Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs welcomes Yasmin Kouchesfahani as program specialist

Philadelphia’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs is no longer a one-man show. Yasmin Kouchesfahani — an equity and inclusion advocate with experience in immigration, food, disability, elder and housing justice — joined Executive Director Tito Valdes to become the office’s program specialist on Sept. 28. The Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs was previously headed up by similar pairs. In 2017, Evan Thornburg was named as the first-ever deputy director working alongside AJ Hikes. Additionally, Erik Larson was appointed in 2021 to work with Celena Morrison. Creating lasting infrastructure for the office’s success requires a team, explained Valdes, who has been in his role since March 2026 but is committed to succession planning to ensure the long-term success of the office’s initiatives. “We recognize that we won’t be in these roles forever,” he said — adding that he believes the leaders who come after the new team will benefit from and build upon the work they’re starting now.

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