LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is proud to announce the ten 2024 Victory Empowerment Fellows.
The Victory Empowerment Fellowship is a six-month fellowship for LGBTQ+ leaders of color and/or transgender leaders who seek to expand their campaign skills and policy-making power and to join a strong cohort of movement leaders from across the country. Since the Victory Empowerment Fellowship was launched in 2015, we have helped 97 LGBTQ+ leaders expand their skill sets and cultivate invaluable relationships. These individuals will take the tools obtained through the program back to their communities to change the current landscape of LGBTQ+ inequality.
They join a distinguished group of alumni such as Minneapolis City Councilmember Andrea Jenkins ’16, Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton ’16, and North Carolina State Representative Vernetta Alston ’17. Whether it is running for office, working in local and city government, developing civil society organizations, or leading in the private sector – the alumni of the Victory Empowerment Fellowship are leading the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.
As participants in the Victory Empowerment Fellowship, the 2024 cohort will attend Victory Institute’s Chicago Candidate & Campaign Training in July and the 2024 International LGBTQ Leaders Conference in Washington, DC this December. They will also participate in virtual programming and be assigned LGBTQ+ mentors who will guide them in their path to Victory.
Meet the 2024 Fellows
Kyron Banks (He/Him)
Newark, New Jersey
Kyron is deeply committed to health equity and LGBTQ+ advocacy. He began his career in local government working for mayors in multiple cities, primarily in legislative roles, which led him to his current role as Policy and Advocacy Manager for Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Outside of his role, he supports LGBTQ+ candidates running for office and highlights advocacy work for ending the epidemic. When he is not working, he enjoys the following activities: teaching group fitness classes such as Zumba, video games, and visiting Chipotle.
Domonique Clemons (He/Him)
Flint, Michigan
Domonique Clemons serves as Genesee County Clerk/Register of Deeds, where he oversees the County’s vital records, legal records, and property records, as well as serving as the Chief Election Official of the County. Raised in Flint, Michigan, Domonique attended Southwestern High School, holds a Policy Degree from Michigan State University, and a master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University. Domonique previously served as Genesee County Commissioner and Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners. While on the Board of Commissioners, Clemons championed projects and initiatives such as the creation of the DEI Commission, crime prevention measures focused on community policing, the equitable distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds, and funding several projects including the largest blight elimination plan in Genesee County history, and the Redevelopment of Buick City all while passing a balanced budget.
Hope Giselle (She/Her)
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hope Giselle is a renowned activist, author, and co-founder of Alabama State University’s inaugural LGBT group. She now serves as the President, CEO, and Executive Director of the National Trans Visibility March, advocating for inclusivity for transgender individuals. Her impactful work has been shared with organizations like NASA, along with bestselling books that inspire diversity, acceptance, and social justice activism.
M. Greg Green (He/Him)
Lexington, South Carolina
Greg Green is an author, diversity & inclusion facilitator, community health worker, and community advocate that uses his years of experience as a police officer and firefighter to facilitate and humanize access to public resources while shifting the corporate culture for his communities. As an advocate, corporate trainer, and entrepreneur he currently serves as the CEO of Miskonception LLC, serves as Board Chair of Transgender Awareness Alliance, is on the Board of Directors for The Citadel’s African American Alumni Association, and is a 2024 Clyburn Fellow. Greg is a skilled and engaging speaker on transformative public service, trans visibility and awareness in the corporate world, and intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community. He has spoken in Washington, DC with the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Dorn VA Hospital, Federal Correctional Institution in Edgefield, SC, Federation of Families Summer Summit, and many other speaking engagements.
Jaziah Masters (He/Him)
Nashville, Tennessee
Jaziah Masters is a native of Dallas, Texas, and a current student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Masters has served as an advocacy professional at the Baptist Joint Committee in Washington, D.C., since 2018. Currently, he is a research fellow for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. Masters also serves as a 2023-2024 Fellow for the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. He has interned with the Dallas Independent School District, the Texas Legislature, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Masters holds degrees from both Baylor University and George Washington University.
