SPEAKERS AND PERFORMERS

TATYANA FLAME, DRAG QUEEN

Tatyana Flame is a Philadelphia Drag Queen & a content creator on TikTok and a Contracted Content Creator on Likee with 107 productions. Tatyana currently has 14.5k+ fans on TikTok, and over 2k on Likee. Tatyana is passionate about advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and promotes a positive message. Tatyana started doing drag in November 2019 and enjoys networking with other entertainers. Tatyana in their personal life is in the Navy and works at M.A.C. Cosmetics as a Store Manager. Their goals are to become a full-time drag queen and makeup artist. Tatyana has strong opinions about voter's rights, gun control, the LGBTQ+ community, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

JONATHAN LOVITZ, ADVOCATE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZER

Jonathan D. Lovitz is a national recognized business and public policy advocate, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). At the NGLCC he serves as both national spokesperson and head of advocacy and political work, where he has been responsible for establishing the more than a dozen county, city, and state laws passed over the last four years opening up contracting and economic opportunity to the LGBT Business community. Lovitz is a regular commentator on MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, The Advocate, and Bloomberg, among others, and has served as a keynote speaker for the US Dept. of Defense, Us. Dept. of Treasury, the United Nations, The Trevor Project, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, and more.  The Advocate Magazine named Lovitz a "2019 Queer Icon" alongside some of the year's top activists, artists, and political figures. In 2019 he was recognized by Philadelphia Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” young leader in the city of Philadelphia.  Lovitz graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida, where he was named "Outstanding Young Alumni" in April 2018.   @JDLovitz  www.jonathandlovitz.com 

JANI RAD, PODCAST HOST AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

Niranjani Radhakrishnan (or "Jani Rad") is originally from Knoxville, TN but has called many places 'home' over the years, including Chapel Hill, NC and Washington DC. She currently lives, works, and plays in Memphis, TN. She has a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning (MCRP) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jani’s professional and academic background revolve around addressing health and social inequities through GIS mapping, data visualization, theatre arts, and storytelling. Jani is passionate about social justice and advocacy. She is most well-known for Co-chairing the 2017 Minority Health Conference. Two of her biggest accomplishments are 1) receiving the Kathryn J. Kerr Memorial Scholarship for 2016-2017 while at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, an award that recognizes students who exhibit a strong sense of activism and commitment to community health; and 2) delivering a talk at TEDx Memphis in February 2020. She has been a facilitator-trainer-speaker since 2009. Jani has built her portfolio through her years working with interactive educational theatre groups, a university health and wellness center, career development departments, health equity focused non-profits, a social justice and human rights law firm, a training and education center for the federal government, and a health care system. Outside of work, you will probably find Jani in a dance studio, walking her dog along the river, hanging out at a sport event (Go Tar Heels!), watching standup comedy, and generally just enjoying the Memphis life!

HONORABLE PATRICK J. MURPHY

In 2007, Patrick became the nation's first Iraq War Veteran
elected, representing Pennsylvania. He authored several
groundbreaking pieces of legislation into law including the
21st Century GI Bill, the Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and
the raising of the federal minimum wage. Continuing public
service today, he was appointed to the National US
Cyberspace Solarium Commission, as Distinguished Chair of
Innovation at West Point, and supports fellow veterans
entering political public service through Kennedy Democrats
and Taking the Hill.
Decorated Combat Veteran
Joining the Army at 19, he graduated from the Airborne and
Air Assault courses, and following 9/11, subsequently served
two overseas combat deployments; first, to Tuzla, Bosnia in
2002, where U.S. forces stopped the worst ethnic cleansing in
Europe since World War II. Next, In 2003, he deployed as a
82nd Airborne Division paratrooper to Baghdad, Iraq, leading
a Brigade Operational Law {BOLT) Team, earning a Bronze
Star for his service.

MISS FREDDYE, MUSICIAN 

Miss Freddye is a talented musical artist, known as Pittsburgh’s Lady of the
Blues. In 1996, she first ventured into the world of Blues music after being
influenced by her church and her mother’s love of Blues. In 2002, Miss
Freddye formed her own band called Blue Faze. Years later, Blue Faze
evolved into Miss Freddye’s Blues Band and then Miss Freddye’s Homecookin’
Band. She works to keep the Blues music alive in her hometown. Some of
Miss Freddye’s awards include the 2016 Pittsburgh Music Awards: Best Blues
Band and the 2015 Freedom From Silence, Center for Victims award. In
addition to her musical endeavors, Miss Freddye does charity work with
Relay for Life American Cancer Society, Pink Day of Leechburg, PA, Toys for
Tots, Sing to Stop Domestic Violence, and more. Currently, she has two CDs
and a single out at this time.

