Danny Pisani (he/they) lives in Milton, DE with his husband Cody and their kids. He’s spent 12 years leading technology teams at nonprofits, and outside of work and family he’s usually hiking, reading, powerlifting, and keeping up a Zen practice. Danny is the Volunteer Coordinator for Sussex Pride.
Where are you originally from and what do you like most about living in Delaware?
I grew up in New York and have been on the eastern shore for over 10 years. What I like most is being able to get outside. I hike at Trap Pond or the Edward H. McCabe Preserve, or just walk through Milton. I still head back up to the mountains at least once a year too.
Who is your LGBTQ+ hero? Who do you look up to most in our community and why?
My hero is my neighbor growing up. She was quietly supportive the whole time, before she even knew I was part of the community, and that helped me feel safer while I was still coming to terms with it myself. When I came out, she painted her rock wall rainbow, even when my family was still processing. I never forgot that.
What is your volunteer role at Sussex Pride and what do you like most about it?
I’m the Volunteer Coordinator, which mostly means I’m the hub for volunteer info. I post opportunities on the website, manage the sign-up tool, and help run our monthly volunteer nights. I took this on because I wanted to be more involved in the community and finally had the time. What I like most is helping build a volunteer community where people can stay involved, even if it’s minimal, and making it fun for everybody.
When was the first time you went to a Pride event? What do you remember about it?
My first Pride was DC Pride around 2008, and it was a little bit wild. My first Sussex Pride event was the bus trip to New York City Pride, which was also my first time at NYC Pride.
How can people get involved?
Come to our next volunteer night. It’s the first Tuesday of every month.