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Amber Hikes

City Life

It’s Time for LGBT Affairs to Break Free of the Mayor’s Office

The executive director of the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs, Amber Hikes, announced last week that she is stepping down after two years of serving […]

amber hikes office of lgbt affairs
City Life

Amber Hikes on Leading the Office of LGBT Affairs in Tumultuous Times

Amber Hikes, who has led the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs for the past two years, announced her resignation earlier this week. Hikes, a black […]

amber hikes
City Life

23 Questions With Amber Hikes, Director of Philly’s Office of LGBT Affairs

My full name is … Amber Jelena Hikes. It’s pronounced “Yelena,” and the only reason there’s a J is that my father’s name is Jeffrey […]

City Life

City’s New Leadership Pipeline Program Is an Affront to Real Diversity

As a Black professional who has lived in Philadelphia for nearly nine years, I have seen more than my share of blatant racism. But there’s […]

City Life

Philly’s 20 Biggest Winners of 2018

At the end of the year, it is customary for us here at Philly Mag to take stock of the good, the bad, and the […]

City Life

Diversity Director Fired by Mazzoni Center Files PCHR Complaint

Following Monday’s firing of Kay Martinez, Mazzoni Center ’s first-ever director of diversity, equity and inclusion, Philadelphia magazine has learned that Martinez filed a complaint […]

City Life

Kimmel Center to Host City’s First-Ever “LGBTQ State of the Union”

The Office of LGBT Affairs and Mayor’s Commission on LGBT Affairs are bringing back their “Community Conversations” initiative in an epic way through a partnership […]

City Life

Philly’s Biggest Winners of 2017

President Donald Trump promised Americans that when he took office, they were “going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning.” Well, let’s […]

City Life

City Hires Evan Thornburg as Deputy Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs

On Monday, the Office of LGBT Affairs officially announced the hiring of Evan Thornburg as its first-ever deputy director. Thornburg, a Philadelphia native, will assist, […]

City Life

One Year Ago Today, the ICandy N-Word Video Rocked the Gayborhood

On September 29th, 2016, a video surfaced of ICandy owner Darryl DePiano referring to a former black employee and patrons as “niggers” repeatedly. Here’s the cringeworthy […]

City Life

LGBTQ Event of the Week: Philly Bi Visibility Rally

This week’s LGBTQ event of the week is the Philly Bi Visibility Rally. Enjoy an afternoon meant to honor bisexual individuals through a health fair, a bi […]

City Life

Mazzoni Center Staff Vote to Unionize

After weeks of internal turmoil over the decision to consider unionization, Mazzoni Center front-line staff voted 51-34 on Wednesday evening in favor of a petition […]

City Life

Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs Seeks First-Ever Deputy Director

For the first time in the city’s history, there will now be two people in the Mayor’s Office leading the city on LGBTQ issues: The […]

City Life

Kenney Will Sign Bill Prompted by Gayborhood Racism Complaints Into Law

After unanimously passing out of City Council in May, today Mayor Jim Kenney will sign into law an anti-discrimination bill introduced by Councilman Derek Green […]

City Life

“It Was an Ambush”: Behind the Vote That Ousted Sharron Cooks as LGBT Commission Chair

The Mayor’s Commission on LGBT Affairs, a 23-member advisory board announced in October 2016 after several intense months of revelations about racial discrimination in the […]