REPRESENTATIVE JESS BENHAM

Representative Jess Benham is a state representative from PA
House District 36. She is the first openly-LGBTQ+ woman, and the first
openly-autistic person to be elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
She is one of the only autistic state lawmakers in the entire United States.
Aside from her work as a representative, Rep. Jess has co-founded the
Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy, which is an LGBTQ+ autistic-led
advocacy group.

COUNCILWOMAN BETHANY HALLAM

Bethany Hallam is an Allegheny County Councilwoman at-large.
She is a native Pittsburgher and an avid supporter of criminal legal reform.
As a formerly incarcerated person in long-term recovery for Substance Use
Disorder, Councilwoman Hallam highlights the need for prison reform. She
is now the youngest person to ever be elected widely in Allegheny County,
and she represents over 1.2 million people in one of the largest legislative
districts in the US. She ran many platforms, including environmental justice,
transit justice, housing justice, racial justice, and social justice. She
recognizes how the struggle for clean air and water is intertwined with the
fight against racist displacement and gentrification, and how the fight to have
housing recognized as a human right must include transit as a human right
for it to be truly equitable and inclusive. Councilperson Hallam uses her
position as an elected official to shed light in Pennsylvania about the unjust
treatment of those in our criminal legal system, specifically people of color
and lower-income populations. Serving on Allegheny County’s Jail Oversight
Board, she uses her lived experiences to advocate for better jail conditions.
She also serves as the Chair of Allegheny County Council’s Appointment
Review Committee, where she is working to ensure those appointed to the
myriad boards, authorities, and commissions throughout the county are and
remain committed to the vision of a more justice, equitable, and inclusive
Allegheny County.

 U.S. CONGRESSWOMEN MADELEINE DEAN

Madeleine Dean was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She graduated from La Salle University and earned her law degree at Widener University. Madeleine then returned home and practiced law with the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers, and went on to open a three-woman law firm in Glenside. While raising three sons, Madeleine changed career paths to become a professor of writing at La Salle University. 
In 2012, Madeleine successfully ran for State Representative in the 153rd District. In the legislature, Madeleine was appointed to Governor Wolf’s Commission for Women, co-founded the gun safety group PA-SAFE, and was an outspoken leader on progressive issues. 
In 2018, Madeleine was elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 4th District — Montgomery and Berks Counties — in the 116th Congress.
In Washington, Madeleine serves on the powerful Judiciary and Financial Services Committees, championing progressive priorities like public education, combating addiction, equal rights, access to healthcare, protecting the environment, ethics, criminal justice reform, gun violence prevention and more. 
In 2020, Madeleine was elected Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus.

 ALEXANDRA HUNT, ADVOCATE

Alexandra Hunt is a public health researcher, a girls’ soccer coach, an advocate for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, and an organizer fighting for the 3rd district of Pennsylvania. After high school, Alexandra attended college at the University of Richmond and graduated with a degree in Psychology. Then, after college, Alexandra moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University and receive a master’s degree. In 2020, Alexandra graduated from Temple University with a Master of Public Health degree.

KAY KYUNGSUN YU, ATTORNEY

Kay Kyungsun Yu is an attorney who serves as an arbitrator and a mediator. In 2020, Kay was the Voter Protection Director for the Biden/Harris Coordinated Campaign and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, serving the mission of protecting voters’ access to the ballot and ensuring that every vote is counted. In 2019, Kay was a candidate in an election running for judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. From 2008 to 2013, Mayor Michael Nutter appointed Kay to serve as the Chairperson of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. In 2018, the Philadelphia Bar Association recognized Kay as the recipient of its acclaimed Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award and was named Attorney of the Year by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania.

COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER

Jamie R. Gauthier, a born-and-raised West Philadelphian, was elected to represent the Third Councilmanic District in November 2019. With two decades of experience fighting for fairness, equality, and justice in neighborhoods throughout the city, Councilmember Gauthier brings a depth of knowledge related to community and economic development, grassroots engagement, and nonprofit administration.

With an eye towards tackling gentrification and poverty in the Third District, Councilmember Gauthier’s agenda prioritizes creating and preserving affordable housing, improving educational outcomes, connecting residents to family-sustaining jobs, and advancing small businesses.

Councilmember Gauthier previously served as Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and held prior leadership roles at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.

After graduating from Central High School, Councilmember Gauthier received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is the only elected official in the City of Philadelphia with a planning degree, offering her a unique perspective on issues ranging from zoning to transportation policy.