PFLAG Queens Chapter
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays
17th Annual Morty Manford Awardee
Michael J Mallon
Michael Mallon is a native New Yorker who's life was transformed when he
came out to his family and moved from Brooklyn to Astoria in 2005. It was
around this time that his passion for community organizing blossomed: he
joined and remains on the steering committee of Out Astoria, a group that
organizes the LGBT community in Astoria, LIC, and Sunnyside and provides a
forum for dialogue. He also began to actively participate in Queens Lesbian
and Gay Pride Committee (QLGPC) events, became a member of the organization,
and subsequently served as its Secretary for two terms. He considers it a
privilege to help organize the Queens Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Parade & Festival every June, as well as the Queens Winter Pride
Gala, an annual fundraising event that honors those who advocate for and
edify the LGBT community in Queens.
Always one to believe that the church should be a place of support and
comfort to the LGBT community, Michael helped reorganize and serves on the
steering committee of Integrity NYC (iNYC), an advocacy and fellowship group
that strives for the aforementioned within The Episcopal Church. He is also
a member of the LGBT Life Committee of the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in
the Fields, which promotes the visibility, equality, and well-being of LGBT
persons and their families both within the Episcopal Church and the wider
community. It is through these groups--and others, such as the
Astoria-based Western Queens for Marriage Equality coalition--that Michael
participates in the struggle for marriage equality for same sex couples
within the USA.
No stranger to the world of politics, Michael has been involved with several
campaigns over the years in an effort to help LGBT and LGBT-supportive
candidates become elected to public office. He is proud to be an Executive
Board Member and Membership Committee Co-chair of the Stonewall Democratic
Club of New York City, the largest city-wide LGBT political club in New
York. Michael also serves as the Fundraising Committee Co-Chair of the
Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens, the only progressive LGBT
political club within Queens County. Additionally, Michael is active within
the Wood-Heights and Powhatan/Pocahontas Democratic Clubs, as well as the
Queens County Young Democrats, a progressive organization of Democrats
between the ages of 16 and 36, dedicated to inspiring the participation of
all people in politics, public policy and service.
In January 2010, after having worked in the retail, publishing, and
communications departments of The Episcopal Church headquarters for four
years, Michael joined the staff of New York City Council Member Daniel
Dromm, who, together with Hon. Jimmy Van Bramer, is the first openly-gay NYC
Council Member in the borough of Queens.
Michael resides in the Dutch Kills section of Astoria with the amazing Chap
James Day, his beloved partner of five years.
13th Annual Carmel Tavadia Memorial Awardee
Gary A. Maffei
Gary moved to Queens from Long Island (where he was involved with gay rights and AIDS groups) in 1987 to assume a
position with the newly formed ACQC (AIDS Center of Queens County). He quickly rose to the position of
Executive Director were he served until 1992. For the last 19 years he has served as Executive Director and CEO
of QSAC, a NYC/LI agency serving the autistic.
In 1989, Gary was appointed by Borough President Shulman as the 1st Gay Community Liaison to the BP; he was
appointed by Mayor Dinkens to the Mayor's Gay & Lesbian Police Council and the NYC HIV Ryan White Council. He was
also elected to the Board of Directors of the NY AIDS Coalition, serving as Treasurer. Gary was involved in the
formative years, serving on Boards of Directors or steering committees of many gay groups including; the Julio Rivera
Anti Violence Coalition, Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club and Queens Pride Committee. In 1999, Gary was appointed to
Community Board 5 by Manhattan Borough President Fields. In 2001, BP Shulman declared June 19th - "Gary Maffei Day in Queens".
In 2007, Queens Borough President Marshall awarded Gary a Citation of Honor for his pioneering leadership of the LGBT rights movement.
In 2009, he was the Vice-President of Marriage Equality NY and volunteered with Sylvia's Place a homeless shelter for gay youth
Gary and his husband Charlie (they were married in LA) have been involved in several real estate ventures and with numerous Broadway
and Off Broadway shows. Today, they spend as much time as possible with their 1 year old granddaughter Madelyn.
Gary was born in Alaska and began his career in public service on Long Island in the late 1970’s as a health educator.
He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Long Island University. Gary has served as a senior level administrator for
over 30 years with many non-profit organizations including Molloy College and the Statue of Liberty Foundation. He has also been
employed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Town of Hempstead. Gary served as Chair of the Queens Borough President’s Task
Force on Disabilities for 9 years and was a member of a NYS Commission on Quality of Care Committee. He has also been a committee chair for
both the Queens MR/DD Council and the NYC Inter-Agency Council on MR/DD agencies, where he now serves as a member of the Board of Directors
and Chair of the PR Committee. Gary has been an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer at area colleges, a consultant to non-profit
organizations, a delegate to a Judicial Nominating Convention, has served as an officer of several area political clubs and has
been featured in several newspaper profiles
5th Annual Brenda Howard Memorial Awardee
Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner
Micah Z. Kellner was first elected to represent the New York’s 65th Assembly District (parts of Manhattan’s Upper East Side,
Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island) in 2007.
As an infant, Micah was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and underwent numerous operations and years of physical therapy. While earning
his bachelor’s degree at New York University, he became politically active on behalf of the disabilities community, and has since
become a powerful voice for the rights of persons with disabilities in the Empire State.
As an openly bisexual legislator, Micah is in a unique position to raise the profile of the bisexual community both within the LGBT
community and beyond. He has been a strong champion of marriage equality for same-sex couples, co-sponsoring the Assembly bill and
voting for it three times since his election. Micah has said that he believes his vote for marriage equality is the most important
will ever make as a legislator. He also co-sponsors and has voted for the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).
Micah is the author of two bills of interest to the LGBT community. A.3956, which passed the Assembly in 2009, requires the State
Office of the Aging to do an annual report to assess the needs of and delivery of services to the LGBT community and to provide
technical assistance to organizations that provide services to LGBT senior populations. A.9044 would require judges in criminal
court to instruct juries to disregard appeals to bias and prejudice through courtroom tactics, such as when a perpetrator of a
crime employs a “panic defense” strategy.
Micah is the recipient of the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 2010 Legislator of the Year, New Alternatives for Children’s 2009
Outstanding Public Service Award, Manhattan Young Democrat’s 5 Under 35 Award, the Association of Vocational Rehabilitation in
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse’s 2007 Award of Excellence, 504 Democratic Club’s 2005 Sandra Schnur Award, and was named one of
The Capitol’s 2009 “40 Rising Stars Under 40.” He currently serves as a member of the Banks, Cities, Consumer Affairs and
Protection, and Environmental Conservation Committees in the Assembly.
Other Information
We also have an ad journal and YOUR AD DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
For more information regarding our celebration ad journal, see our ad journal webpage at
http://www.pflag-queens.org/journal.html
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Last updated 1/28/10 by LDN