Join us for this online CLGS African American Roundtable Conversation featuring Wilhelmina Perry and Ronald Moore, co-founders of the LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent in conversation. They will share their experience on the necessity for forming the organization, particular issues they faced throughout the years, and what they see as the future for the organization. If you organize within faith communities and/or have an interest in the intersection of religion and queer identity, you don’t want to miss this conversation!
Dr. Wilhelmina Perry holds a masters in social work and a doctorate in human behavior and leadership. She has been a social work faculty, administrator of not-for-profit institutions, and community educator. For over 30 years she worked with her partner, Dr. Antonia Pantoja, and created two major community development institutions: a free-standing alternative educational institution that worked with community leaders from around the United States and Puerto Rico and a community economic development organization that worked with community residents who lived in a low-income area in rural Puerto Rico.
In 2002, following the death of her partner in a relationship that they shared for 30 years, she returned to her faith. She became a member of The Riverside Church and shortly thereafter would become the convener of Maranatha, the LGBT ministry. Dr. Perry was a co-founder and Vice President of the Interfaith Task Force for Homeless LGBT Youth. Under the work of the Task Force, three shelters were opened in local churches.
Dr. Perry has been an advocate for LGBT same-gender loving people as well as for marriage equality. She held the position of convener of the Round table People of Color under Empire State Pride Agenda. In 2010, this group reformed itself as an independent organization and would become the LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent. Dr. Perry served as Administrative Coordinator until 2017. She is now Founder Emeritus. During her tenure with Faith Leaders, she was involved in the formation of the LGBT Circle of Life, an organization to honor those who have passed, and the Black and Latino LGBT Coalition, an organization of Black and Latino LGBT organizations.
Dr. Perry was honored in 2013 with an award from Harlem Pride. She became a Purpose Prize Fellow in 2014. In 2014, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the LGBT Kwanzaa Community of NYC, Inc. In 2016, she received the Regina Shavers Legacy Award from Griot Circle, Inc. the oldest organization for LGBT seniors. In 2017, she received an award from City and State New York and from the NAACP Mid Manhattan Branch. This year, she was one of the public faces of World Pride 2019. and also named one of the 100 most influential
LGBT people (City and State Magazine) In 2019m she was one of the faces of Stonewall 50: World Pride NYC. She has received numerous other awards and recognitions. In 2018, she was elected Founder Emeritus by the board of LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent. In 2020, she is named one of the most influential LGBT people.
She has contributed many articles on LGBT youth, same-gender families, “coming out”, clergy, and attitudes towards LGBT people and President Obama’s support of marriage equality. These articles have appeared in Caribbean Life, The Daily News, The Amsterdam News, Huffington Post, and The Positive Community.
Dr. Perry is currently a member of the TFAM house of worship, Rivers, NY, and The Riverside Church.
Ronald Moore retired in 2016 after seven years as the Vice President of Human Resources for Safe Horizon, New York City, NY. Safe Horizon is the nation’s largest provider of services to victims of Domestic Violence.
Ronald spent 26 years in various Human Resources at Hewlett-Packard. He lived in 5 cities (Sunnyvale, CA, St. Louis, MO, Hoboken, NJ, Chicago, IL, and Atlanta Ga). While based in Atlanta he accepted an early retirement offer from Hewlett Packard in 2005 and returned to New York City.
2005-2016 he lived in Harlem, NY. Ronald has been involved in many nonprofit organizations over the years, serving as a member of the board of directors for over 10 nonprofit organizations. Such as Equality Michigan, The Equality Federation, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Riverside Church of NYC Church Council.
He is enjoying retirement in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan after living away for 40 years. He is active with the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, serving on the MCCD Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Detroit Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Incorporated.
Ronald received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, a Master of Arts in Counseling, and a Master’s in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University.
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