Micah McCarey (He/Him)
Athens, Ohio
Dr. Micah McCarey hails from the small college town of Oberlin, Ohio and has been a member of the Ohio University and Athens, Ohio communities since he arrived on OHIO’s Athens Campus for undergraduate studies in interpersonal and organizational communication in the Fall of 2003. After completing master’s-level studies in human development through OHIO’s Individual Interdisciplinary Program (IIP), Micah supported student success and diversity education throughout the ten years he spent working in OHIO’s Division of Student Affairs prior to moving to the Division of Diversity and Inclusion in May 2019. In 2022, Micah completed an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program rooted in positive psychology and decision-making, which he uses to inform individual and group decision-making processes in his current work as OHIO’s LGBT Center Director and as an at-large member of Athens City Council. He is currently elected to his second two-year term, which will span January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025.
Joeigh Perella (She/Her)
Vineland, New Jersey
Dr. Joeigh Perella (she/her) is a lifelong resident of Cumberland County. She attended Rowan University earning a BS in Biological Sciences before attending Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she graduated in 2017 with her DMD in Dentistry. Dr. Perella has been a practicing dentist for seven years . In 2022 she was recognized with the Business Professional Award by the Millville Chamber of Commerce for holding a free dental clinic. Outside of Dentistry, Dr. Perella serves on the board of the Robert V. Hoffman III Memorial Foundation, a non-profit that educates the community about mental healthcare and suicide prevention. She also serves her community through active involvement in her local Rotary Club. Dr. Perella works closely with her local Democratic Party currently serving as the vice-chair of the Vineland Democratic Party. As a proud member of the transgender community, Dr. Perella organizes a monthly spaghetti dinner for members of the South Jersey trans community.
Mo Pirela (She/Her)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Mo Pirela is a Black lesbian poet, advocate, entrepreneur, scholar, and leader. Mo’s leadership shines through her moderation of panels, podcast appearances, and coordination of community events that showcase her ability to engage and inspire. Mo has excelled in academia, demonstrating her commitment to positive representation, learning, and growth. She previously participated in the Woke Vote Fellowship and the RestoreHer Fellowship, which have helped to hone her movement building skills. As the founder of Solidarity&Co., she has leveraged those skills to offer advocacy-based services and products, furthering her impact and influence. Mo’s genuine support for others, coupled with her academic achievements, lived experience, and leadership development, make her an invaluable and impactful asset to any collective. She remains committed to social justice, civic engagement, and amplifying diverse voices in all of her endeavors with solidarity in mind.
Vida Rangel (She/They)
Washington, District of Columbia
Vida is a queer Latiné nonbinary trans woman. As a community organizer and policy professional, Vida’s passion is helping radical progressive movements achieve structural change that liberates marginalized communities. To that end, Vida has organized around the country in areas spanning the political spectrum, and served in legislative offices at the federal, state, county, and city levels. She got her start as a college organizer in small-town Texas working toward inclusive campus policies and against anti-queer & anti-trans legislation in the Texas legislature. Vida currently serves as an appointed government official for the District of Columbia, and is the highest ranking openly transgender official in the history of District government. Her former positions include Policy Counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality, chair of her union, NCTE United, and Deputy Voter Protection Director for the Wisconsin Democrats.
Jose Vazquez (They/Them)
Montgomery, Alabama
Jose Vazquez is Communications Director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama. They are also founding board member of Montgomery Pride United – an organization providing direct services for LGBTQ+ people in central Alabama while advocating for their rights in the Deep South. Part of Jose’s leadership involved the opening and maintenance of the Bayard Rustin Community Center and Thrift Store – a safe haven for social gatherings, political advocacy, and direct services. Recognized as a “Champion of Pride” by The Advocate in 2020, they believe that long-lasting change for LGBTQ+ rights in the state begins with making space to tell and spread the stories that matter. Jose is deeply inspired by the radical resilience of Southern queer elders and seeks to amplify their vision of the future.
