (WHAM!).
Then, for more than a decade, Councilmember Landau worked as an attorney at Community Legal Services helping low-income renters in Philadelphia avoid illegal eviction from their affordable housing. She fought and won lawsuits that kept thousands of the city’s most vulnerable and high-risk families together by successfully challenging government bureaucracies.
Later, Councilmember Landau served as the director of both the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) and the Fair Housing Commission (FHC), the city’s civil rights and housing enforcement agencies. During her 12-year tenure, Councilmember Landau transformed the agencies into national models for government and community engagement, social justice, and equitable opportunity.
Working with City Council, she led initiatives to strengthen and expand the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance and Fair Housing Ordinance, adding civil rights protections including wage equity, fair chance hiring for people with criminal records, reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and good cause eviction safeguards, among others. She also oversaw community relations initiatives to combat hate and bias and to bring communities together to prevent conflict and promote understanding.
After leaving the commissions in 2020, Councilmember Landau taught housing law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law as a Beck Fellow and served as the director of law and policy at the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Now, after winning the November 2023 general election, she plans to use her years of knowledge, skills, and relationships to serve all Philadelphians as an at-large member of Philadelphia City Council.
Councilmember Landau’s roots in Philadelphia expand beyond her proven work history. She is an active member of her synagogue Kol Tzedek in West Philadelphia. A proud graduate of Temple Law School, Councilmember Landau has served on numerous boards of non-profit and community organizations and currently is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association, as well as a committeeperson in the 2nd Ward. Councilmember Landau is married to her wife, Kerry, and together they received the first same-sex marriage license in Pennsylvania, when it became legal on May 20, 2014. They live with their son, a public school student, in Bella Vista – right around the corner from Councilmember Landau’s identical twin sister. She grew up just outside the city, in Cheltenham, and she’s been proud to call Philadelphia her home for more than 30 years.
Adam Moskowitz M.Ed. (he/him) has worked in childcare for the past eight and a half years. Currently, Adam owns Moskowitz Training Center LLC, providing high quality professional development , First Aid and CPR, ServSafe Courses, and education consulting in PA,DE and NJ. Adam is in his second term on the board of directors of Philly Family Pride and fourth year on the conference planning committee.
Augustin "Gus" Moore MSEd,
An American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler Credentialed. Gus Moore has been working with the parents and guardians of toddlers for over ten years. He believes strongly that connecting the adults who care for toddlers to ask questions, vent, and learn about parenthood has beneficially impacts on the children they care for. In this workshop you will learn about parental identity development, have opportunities to share about your experiences, and receive support in understanding toddler needs and behaviors.
An American Montessori Society Infant/Toddler Credentialed. Gus Moore has been working with the parents and guardians of toddlers for over ten years. He believes strongly that connecting the adults who care for toddlers to ask questions, vent, and learn about parenthood has beneficially impacts on the children they care for. In this workshop you will learn about parental identity development, have opportunities to share about your experiences, and receive support in understanding toddler needs and behaviors.
River Niche (they/them)
is an anti-capitalist financial planner, meaning they acknowledge the harms of white supremacist, patriarchal capitalism and help individuals and families use their money to get as close to their ideal lives as possible! River helps their clients with topics like budgeting, debt, financial emergency preparedness, investing, insurance, and planning how to afford life goals like gender transition, family planning, buying a house, and retirement.
is an anti-capitalist financial planner, meaning they acknowledge the harms of white supremacist, patriarchal capitalism and help individuals and families use their money to get as close to their ideal lives as possible! River helps their clients with topics like budgeting, debt, financial emergency preparedness, investing, insurance, and planning how to afford life goals like gender transition, family planning, buying a house, and retirement.
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.
AL Vernacchio- MSEd. (He/Him)
Al Vernacchio teaches at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, PA. He is the
Coordinator of Gender, Sexuality, and Consent Education, and a Senior Staff
member in the Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. Al is
forthright, funny, and compassionate as he supports students, school
communities, and families to develop healthy sexuality in young people of all ages.
A nationally recognized expert in human sexuality education for over 30 years, Al
has lectured, published articles, and offered workshops throughout the country.
His work has been featured in “Teaching Good Sex”, a November 20, 2011 cover
story in The New York Times Magazine. Al has given four TED Talks, and has
appeared on national radio programs such as NPR’s “Morning Edition”, “1A”, and
“Radio Times”. He is the author of For Goodness Sex: A Sex-Positive Guide to
Raising Healthy, Empowered Teens published in a revised and expanded edition
in April. 2023.
Al earned his BA in Theology from St. Joseph's University and his MSEd in
Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Al and his
husband, Michael, live in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
Al Vernacchio teaches at Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, PA. He is the
Coordinator of Gender, Sexuality, and Consent Education, and a Senior Staff
member in the Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. Al is
forthright, funny, and compassionate as he supports students, school
communities, and families to develop healthy sexuality in young people of all ages.
A nationally recognized expert in human sexuality education for over 30 years, Al
has lectured, published articles, and offered workshops throughout the country.
His work has been featured in “Teaching Good Sex”, a November 20, 2011 cover
story in The New York Times Magazine. Al has given four TED Talks, and has
appeared on national radio programs such as NPR’s “Morning Edition”, “1A”, and
“Radio Times”. He is the author of For Goodness Sex: A Sex-Positive Guide to
Raising Healthy, Empowered Teens published in a revised and expanded edition
in April. 2023.
Al earned his BA in Theology from St. Joseph's University and his MSEd in
Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Al and his
husband, Michael, live in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
Laura Zaylea is a media artist and an Associate Professor of Instruction in Media Studies and Production at Temple University. Her creative work often focuses around LGBTQ+ themes and/or new media technologies. More about her work can be found at www.LauraZaylea.com