Event: Pride Month Celebration
Date: To be determined
Format: To be determined
Audience: 60-120; Video game developers; Respawn Employees. Video will be available to entire studio which is about 600~ folks.
Theme: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride — fostering inclusion, visibility, and empowerment within the workplace and beyond
Tone: Inspirational, authentic, uplifting, and celebratory, with a focus on lived experiences, intersectionality, and actionable inclusion
Budget: $5,000
Objective:
Speaker Needs:
Josh Miller (They/he) is a dynamic, award-winning inclusion and belonging strategist who has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations on next-generation leadership and equity initiatives. As a Gen Z CEO and educator, Josh brings a powerful, intersectional lens to his work, drawing on his experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a person with a disability, and a champion for intergenerational collaboration. Josh’s work is rooted in helping organizations understand the evolving nature of leadership, culture, and community through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). They are also the author of “Unconscious Evolution: Navigating the Modern Leadership Crisis”, which challenges organizations to embrace authentic leadership models for a more equitable future.
Speaking Fee: Will negotiate to meet budget.
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/josh-miller
Website: https://joshmiller.ventures/public-speaking
Speaker is based in Denver, Colorado.
As a young queer professional, Josh found themselves covering – downplaying, hiding, or filtering parts of himself at work, with different social groups, at school, and with family.
Through their work, including interviews and hosting video podcasts, and research done by organizations including Deloitte and UCLA Williams Institute, women of color, straight white men, LGBTQ+ folx, and people with disabilities, among others, have all named ways in which they’ve covered parts of themselves and their identities in business settings. Through Uncovering Our Value in the Workplace, attendees learn what covering is, its impact on the individual and the company, and how it can trigger coping strategies and lead to burnout. Josh delves into how these elements intersected with COVID-19 and the socio-political environment over the past few years touching every sector, and calls on attendees to consider the opportunity we have now to create an uncovering movement by imagining new ways of working. The talk includes recommendations for cultivating a positive sense of belonging by developing trusting cultures that embrace and value employees’ unique lived experiences.
Josh delves into the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the workplace — from misgendering to covering, microaggressions to healthcare — and outlines strategies for embracing the evolving way we understand sexual orientation and gender identity. This includes looking at the role of companies, leaders, and employees in providing internal and external support for the LGBTQ+ community. The talk concludes with a call to action for individuals and employers to develop and take steps to create more inclusive workplaces for all, especially as parts of our nation become more hostile for LGBTQ+ people and employees.
“Josh’s research and experience demonstrated how by embracing uncovering and providing a safe and inclusive space for authentic self-expression, we can unlock the collective potential of our teams. Their insights have enhanced my thinking about cultivating inclusive workplace cultures and inspired and provoked thoughtful reflection.” - Rustin Tonn, Pitney Bowes
“Having Josh Miller as the keynote speaker during our Global Pride Month Webcast was incredibly impactful. Their personal story as well as their expert knowledge on the topic of covering created a message that universally resonated with the hundreds of McDonald’s employees who listened in from around the world. Their visibility and vulnerability left us feeling inspired to continue having such authentic and meaningful conversations in an effort for everyone to feel seen and supported.” - Ethan Bailey, US Strategy & Analytics, McDonald’s
Madison Butler is an unapologetic advocate for authenticity, vulnerability, and creating workplaces where people feel safe to show up as their true selves. Her viral content has built a global following of people who see themselves in her journey—from masking and burnout to unapologetically taking up space. Madison is passionate about helping organizations embrace the power of human connection, psychological safety, and radical self-expression — especially for marginalized identities. As the founder of Blue Haired Unicorn, Madison designs spaces and scalable strategies centered on trust, transparency, and authenticity. She believes embracing humanity in leadership is not just beneficial — it’s essential.
Madison’s thought leadership has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Yahoo, Rolling Stone, and more. Recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Black Voice and by DivInc as Austin’s Rising Star, Madison’s impact continues to grow as she empowers organizations to center belonging, purpose, and mental health. Her first book, Let Them See You: Empowering Change Through Authenticity, will be released in Summer 2025.
Speaking Fee: Will negotiate to meet budget.
Speaker's profile page: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/madison-butler
For virtual engagements, Madison recommends delivering her content in a moderated conversation format, which enhances audience engagement through its interactive and dynamic structure. This format allows for a more conversational experience that resonates particularly well in virtual settings.
Madison previously spoke to Respawn during Black History Month 2023, where her message was highly impactful. She customizes each session to the audience, and for Respawn’s Pride Month event, we recommend the following keynote:
This powerful keynote focuses on the liberation that comes from breaking away from societal expectations — a message deeply resonant for the LGBTQ+ community.
Madison advocates for being unapologetically human, encouraging attendees to redefine success, authenticity, and leadership on their own terms. As a fierce champion of LGBTQ+ visibility and psychological safety, Madison challenges outdated norms and inspires individuals to create lives and workplaces where they can show up fully and unapologetically.
Key Takeaways:
"Madison centered on a topic that many Red Hatters were excited to discuss for some time. She answered the various challenging yet necessary questions revolving intersectionality and what it looks like in the LGBTQ+, Black and Latinx/Hispanic community. We're even more excited because this conversation is going to continue with the other diversity and inclusion communities here at Red Hat. As we continue to push for inclusivity and focus on an open and welcoming workplace for everyone to be themselves, we thank Madison for providing her expertise on how we can accomplish that. Can't say thank you enough, Madison!"- Red Hat
With over 25 years of experience guiding the world’s top leaders in business, education, and community through individual, small group, and full-staff trainings, Dr. Kryss Shane LSW, LMSW (she/her) has been featured as America’s Go-To Leading LGBT+ Expert in The New York Times, ABC News, Yahoo!, CNN, and more.
