![[Logo] Pennsylvania Equality Project](images/Percy-Ross-Logo-2023.png "Percy Ross Logo 2023"){kind=logo}
OUR VISION
We are dedicated to making Pennsylvania a better place to live, work, and grow for the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized groups. We seek a Pennsylvania free from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability, national origin, age, and religious creed or lack thereof.
OUR MISSION
PEP seeks to end legal discrimination based on real or perceived sexual and gender identity. Furthermore, PEP also seeks to end maltreatment against people within the LGBTQ+ community. PEP is working with other organizations to ban conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. PEP’s goal is to secure equal and equitable treatment under the law for all Pennsylvanians regardless of ethnic heritage, sexual and/or gender identity, age, or race, disability, and take any appropriate actions toward that goal.
equality award winners by year
OuR HISTORY (pdf vERSION)
Recipients in 2022
We are bringing back the Equality Awards for 2022 after having stopped the prizes 5 years ago. Nomination forms are now open. We expect to announce the recipients’ names on December 31, 2022.
Recipients in 2017
The following people were awarded the Pennsylvania Equality Project’s Equality Award for 2017: Caitlyn Strohmeyer (President, TransFamily of NWPA), Jason Landau Goodman (Executive Director, Pennsylvania Youth Congress) David Moore (President and Founder, Pennsylvania Equality Project), and the Lifetime Achievement Award Janice Rael (Advocate and Activist).
Recipients in 2016
The following people were named Equality Award winners for 2016: Michael Mahler (Editor, Erie Gay News), Daylin Leach (PA State Senator).
Recipients in 2013 – 2015
The following people were awarded the Pennsylvania Equality Project or Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania Equality Award between 2013 and 2015: John Fetterman (Mayor of Braddock, PA and now PA Lt. Governor), D. Bruce Hanes (Clerk of the Orphans Court, Montgomery County, PA) State Representative Brian Sims (Philadelphia) Paula Johnston, ME4PA SWPA Regional Leader.
The PA Equality Project board of directors
UPDATED: March 12, 2024
David Moore, President & Founder
In 2011, David (he/him) formed the predecessor organization, Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania. During his tenure, he built up the organization to become the largest grassroots organization for the LGBTQIA+ community in Pennsylvania.
Jennifer Rahal-Moore, Co-Vice President
Jennifer (she/her) became Vice President of the organization in 2015 and has been a strong advocate in the fight against discrimination, having met and talked with Governor Wolf to discuss ways to protect the LGBTQIA+ community in Pennsylvania.
Dylan Altemara, Co-Vice President
Dylan Altemara (he/him) joined Pennsylvania Equality Project in 2020 and served as the Legislative Director until June 2023, when he was elevated to Co-Vice President. Dylan also serves in other leadership positions within Allegheny County.
OY, Overseas Board Member
OY is a nurse educator from Ghana who has traveled to the United States to share his experiences about LGBTQ+ education and advocacy work in Ghana. He provides information about safe-sex practices and safe worship spaces for those in the LGBTQ+ community in his hometown.
Hestan Shongo, Executive Assistant and Board Member
Hestan (he/him) joined Pennsylvania Equality Project in 2021 as the Executive Assistant to David Moore. He has since become the President of the Crawford County Chapter of the Organization.
Savannah Jakubowski.
Savannah (she/her) is an advocate for both the LGBTQIA+ community and literacy. She organized the Blasco Memorial Library’s Children’s section Read-In in 2023, and has advocated to stop book bans in PA. Savannah also serves as our Erie County Leader.
Angie McKean, Liaison to Stop the Hate Armstrong County
Angie joined the organization in 2021 as a liaison from Stop the Hate Armstrong County and has been an active advocate in the fight against bullying in Pennsylvania’s schools.
Dei Riddle, Board Member and Liaison to The LBGBTQIA+ Center
Dei (they/them) joins the Board of Directors to build upon their work to open an online LGBTQIA+ safe space for people from around the world.
Chelsea Koontz, Board Secretary
Chelsea Koontz (she/her) is a tech-savvy leader with 15+ years of experience in creative direction, project management, communications, and marketing. Currently, she leads Medicaid marketing strategy at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, emphasizing the importance of good communication for better health outcomes. Chelsea created the Language Access Card Program, benefiting 8 million people across Highmark and AHN operations, by helping service providers identify an individual’s language and provide access to free interpretation services as defined by law under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Chelsea is a first-generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art and Design from Frostburg State University. She lives in Verona with her husband, two dogs, and three cats.
Aiden Nash, Board Member
Nash is a multifaceted individual from Neszport News, VA with roots tied to PA. He has traveled across the globe and is a US army veteran. His passions include music, the arts, and advocacy. He is a part of OddCity Entertainment in Erie, PA as the Lead Marketing Director & Promotions, as well as the scheduling manager and the bass player for a PA queer fronted band, Odd Atrocity and a fill in musician for various other music projects. He also has his own solo music which focuses on mental health, Imalrightokay. Nash aims to highlight queer talent in the Local Areas of PA and as well as use events to advocate & raise awareness for equal rights and representation across the state.
