The Safe Schools South Florida (SSSF) SpeakOUT Bureau is a cadre of successful professionals of all ages and backgrounds who have a personal relationship to GLBTQ issues. This means that either they are GLBTQ, have parents, children and/or siblings who are, or that they work closely with GLBTQ issues on a daily basis.
These speakers are volunteers who are willing to speak to the GLBTQ youth of South Florida, and their allies, with the intent of leading by example and being role models for these youth. They are willing to share their stories, listen to the issues concerning today’s youth and offer advice from their experience in an effort to ease the way for them and show them that they too can become successful OUT citizens in today’s society.

Dr. Allan Barsky— Professor of Social Work; Author

Dr. Allan Barsky teaches and conducts research in the areas of professional ethics, addictions, mediation, and social work practice with individuals at Florida Atlantic University. Allan promotes social justice for the LGBT community and all people through workshops and social advocacy. Dr. Barsky serves on the National Ethics Committee of the National Association of Social Workers. He has authored “Ethics and Values in Social Work,” “Clinicians in Court,” and “Conflict Resolution for the Helping Professions.”

Sheila Oakley-Carpenter—Proud Mother of a Gay Son

Sheila Carpenter has personally witnessed bullying within the English School system and will do all she can to stamp out this heartbreaking attitude here in America.

Kim Cohane— Director of Marketing and Board Member for Drag It Out

Kim Cohane is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Leadership. She began advocating for LGBT equality as a high school junior at Kansas City Pride and currently is a force in many facets of South Florida activism; bringing the LGBT community together in a spirit of fun and engagement.

Deon Davis—Author, Activist and Ambassador for Equality

Deon Davis is an accomplished author and Certified Life Coach who finds joy and satisfaction in fighting for equality and gay rights for her son and the entire GLBT community.

Avi Flashenberg—Licensed Massage Therapist; Proprietor

Avi Flashenberg is an active member of his temple and volunteers in the gay and arts communities. He sang with the Gay Men’s Chorus for 7years and worked in the financial industry for 12 years. Avi is an openly gay man who lives a full, active life with friends and family.

G. Allan Hendricks—Director of the Landscape Architecture Department, Caulfield & Wheeler Inc.

Allan. Hendricks is Involved in many community organizations including: Organizer for Equality Florida, Palm Beach County; Open House, Florida and the Palm Beach County Progressive Roundtable.

Pablo Hernandez—Entrepreneur, Actor, Model

Pablo Hernandez is a 24 year old entrepreneur, actor and model. He is the son of Cuban parents who left their country to provide their future children with freedom and civil rights that they never had. Pablo holds tremendous admiration for his parents' struggle. After an extensive personal battle to come to terms with his true self in his youth, Pablo now looks back at the last 10 years with joy and a great sense of accomplishment and looks forward to helping youth by sharing his story of survival.

Dr. Gary Keating – Music Teacher

In 1986, Dr. Gary Keating founded the first gay chorus in Florida and has been active in the gay choral movement since, including the Director of Development for the International Association of Gay Choruses. Gary was one of the founding members of Dade Actionpac, SaveDade, and the Miami Beach Gay Business Association and has also been an active fund raiser and educator for HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years. Residing in Wilton Manors, Florida, Dr. Keating and his husband will celebrate 30 years together in February of 2012.

Tom Lander, History Teacher

Tom Lander serves the public as a teacher and community activist. Member of United Teachers of Dade At-Large Vice-President, and UTD Rainbow Caucus.

Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee— Minister/Artist

Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee is a Minister/Artist (and by default an activist) in the South Florida area. She is also the Founder/CEO for Black Gay Pride South Florida. She has served in elected office within the Democratic Party.

Kevin O'Connor—Educator

A K–8 teacher and principal since 1973, Kevin O’Connor shares stories and experiences that relate to topics which include gay parenting and family situations, substance abuse and recovery, and inclusiveness in education.

Marc Paige — AIDS Educator

Marc Paige is a 53 year-old gay man who has been happily partnered for nine years. He has been speaking to students about the lives of LGBT people, as well as providing AIDS education and prevention information for over 20 years. Marc believes "It’s harder to hate when these issues become humanized".

Tara Taglienti—digital creative, Producer; Founder of a Community Non Profit Organizations

Passionate about making a difference and creating awareness, Tara Taglienti stands for people to love and be loved without judgment or fear.

Marlyn Layne Yassen—Physician Assistant, Gender Specialist and Educator in Transgender Medicine, Psychiatry and Mysticism

M. Layne Yassen is a gender fluid, two spirited soul, a healthcare provider, spiritual teacher, singer and musician. Layne does this with infinite compassion, devotion, grace, honor, respect and kindness to and for all.

Jaime Yordán-Frau, M.S., C.P.C

Jaime Yordán- Frau is the President & Chief Coaching Officer of Integro Success Unlimited.

Hector Zuazo—Educator and Activist

Hector Zuazo was born in Cuba back in the days when you did not talk about homosexuality. Hector wants to “do whatever he can to make sure our future generations don't have to put up with such nonsense”.