COMMUNITY ADVOCATE / EDUCATOR

Montell Infiniti Ross is one of Wisconsin’s leading “male-lead” entertainers for over a decade. He’s also a community activist/educator within the healthcare field and social/racial injustice. By day, Montell, legally known as Broderick Pearson, is a medical research associate for the Medical College of Wisconsin, primarily focusing on HIV/PrEP awareness and qualitative research within marginalized populations. Montell is also a former Mr PridefestMKE, Mr. Gay Wisconsin USofA, Mr Gay Iowa USofA, Mr Gay Southern States USofA, Mr. Club Wisconsin and a host of other titles. He’s the lead organizer of “March with Pride for Black Lives Matter” which gained over 10,000 community members, allies, and supporters to march together in solidarity to the injustice of Law Enforcement back in 2020’s Racial MOVEMENT across the country. He has been inducted into the Milwaukee LGBT History app for his activism and leadership commitment to the LGBTQA+ community of Wisconsin. He also is responsible for providing the FIRST ever all black drag show (Montell’s Melanin Extravaganza Drag Revue) for Milwaukee’s Pridefest, which has now been deemed to be an annual show within the festivities each year.

FOUNDER, TRANCE CONSULTING

Elle Halo, is a Black woman of trans experience, and a dedicated LGBTQ Health Equity Advocate and Educator. Founder and Consultancy Director of TRANCE Consulting L.L.C. and has founded The Paris Ticca Mahone Memorial Transition Fund. She is a writer model and singer. She was The First Transgender woman Community Co -Chair of SAPG STATEWIDE ACTION PLANNING GROUP FOR HIV AND AIDS OF WISCONSIN. She was an inaugural member of The Black AIDS Institute Ambassadorship of Biomedical Prevention. She is also a 2nd term member of The Board of Directors at Diverse and Resilient, as well as a member of the mutual aid fundraising team Love On Black Women LLC. She is the EmpowerHer Summit Facilitator for Black Trans Women Inc. She has experience as a public speaker and subject matter expert in areas of LGBTQIA health/ Transgender health, safety, and social disparities. In 2023 she received the Woman of the a year Award -Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) a 2019 Milwaukee Pridefest Individual of the Year Award 2021, and 2021 Best LGBTQ Advocate Best of Milwaukee Award- Shepherd Express and LGBT Progress Award in activism recipient, The Black Rose Intuitive Community Rose Award, and a Transfaith Bobbie Jean Baker Grantee. Her mother is a minister, Evangelist Veronica Hardin, and Elle’s community work honors her mother’s example of unconventional community leadership.