Erica Deuso, Board Member
Erica Deuso, Ph.D. (she/her) is a scientist, businesswoman, and a strong advocate for marginalized communities. Over the past 15 years, she has worked with multiple organizations to promote transgender rights, authoring workplace gender transition best practices and implementing best-in-class transgender healthcare plans. Erica is also an active member of the Chester County Democratic Committee and a former candidate for State Representative (HD-155). She resides in Downingtown with her husband, dog, and three cats.
Tori Kenny, Board Member
Tori(they/them) who identifies as queer and non-binary, began their life as an environmental activist, and has spent their years working with various causes to create change. Formerly serving as a council member of their borough, Tori currently works as a staff member for Crawford County United, a local grassroots organization committed to bettering life for those that don’t hold the power in our community. They are also a member of an all-queer content streaming group, creating a corner of space in online gaming for people that don’t feel safe in a traditionally toxic environment.
Jocelyn McCarty, Board Member
Jocelyn McCarty lives in the Pittsburgh area with her husband and three children. She’s an advocate for both the special needs and LGBTQ communities, as she has one child with Down syndrome and one who is transgender. Jocelyn enjoys reading, crafting and rowing. She is an involved in the political group, North Hills Progressive Neighbors and various school related volunteering. She holds a BS in Interior Design from Mercyhurst University.
Adrain Aberts, Board Member & PEP Radio Programming Director
Adrain Aberts is the Programming Director for the new 95.7 FM, WPEP-LP Meadville. The radio station is coming soon both on-air within Crawford County and livestreamed via our PEP Radio page and social media. Adrain is also the CEO of Chymera Studios, a video game streaming production company located in Meadville, PA.
Tiffany Shirley, Board Member and Liaison to Lancaster Pride
Tiffany Shirley is very passionate and determined to fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. She currently serves as the President of Lancaster Pride and is always working within the community, not just the day of the Pride festival. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Keystone Business Alliance as the Events Chair.
legacy members
The Pennsylvania Equality Project, and its predecessor organization Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, have a rich history dating back to 2011. During our fight for equal marriage rights to more recent times in the fight to end discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, several board members have come and gone, but are not forgotten. They stood with us throughout our efforts to win equality and are hereby duly recognized as Legacy Members of Pennsylvania Equality Project. We will soon be adding Katie Somers who served as our Director of Media Relations in 2013 through 2015. Here is their information:
Josh Swift (Kratz)
Josh Kratz, now Josh Swift, served as Executive Director of Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania and conducted considerable research and outreach during his tenure with the organization from 2013 through 2015. He participated in marches and rallies, and built a coalition of partner organizations that still work with PA Equality Project today.
Joshua Szczesny
Joshua Szczesny is credited with serving as the first ally to join Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania and the co-founder of the organization. With his guidance, the organization built its Facebook presence from a few hundred people to well over 15,000 in less than two years. He planned and led rallies, marches, and other events during his tenure.
John Moore
John Moore (he/him) served the Pennsylvania Equality Project as the Information Technology Director, and from June 2023 to Feb 2024 as the Board Secretary. John was the key figure in securing a grant from Microsoft to cover our Office tools and other technology needs.
Richard Guy
Richard Guy served on the Board of Directors of both Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Equality Project. He began working with the organization in 2012 and continued working through Erie Pride in 2023. His outreach was primarily in the Erie area, but he did spread the word about the organization to Pride events as far away as Columbus, Ohio.
Tom Hall
Tom Hall served as the Philadelphia Regional Director for Marriage Equality for PA from late 2012 through August 2014. Together with Joshua Szczesny, he organized the Equal Rights Protest held at Washington Square in Philadelphia. At that event, PA State Representative Brian Sims was awarded the Equality Award through Tom’s assistance. He is still a proud advocate within our community.
Robert Herr
Although Robert Herr served on the Pennsylvania Equality Project’s Board of Directors for just a few months, he designed the current logo used by the organization. Without his help, the organization would not conduct the surveys that we do. He also helped us develop the “Conflict of Interest” forms that our Board members still use. PEP cannot thank him enough for his efforts.
Sara Campbell
Sara Campbell served as Central West Regional Director for Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania from 2013 through 2015. During her tenure, she planned and held the first LGBTQIA+ civil rights event at the Mercer County Courthouse. The entire event focused on civil rights, particularly the fight to ban conversion therapy in Pennsylvania and for an end to legal discrimination.
Janice Rael
Janice Rael played a vital role in the March at the Capitol in Harrisburg in 2013 during the fight for marriage equality. She briefly served on the ME4PA Board of Directors in 2013 representing Philadelphia. Janice organized a bus of fellow advocates from Philly who joined us at our rally and added strength to our organization.
Paula Johnston
Paula joined Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania as the Southwest Director in 2012 and has been a solid leader ever since. She launched the first Pride festival in Fayette County, PA, and has been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in southwest PA.
Alex Salmeron-Moore
Alex Salmeron-Moore served as Pennsylvania Equality Project’s first Board Secretary. Apart from drafting the agendas for Board meetings and keeping the minutes, Alex attended numerous events across Pennsylvania as part of the effort to raise awareness about the ongoing use of conversion therapy in Pennsylvania.