Since re-establishing the UF Association of LGBTQ+ Alumni, we have been honored to host an annual panel on or before National Coming Out Day. This virtual event serves to hear about the successes and hardships our the LGBTQ+ community and their allies in coming out and acceptance.
October 2024
October 2024 marks our most recent panel. The discussion, moderated by long-time board member Arielle G., focused both on the experiences of all panelists as well as the unique experiences of certain panelists.
- Debin Smith (they/them), a 25-year special educator, principal, and helped write policy to best serve LGBTQ+ youth in the LAUSD
- Kevin Jura (he/him), a senior national & domestic security, public health and emergency management leader
- Ronni Sanlo (she/her), a retired UCLA professor, director emeritus of the UCLA LGBTQ+ Center and the founding chair of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals
- Leland “Lee” Blair (he/him), an associate professor in Acting & Musical Theatre at West Virginia University, stage actor, and director
October 2023
Our October 2023 panel focused on the stories of students. We heard inspiring stories from students on their journeys of self-discovery and courage.
- Leah Sanchez (she/her), a former UF Cicerone, TEDxUF talent co-ordinator and Class of 2024 economics graduate
- Jonathan “Johnny” Stephens (all pronouns), the two-term Pride Student Union President, vice-chair of the Gainesville Nature Centers Commission, a former Student Senator and SG Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, and Class of 2025 food science major
- Kyle Hamilton (he/they), a former UF Cicerone, HIV/AIDS research volunteer, former Presidential LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee member, and Class of 2024 public health and women’s studies graduate
- Victoria “Tori” Luppino (she/her), Class of 2026 political science major
- Kerry Fitzgerald (they/he), a Pride Student Union member and Class of 2025 anthropology and psychology major
October 2022
October 2022 had a panel of two, one student and one alumni, discuss their stories at UF.
- Dayanna “Day” Peek (they/them), media associate for Dentsu, co-founder of the UF Lavender LLC, executive producer of the Sapphic Party, and photographer
- Tamara Perry-Lumardo (she/her), president of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, author, and editor
October 2021
In October 2021, we had our first panel. We looked at both the personal and professional journeys of a diverse panel of alumni. The discussion focused on Gators sharing their coming out journeys and how the UF community helped them!
- Andres “Dru” Ortega (he/him), a senior brand & marketing leader across multiple companies
- Jonathan Lovitz (he/him), a senior official in the US Department of Commerce, former actor, and former candidate for PA State Senate
- Adam Higman (he/him), a strategic consulting partner at Press Ganey
- Eunic Epstein-Ortiz (she/her), a communications advisor, activist, and former candidate for FL State Senate
- Chloë Goldbach (she/her), a licensed psychologist specializing in LGBTQ+ healthcare and author