Her writing has appeared in publications including the Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, Huffington Post, International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, and The New Social Worker Magazine.
Dr. Kryss helps businesses address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) needs in approachable, manageable, and actionable ways — including adapting physical spaces, updating hiring practices, re-drafting policies, and more.
She holds three master’s degrees (MSW, MS, MBA), a Ph.D. in Leadership specializing in Education, and licenses to practice mental healthcare in Ohio and New York. She currently serves as the Director of the Social Work Program and Assistant Professor at Thomas University, a Lecturer at Columbia University, and an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University, National Louis University, and National University.
Dr. Kryss is also the author of four books focused on building LGBTQ+ inclusive environments in medical, educational, and corporate settings, including:
Throughout her career, Dr. Kryss has worked tirelessly as an activist, consultant, educator, and trainer to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion at the local, state, federal, and international levels.
Speaker Fee: To be negotiated.
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dr-kryss-shane
Speaker is based in New York.
Meet LGBTQ+ Inclusion Author and Speaker, Dr. Kryss Shane | TS Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ScxbMgshY
Dr. Kryss Shane can customize her sessions to fit the specific audience and organizational goals. Overarching themes include:
Supporting LGBTQ+ Employees: From Awareness to Action
Building LGBTQ+ inclusion is about more than Pride Month; it’s a year-round commitment. This session offers practical tools and insights to create truly inclusive workplaces.
Understanding LGBTQ+ Identities: Creating Respectful and Affirming Spaces
Through education and real-world examples, Dr. Kryss explains LGBTQ+ terminology, common misconceptions, and best practices for fostering environments where everyone feels respected and valued.
The Power of Allyship: What True Support Looks Like
Dr. Kryss outlines actionable strategies for being an active ally at work, in communities, and beyond, moving from passive support to visible, impactful advocacy.
“Loved the presenter and how she included [the audience] in her presentation! Kryss was open and helpful in helping us all to become more aware and understanding of the changing times. It was good to have the opportunity to brainstorm possible solutions/next steps.” - Attendee of Blended & Personalized Learning Conference: Convening Educators, Leaders, & Innovators, Providence, Rhode Island
Actor, Comedian, Activist
D’Lo is a queer, transgender Tamil-Sri Lankan-American writer, performer, and cultural producer whose work explores themes of identity, gender, and belonging through the lens of humor, truth, and personal experience. A longtime artist-activist, D’Lo has been featured in HBO, Netflix, Amazon, and major festivals across the U.S. His performances are deeply rooted in storytelling as resistance—empowering audiences to embrace complexity, celebrate identity, and disrupt harmful norms. With decades of experience engaging communities through art and activism, D’Lo brings authenticity, depth, and humor to conversations about LGBTQ+ visibility and liberation.
Speaking Fee: To be negotiated.
D'Lo is based in Los Angeles
Speaker Profile: https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/dlo
Using stand-up and storytelling, D’Lo shares his observations and recollections of being a queer boy/stud/transmasculine person who grew up in a strict immigrant family, and his journey as a young queer person into queer adulthood. On his route to learning how to exist unapologetically, he is also confronted with the question of what it means to embody a beautiful masculinity that upholds his feminist politics.
Damian Pelliccione is the co-founder and CEO of Revry, the world’s first global LGBTQ+ streaming network. A true innovator in media and technology, Damian has transformed the entertainment industry by creating an inclusive space where LGBTQ+ voices are amplified. Damian was named one of Goldman Sachs ‘Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs‘, was featured on the ‘Out 100’ list, and is a proud recipient of the West Hollywood Rainbow Key Award. Damian also recently won a GLAAD Media Award for an original series Damian created "Drag Latina". Damian and their co-founders are all graduates of Goldman Sachs Black and Latinx 2020 accelerator program. Damian has acted as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago and has lectured at over 20 universities and colleges across the globe including the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Film School, and BAU University Istanbul Turkey amongst others. Damian is also a proud member of StartOut, Out in Tech, and Trans Tech Organizations. Damian also serves as a board member of The Trans-Chorus of Los Angeles.
Speaker Fee: Will negotiate.
Speaker is based in Los Angeles, California.
Speaker Profile - https://www.gravityspeakers.com/speakers/damian-pelliccione
Los Angeles, CA
For Damian Pelliccione’s session, we recommend a moderated conversastion format to maximize engagement and authenticity. Given Damian’s dynamic storytelling style and extensive experience across entrepreneurship, media, and LGBTQ+ advocacy, a moderated conversation will allow for a more personalized and interactive experience. This format encourages organic dialogue, deeper exploration of Damian’s journey, and audience-driven questions—making it especially effective for a virtual or hybrid Pride Month event where creating a sense of connection is key.
At 42 years old Damian was diagnosed with adult ADHD and was deemed neuro-divergent. After years of struggling with mental health issues and never being able to fully understand what was wrong, Damian was finally able to understand their journey and claim their true power. This keynote explores what it means to struggle with mental health and what it means to overcome and rebuild trust with both yourself and your team. How affirming gender played a big role in rebuilding confidence and self-love. Dive into the intersectionality of Queer people and the superpowers that lie within.
Making space at the table for LGBTQ executives, this keynote explores the challenges LGBTQ executives face in climbing the corporate ladder. Damian talks about the common stereotypes and misconceptions about LGBTQ talent, how to work with Gen Z and Millennial workforces, and how to better harness the LGBTQ superpowers.