2024 Speakers
Opening Remarks
Jovon Tyler
Jovon Tyler, is the former president of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Elected in the late summer of 2020, Jovon made one of his primary goals as Caucus president to the organization more inclusive of all LGBTQ+ people. Many of his initiatives included ensuring that the voices of the trans community were heard in ever façade of the political process including appointing TFA President Alexis Melvin to serve as one of two official screening trainers in the Caucus’ candidate screening process.
Jovon was a member of AmeriCorps, selected to work for the YMCA International program in Brazil. He worked on the first staff of then Council Member Annise D. Parker.
Currently, Jovon is a Family Service Leader of SCI/Dignity with his location being Forest Park Westheimer. He also the local representative of the Victory Fund Black Leaders Caucus. Jovon has an advisory role in the office of City Controller, Chris Hollins.
Marina Guerra
Marina Guerra is an Outreach and Education Coordinator with the EEOC- Houston District office. Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, she attended Texas A&M- Corpus Christi and graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She began her career as an investigator with the Houston District Office in 1999. Hired through a Scholastic Achievement program she worked as an Investigator from 1999 through 2014 when she was promoted to a supervisory position. Marina held her supervisory position until 2020, when she was promoted to her current OEC position. Marina is very passionate about the work she does and is especially honored to carry out the Mission of the EEOC daily.
LinkedIn Profile:
www.linkedin.com/in/marina-guerra-6370511aa
Kris Winters
Kris Winters (Winters Night) will be back with us to read some of their new poetry. Kris says,
“My name is Kris Winters, and I am non-binary. I go by they/them/their. My husband and I have been happily married in a monogamous relationship for 5 years, but we both acknowledge that I am openly bisexual. Sharing these huge parts of myself with him has strengthened our relationship, and we are lucky to have found wonderful friends and allies.
After concealing my gender identity and my sexual orientation for nearly three decades, through trauma, abuse, and struggle after struggle with depression, eating disorders, and malnourishment of the mind, body, and soul, a lightbulb finally turned on inside my mind: I did not owe it to anybody to stay locked away from the world. I stopped caring what publicly embracing my gender identity would do to the egos and reputations of others and instead believed for the first time in my life that I deserved to be my full, authentic self. I understood at last that nobody had the right or the power to keep me in hiding.
Since that day, I have never looked back. Instead, I focus forward on giving others in our LGBTQ+ Community the assurance, support, and validation that I never had: We are all wonderfully unique, caring, and complete human beings, and each of us is worthy of love.”
Daniel Williams
“Daniel Williams is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Illinois Chicago. Daniel’s research focuses on queer politics at the sub-national level in the United States, with a focus on how queer people navigate political systems and environments. His research utilizes unique methods and novel data sets to uncover political behavior that is often obscured by mainstream political science methods. His honors include the Ragsdale fellowship, the Milton Rakove Award, and being named a Tom Carsey Scholar of State Politics and Policy. Before entering academia Daniel worked in Texas politics for more than a decade as an advocate for queer Texans.”
Alexis Melvin
“This will be my first time speaking at the Unity Banquet (and, depending on how it goes, maybe my last). I have opened the Banquet, given updates, presented awards, received awards, and been on the mic a lot of times, but I have never been a speaker at the banquet. I have been a speaker at numerous other events but never the Unity Banquet. For me, it feels a bit strange adding myself to the agenda and I feel a lot of pressure to present something that the attendees will find worth their while. … Alexis”
Alexis Melvin – Bio
Alexis Melvin is a gender-fluid transgender woman. Beginning in the mid-1960s, she worked as a grassroots community organizer to challenge discriminatory policies and work to elect pro-equality policy makers. An independent consultant, transgender activist, photographer, charity fundraiser, and lecturer located in Houston Texas, she is president of the Transgender Foundation of America, Vice President of Houston MediaSource, the Managing Principal and Senior Consultant for MCONSERV consulting, the Managing Associate of InVoter.us, and a regular on the Transadvocate Podcast. Alexis formerly served as Chair of the Houston Transgender Unity Committee (HTUC), is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, a founding member of the International Foundation for Gender Education, and an initial member of TransGender San Francisco. As a successful independent consultant, she provides consulting services to multinational corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and public charities in the areas of information technology, strategy, crisis management, organizational structure, event management, diversity, and general business management.
2024 Unity Banquet MCs
We are very pleased to have our two favorite MCs (Brandon and Dylan) back again this year to make sure everything moves along smoothly!
Brandon Mack
Brandon Mack is an activist/organizer/educator/all-around angelic troublemaker. He is the Screening Chair of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Vice-Chair of the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission. He is the founder/owner of B.Mack Strategies, LLC – a full-service consulting firm dedicated to promoting unapologetic equity in all areas of society.
Dylan Forbis
Dylan Forbis he/him is a Houston-based community activist and artist. As the first openly transgender person elected to the Texas Democratic Party Executive Committee, Dylan advocates for transgender rights and social justice. He balances his professional aspirations with community work and running Houston LGBTQIA Consulting LLC. Dylan’s unique perspective and dedication make him a powerful voice for equality and inclusion.
2024 Houston Transgender Unity Banquet Hotel
We are happy to announce that the 2024 Houston Transgender Unity Banquet will return to the Hilton Houston Westchase Hotel, 9999 Westheimer Road, TX 77042 on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
