STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Brooklynite Agatha Vassallo, 47, knows firsthand that exploring and expressing your true self takes courage.

In fact, she admits, it took her until age 30 to explore her sexuality, especially since she grew up in a very “heterosexual environment.”

“My personal journey is one many can relate to...[I] didn’t have the space or opportunity to explore my sexuality until later in life,” she said. “That journey of discovery—often misunderstood as straightforward or linear—led me to embrace my identity as a queer woman."

And the personal lessons she has learned have been carried into her career. For the last two years she has worked as the Pride Center of Staten Island’s director of events and operations, helping others feel “seen, heard and empowered.”

Because of her ti

See Full Page