Empowering
your organization and your family to celebrate LGBTQ people.
We make learning fun and easy.
Opening hearts and minds.
Joni Watke has been practicing lawyer and professional speaker since 1996. She’s been sharing her family story and educating about LGBTQ issues across the country since 2008 when her middle child began transitioning at age 7.
Joni joined PFLAG Omaha in 2008. In 2010, she was elected PFLAG National Central Regional Director. In that role, she acted as a liaison between the PFLAG chapters in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and the PFLAG National office in Washington, D.C. In 2012, she was elected to the PFLAG National Board. She served both roles until 2016.
When Joni first began professionally speaking, she used the pseudonym of Ellen James to protect her daughter’s identity and her family’s privacy. When her daughter disclosed her identity to her high school in 2015, she resumed using her real name.
Michele Fischer has been a psychiatric nurse since 1996. She’s been sharing her family story and educating about LGBTQ issues since 2008 when her son, Sam, came out as gay at 19.
Michele joined PFLAG Omaha in 2007. She was elected to its Board of Directors in 2011 and served until 2019. Michele served as the Speakers Bureau Coordinator which facilitated speaking engagements with presenters and LGBTQ panelists with the Omaha metro community.
