Elicia Gonzales
“As a child I considered Prince to be a genius. I loved how he played with gender and was able to express his gender separately from his sexual orientation. He can play a ridiculous number of musical instruments and is a beautiful song writer too. I recall being completely entranced anytime I heard him sing.”
Elicia Gonzales is a queer Latinx, Licensed Social Worker with a Masters in Human Sexuality Education. She is the Executive Director for Women’s Medical Fund, an organization that since 1985 has worked to ensure and expand abortion access now and always through direct service and community organizing. As a leader, she believes in the importance of being receptive to feedback, new ideas, and disagreements --- while still championing a bold vision for a better world.
Elicia formerly served as Executive Director for GALAEI: a queer Latinx Social Justice Organization and adjunct professor for Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies. She is the co-founder of the SEXx Interactive Collective, a former member of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and she serves on the Bread and Roses Community Fund board. Elicia lives in Fishtown, PA with her amazing wife and cat - named Justice.
What did you consider to be genius as a child?
“Prince. I didn't have the language or the analysis back then. But I recall being completely entranced anytime I heard him sing or watched him. His sexual fluidity was powerful and mesmerizing. I loved how he played with gender and was able to express his gender separately from his sexual orientation. When folx would assume he was gay, I knew that they did not get him at all. He can play a ridiculous amount of musical instruments and is a beautiful song writer too. I still cry often that his not with us in the physical form. He, to me, epitomizes genius.”
What does leadership mean to you?
“I believe a true leader is someone who inspires and supports others to be in their power and live up to their full leadership potential. A leader who is someone who values people and relationships, and values collective wisdom. A leader is someone with humility who is receptive to feedback, new ideas, and disagreements - and can still champion a bold vision for a better world.“
biography:
Elicia Gonzales is a queer Latinx, Licensed Social Worker with a Masters in Human Sexuality Education. She is the Executive Director for Women’s Medical Fund, an organization that since 1985 has worked to ensure and expand abortion access now and always through direct service and community organizing. Elicia formerly served as Executive Director for GALAEI: a queer Latinx Social Justice Organization and adjunct professor for Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies. Elicia is the co-founder of the SEXx Interactive Collective, an appointed member of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and she serves on the Bread and Roses Community Fund board. Elicia lives in Fishtown, PA with her amazing wife and cat - named Justice, of course, and is originally from Denver, Colorado.