Meet the Fellows: Summer 2022 

Equality Florida, Florida’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization, has hired a diverse cohort of fellows originating from all over Florida. The Summer 2022 cohort is welcoming individuals from various ages, ethnicities, gender identities, academic backgrounds, and sexualities – reflecting the diverse communities Equality Florida is missioned to serve.

This summer cohort is committed to projects such as educating and recruiting LGBTQ and allied acticists, showing up for Florida’s robust Pride program, and preparing for the upcoming midterm elections. Equality Florida is determined to combat the increasingly aggressive anti-equality sentiment spreading throughout our state. Thank you, in advance, to our fellows for all of their hard work!

Field and Advocacy

Nye Davis (they/them)

Nye is an early high school graduate from Tallahassee, Florida with intentions to major in Political Economics upon attending the University of Southern California in the fall. Nye enjoys writing and reading in their spare time and has intentions to foster these hobbies to help themself and others toward enjoying social and economic justice. They hope to live a life that brings welfare to others and believes they can begin to achieve this aspiration through advocacy of underrepresented communities.

Christie Effron (she/her)

Christie Effron is originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, but spent most of her time in Central Florida, with the exception of the years her partner was serving in the U.S. Air Force. She has been a paralegal for fifteen years in the employment law division of a national Plaintiff’s law firm specializing in helping employees who have been discriminated against, harassed, or otherwise taken advantage of by their employer. While she is passionate about her current career, her desire to have a larger impact on achieving equality for all marginalized members of society has motivated her to return to school for more specific education to further this goal. She is looking forward to working to advance the mission of Equality Florida and a future of positive changes to come.

Jay Kirkley (he/him)

Jay Kirkley is a rising junior at Rollins College double majoring in Biochemistry and Public Policy. He hopes to become a health care policy advocate working to increase equitable access to affordable and effective healthcare in the United States. He is excited to work for Equality Florida this summer and further help the LGBTQ+ community.

Audrey Marsala,  (she/her)

I am currently a junior Political Science student at Eckerd College with minors in International Relations and Global Affairs, Religious Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies. I am an organizer at heart with a deep passion for community engagement. I am thrilled for the opportunity to advocate for my fellow LGBTQ Floridians.

Jacob Gelman (he/him)

Jacob Gelman is a rising sophomore at Brown University currently studying American politics. He serves as a fellow in the philosophy, politics, and economics society as well as a debater on the Brown Debating Union, a copy editor for the Brown Political Review, and cofounder of Brunonians for AIDS Education and Gay Liberation. In his free time he enjoys reading YA romance novels, going for very slow jogs, and watching movies.

Jose Lois(he/him)

My name is José Lois and I’m a junior at Stetson University. I’m from St. Petersburg, Florida and I love going to the beach at night. My passions are civic activism, policy, and freelance photography!

Sylvia Weber (she/her/hers)

I am a recently graduated dual enrollment student and will be a prospective Political Science major at Florida State University this fall. I am passionate about the psycho-socio-economic circumstances that principally affect the marginalized communities I am a part of. Being part of the Latin, deaf, and LGBTQIA+ community, I am a budding organizer who wishes to serve with my voice working as a proverbial megaphone.

Safe & Healthy Schools

Vaidehi Persad (she/her/hers)

Vaidehi is a second-year student at the University of South Florida - Tampa. She is pursuing the disciplines of Chemistry, Public Health, and Women & Gender Studies. Vaidehi is passionate about promoting health equity and justice. She anticipates applying her interdisciplinary studies and intersectional lens to equitable health initiatives, grassroots organizing, and public policy. 

Communications

Logan Libretti (they/them)

Logan Libretti (they/them) is a second year student at the University of Central Florida studying Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies. Logan has been volunteering and working in advocacy since 2017 with Stacey Abrams, and most recently with Anna Eskamani's re-election campaign as an intern and with Adam Christensen's congressional bid as the Social Media Coordinator. In the future, he hopes to pursue LGBTQ+ and reproductive justice through work with progressive candidates and organizations like Equality Florida.