Although he didn’t have a new job lined up when he left Philadelphia, Sultan Shakir — who previously served as president and executive officer of Mazzoni Center — knew he wanted to work for an organization that would not only aggressively support LGBTQ+ people but also fight for and alongside them.

“I knew I wanted to be at PFLAG because that’s what they do,” said Shakir, who was recently named as PFLAG National’s chief operating officer.

As a Philly native, Shakir brings some of the city’s tenacious spirit with him — and he’s showing up to the new job with gusto.

“We are a blunt people, and that’s what I love about Philly,” he said — noting that people of this region are real and tell others how they feel. “I love the grittiness of it. I mean, one of our mascots is named Gritty. It’s a

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