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Deborah Engel (she/her) is an educational and organizational consultant and parent of a queer young adult (now college graduate who was active in JQ’s Teen JQSA program.) Her passion for JQ lies in her desire to make the most inclusive Jewish community possible to ensure her child is embraced as an LGBTQ+ Jew. Deb works as a consultant to various different Jewish and non-profit organizations.

Yoanna Chaya Kollin (she/her/hers) is a transgender, panromantic, intersex woman who has been involved with JQ International since she first joined the Teen JQSA in 2014. She was born in Jerusalem and enjoys RuPaul’s Drag Race, art, make-up, poetry, and stand-up comedy. Yoanna advocates for people to be their authentic selves no matter what anyone else tells them. She hopes to open people’s minds through her speaking engagements so that they can achieve happiness and acceptance in their communities. She wants people to know that change is possible no matter where they are in life.

Sam is a queer gay identifying California Attorney based in Los Angeles. Sam focuses his time passionately advocating for the rights and the liberation of all LGBTQIA+ persons.

Post college, Sam moved back to Los Angeles to further his education in the legal field but felt that he lacked a sense of community as he felt isolated. Being an Iranian Jew, Sam always had a strong sense of community growing up but felt that there was barely any recognition or acceptance of queer folk in the realm of the traditional Iranian-Jewish world. Sam found his way to JQ and learned of the existence of other LGBTQIA+ identifying Iranian individuals, and that is when Sam found his voice and he became an advocate for the queer Iranian Jewish community. With the efforts and guidance of his constituents many efforts had been made to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ identifying Iranians Jews. As a result of his passion for advocacy and liberation, Sam has dedicated his career as a legal professional to the queer community. Soon after he passed the California Bar Exam he founded an LGBTQIA+ law firm and named it Legally Queer, a law firm by the community for the community.

Sam sees that seeking and securing sound legal advice and representation is a real challenge for many people from all backgrounds and minorities, especially those who identify as LGBTQIA+ in this day and age when it is still a struggle for the queer community to be recognized as equal under the law. Because of his diverse heritage and as a first generation gay cis-male, Sam understood these struggles and challenges at a young age, especially when his family members struggled with getting adequate legal representation because they did not have the financial capacity to pay or the status to obtain it. Sam strongly believes that the struggles he mentions are readily apparent within the LGBTQIA+ community, which is why he has dedicated his career to paying it forward to the community by giving back. His goal is, for those who need it, to have access to sound legal advice with zealous legal representation.

Sam established Legally Queer so that the people of the LGBTQIA+ community have adequate legal resources that they can rely upon so that their interests are protected. Sam strives to protect and advocate for the community by way of establishing Legally Queer and engaging with audiences during his speaking engagements, so that those persons who identify as LGBTQIA+ can learn to combat and overcome the many struggles and misconceptions that there is a need for massive financial means or the traditional cisgender status to have justice on their side and to be recognized as equal under the law.

Melody Razi (she/her) is a Persian Jewish queer woman born and raised in Los Angeles. Melody lives with her spouse and two cats in Encino, CA. She currently works as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and has worked in the world of mental health for three years. Melody has integrated her passion for intersectionality in her work with JQ by advocating for a shift from tolerance to acceptance of LGTBQ+ individuals in the Persian-Jewish community. Melody aspires to use her experience in mental health to create space for LGBTQ+ people in addiction and mental health services.