Out Montclair Hosts its First Event: Gender & Pronoun Terminology in 2021

Organization partners with the Trans Affirming Alliance, Garden State Equality and CAN Community Health on this important event to help the community and in particular, allies, with understanding why and how gender terminology and personal pronouns matter.

The event takes place on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30pm and is open to anyone. You can Register Here: https://outmontclair.org/events/gender-and-pronoun-terminology-explained. (Zoom link sent out to registrants)

“I know a lot of people in the LGBTQIA+ community and certainly many of our allies who don’t know what all of the letters mean or why personal pronouns matter. This is an opportunity for anyone who is willing to listen, to learn. I thought that would be the best way to launch this organization: getting grounded in the fundamentals.”, said Peter Yacobellis, President of Out Montclair

“Using inclusive language is one important way to show respect for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people,” said Jahmila Smith, Project Manager and Trainer of Garden State Equality. “We hope this panel can serve as the first step to learning more about the trans community and what else residents, employers, educators, and others can do to promote inclusion in Montclair.”, she added.

More about the panelists:

Dana Delgardo (He/Him/His)

Dana is a Family Nurse Practitioner graduated from Rutgers State University (pronouns: he/him). He is a parent of two children and lives with his life partner in Essex county, New Jersey. Dana is a primary care medical provider at CAN Community Health, Inc., who specializes in HIV and LGBTQ+ health care. He strives towards creating a culturally and clinically competent health care environment through education, support, advocacy, and empowerment.

Celeste Fiore (They/Them/Theirs)

Celeste Fiore is a Partner at Argentino Fiore Law & Advocacy LLC. Celeste Fiore’s work as an LGBTQ educator, activist, and advocate began when they were an undergraduate student at American University in Washington, DC. Celeste led AU’s LGBTQ undergraduate organization, and was later the president of Outlaws, the LGBTQ law student group at Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, where they earned their Juris Doctorate.  Most recently, Celeste founded the TRANS AFFIRMING ALLIANCE, a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation, and is the Chair.

Jahmila Smith (She/Her/Hers)

Jahmila currently serves as a project manager and trainer for Garden State Equality. A proud Bronx native with over four years of experience working with diverse groups and populations. Her work and advocacy started during her undergraduate years at Hofstra University, where she majored in Sociology, with minors in Psychology and Women’s Studies. Jahmila became a member of The Pride Network, the LGBTQ organization on campus. She continued this work post grad, supporting young adults in middle school and high school. Jahmila has a background working with youth and young adults with adverse experiences, supporting them with their educational and vocational goals, as well as providing emotional support, so that they grow into happy, thriving adults.

Peter Yacobellis (He/Him/His)

In addition to leading Out Montclair, Peter currently serves as Councilor-At-Large for the Township of Montclair after being elected in 2020. As an out gay man, Peter’s history with the equal rights movement grew out of his own painful personal experiences with conversion therapy and being discharged from U.S. Air Force basic training under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Peter has worked for several high profile elected officials and organizations from Hillary Clinton to American Express and has been in the trenches fighting for equality for almost 20 years.