Metro Philadelphia LGBTQ+ Power Players 2022

Gloria Melunis (she/her), an associate in the corporate practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, focuses her practice on the investment servicing and management industries, advising broker-dealers, investment managers, asset servicing providers, and fund complexes on wide-ranging regulatory and transactional matters. Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig last August, Gloria served as counsel in the Asset Management Group at PNC Bank, where she served as vice president of the LGBTQ+ Employee Business Resource Group, vice chair of the PNC Legal Department’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, and chair of the department-wide summer intern program, a pipeline internship program for diverse first year law students in partnership with law firms and diversity organizations. 

Gloria remains active in diverse talent pipeline programs at Greenberg Traurig, serving as an associate mentor and program liaison. Gloria serves on the board of the DVLF, the leading funder of emerging needs in the Greater Philadelphia LGBTQ+ community through individual scholarships and grantmaking to LGBTQ+-serving nonprofit organizations. She is a member of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association and a former vice chair of its board. The National LGBT Bar Association selected Gloria as one of the Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40–Class of 2019, an award that honors outstanding LGBTQ+ legal professionals who have distinguished themselves in their field and demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. Gloria received her bachelor’s degree from Rowan University, and her J.D. from Rutgers Law School in 2015, and is admitted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She resides in the Roxborough-Manayunk area of Philadelphia with her spouse, Kiera, and their adored cats and fancy goldfish.

Perry Monastero (he/him) launched RPM Consulting Group to counsel leaders on strengthening nonprofit capacity, strategy, and fundraising. He works with individuals and groups to build campaigns, identify resources, and create processes and infrastructure for charities to secure rapid growth. He has over two decades of experience in fundraising and philanthropic strategies and has expertise with new entities and first-time board, staff, and fundraising teams.

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
I love it when neighborhoods shut down streets for outdoor Pride celebrations that celebrate community and its leaders and organizations while featuring local food, live music, dancing, games, awards, and other fabulous surprises. Every city does Pride a little bit differently, and that makes visiting other places when Pride happens all the more exciting. I almost don’t fully know what to expect.

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?
Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen are two personal heroes for me, having met them and having had the privilege of staying in touch with Kay until her death at 91 last year. I miss having periodic talks with Kay. She always gave me assignments which I took on with enthusiasm. Kay, a nationally renown photographer, was one of a kind.

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
I want corporations to do more than just write the sponsorship checks. I want them to promote and hire LGBTQ+ folks into positions of leadership, and appoint LGBTQ+ people to serve on their corporate boards. Plus, they should make sure their policies and procedures are reflective of a culture that embraces equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging.

Abdul-Aliy A. Muhammad (they/them) is a Philadelphia born and raised organizer, writer, and co-founder of the Black and Brown Workers Co-op. In their work they often problematize medical surveillance, discuss the importance of bodily autonomy, and center Blackness. Their writing has been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Body, Gran Varones, and other publications. Having worked in community health, they are deeply interested in models of community control of care infrastructures and resource redistribution.

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
My favorite Pride month event would have to be the informal gatherings of Black, queer, and trans communities–the BBQs, the potlucks, and the varied dance parties and balls that occur during Pride.

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?
I’m inspired by both living LGBTQ+ icons and activists, and by our predecessors. Charlene Arcilla, José DeMarco, Louie Ortiz-Fonseca, Kuwasi Balagoon, Curtis, Paris Dupree, Naiymah Sanchez, Madelyn Morrison. Those unknown people who lived freely, boldly, and endured so much violence, their existence was iconic. 

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
Corporations can give resources directly to community members instead of nonprofits. They should ensure that their workplace culture supports, affirms, and compensates LGBTQ+ staff adequately, if that’s not happening they can keep their Pride month performance of allyship.

How can businesses create more inclusive environments for their employees and patrons?
Listen and don’t be dismissive to concerns and demands of their employees and patrons. Hire LGBTQ+ people to provide consultations, trainings, and insight into how to be better.

A Philadelphia native and double alum of West Chester University, Malik Muhammad (he/him) serves as the associate director of the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center, uplifting and supporting their vast LGBTQ+ community. He also supports the overarching Philadelphia community as a member of the Penn Center for AIDS Research Community Advisory Board, the COLOURS organization board, and as a talented local artist and entertainer. As a stark advocate for marginalized communities and the power of storytelling in multiple facets, he is grateful for the opportunity to impact his communities at large with the power of his voice. 

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
I have been loving the Pride themed “GayBill” at the Tavern on Camac every Wednesday night. As a performer I am in awe of the work Bobby Goodrich, aka “Cleo Phatra,” has done in creating an open space where queer artists can showcase their many talents, Cabaret style!

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you? 
I am constantly inspired by the work and progress made by Bayard Rustin. He is an icon when it comes to doing intersectional work and I look to his level of resilience and resolve to always get the job done. No matter what. Rest in power Bayard. Thank you for your leadership and guidance!

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
Vote, vote, VOTE! As an individual, voting is one of the most powerful things you can do in supporting the LGBTQ+ community at large. We have to know that supporting LGBTQ+ rights is supporting human rights. Whether you identify within the LGBTQ+ community or not, you should be voting to support legislation that continues the advancement of our communities not backpedaling decades! Especially as we see a huge push in anti-trans legislation and the recent overturn of Roe v Wade, it is more crucial now than ever to get out and vote!

How can businesses create more inclusive environments for their employees and patrons?
Create opportunities to check biases and provide a space for folks to expand their understanding of people’s lived experiences, especially those of marginalized identity. Our communities are ostracized in so many ways based on what people think they know about LGBTQ+ communities. Take a step back, look in the mirror, and really do the work to unlearn so much of the inaccurate and downright harmful information spewed about our communities.

Suzi Nash (she/her) is a director, producer, columnist, and musician, and has been in the entertainment industry for more than 25 years. Prior to this, she was a judge and programmer for the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Suzi also created Rainbow Sprinkles, a compilation of songs written to empower children of LGBTQ+ families. She began her video work as co-host and associate producer for The Bozo the Clown Show on UPN Philadelphia TV57. 

As chief of staff of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s marketing agency, Visit Philadelphia, Michael Newmuis (he/him) is a champion of economic growth and civic pride. His efforts support workforce development, small businesses, and commercial corridors. He is a board member of the Global Philadelphia Association and serves on advisory boards for the Philadelphia International Airport, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, PIDC, and the city’s UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Cognitive Science. In 2022, he was named a Top 12 LGBTQ+ Leader in Pennsylvania by City and State PA.

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
The PGN Stonewall Awards. In the final weekend of this year’s Pride month, Philadelphia Gay News and Visit Philadelphia are partnering on a civic-pride awards brunch honoring leaders who have bolstered the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s top honoree is Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of ABC’s hit comedy Abbott Elementary.

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you? 
Jeff Guaracino, a dear friend, mentor, and the late president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. In 2004, during his early time at Visity Philadelphia, Guaracino helped develop the groundbreaking marketing campaign “Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight And Your Nightlife Gay®.” The campaign made history, leading Philadelphia to become the first city in the country to launch an LGBT-themed TV commercial. At the time, gay marriage was legal in only one state, and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still military policy. So launching the campaign was a bold move that spoke to Visit Philly’s core values of inclusivity and diversity.

Khalib Owen (they/them) is an artist from Washington, DC. They grew up studying music and by the end of high school, they moved to Philadelphia to pursue further education in music at the University of the Arts. Khalib began working at Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room in the summer of 2020 as part of the staff. Later that year, alongside managers Alan Chelak and Katherine Milon, they created the Queer Atlas podcast to highlight queer and trans art, activism, and spaces in Philadelphia. 

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?
An LGBTQ+ icon who has been a big inspiration to me is Samuel Delany. His autobiographical work has opened up the world to me–with the knowledge of the rich history of his life and the fascinating stories of his journey as a Black gay artist. His science fiction writing has opened my imagination by exposing me to the emancipatory potential of the scifi genre and has awakened a passion in me for queer afrofuturist writing.

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
The best way to support LGBTQ+ people year round is by being active in your community. Volunteer your services to your favorite queer organization, donate to queer organizations, and participate in community mutual aid. At Philly AIDS Thrift, we raise funds for folks living with HIV or AIDS. Every year we distribute these funds to different organizations that work on prevention, outreach, research, and treatment for folks living with HIV or AIDS. It’s an amazing thing to be able to provide queerbooks and thrifted items to the community while also helping folks who are living with HIV or AIDS.

Ernest Owens (he/him) is an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire. He is the editor at large for Philadelphia Magazine and president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. He hosts the hit podcast Ernestly Speaking!, and is an author of the upcoming book The Case for Cancel Culture, to be published by St. Martin’s Press in February 2023. As an openly Black gay journalist, he has made headlines for speaking frankly about intersectional issues.

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
I love the drag charity brunches hosted by Philly Drag Mafia at Sofitel.

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?
Bayard Rustin, Thomas Morgan III, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and Marsha P. Johnson.

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
Treat LGBTQ+ people as people first, and not as a political statement. A lot of our issues are the same as everyone else’s and the more we normalize and humanize each other, the less Pride month feels like a performative spectacle.

How can businesses create more inclusive environments for their employees and patrons?
Advance anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination policies within their organizations, both at the local and national levels. Also, divest from funding and supporting known anti-LGBTQ+ companies or politicians.

Nu’Rodney Prad (he/him) is a social justice educator serving as the director of student engagement for Institutional Diversity at Temple University. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas. Nu’Rodney is a doctoral student at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development. His expertise centers on the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. He is currently the Mazzoni Center Board President and provides identity-based workshops through his consulting firm, NUPRAD.

What is your favorite Pride month event or celebration?
In celebrating identity and Pride, I am always amazed by the parade and any educational events that speak to gender and sexuality inclusion. These events highlight the importance of storytelling while visibility and LGBTQ+ empowerment.

What LGBTQ+ icons or activists have inspired you?
Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera, Audre Lourde, and James Baldwin. Each of these LGBTQ+ ancestors stood in their truth and contributed selflessly to the movement in promoting equity. Whether initiating the Stonewall revolution, utilizing intersectional feminism, or speaking their truth through being a creative writer, each of these individuals taught me the meaning of strength in advocacy.

What can people and corporations do to support the LGBTQ+ community year-round, not just during Pride month?
Establish employee support groups that center LGBTQ+ identities. Additionally, corporations can review their policies to ensure that they align with gender and sexuality inclusivity. It is also critical for corporations to have the necessary trainings in place to unpack and educate about diversity and inclusion to stimulate place of belonging for individuals within the community. As this education occurs, it is critical to think about how intersectionality factors into the LGBTQ+ community. Essentially the community is very diverse, and other core identities can impact a person’s experience (e.g., gender identity, race, ability, body size, etc).

How can businesses create more inclusive environments for their employees and patrons?
Utilizing inclusive language is a great starting point. It is important to think critically about how language can exclude others, and how a simple acknowledgement of a person’s gender pronouns, for instance, can go a long way. Lastly, avoid performative actions and have a strategic vision in place.