Mika Malone

Mika Malone (she [preferred]/them/he) is the Vice President of the St. Joe Pride Board. Born and raised in Mississippi, Mika moved to St. Joseph in 1997. Her journey into LGBTQ+ advocacy began when her child came out at age 9. Witnessing the struggles her child faced inspired Mika to come out on the transgender spectrum four years later. She believes that her visibility helps create a better future for her child and the broader community.

Mika's personal journey is a testament to the resilience and presence of the LGBTQ+ community. She has been a visible reminder that the community is here to stay. Mika has been involved with the St. Joe Pride Board for over three years, playing a significant role in fundraising and culinary cooperation for various events.

Her main responsibilities include organizing the Pride Month Pub Crawl for the past three years and running the charity auction at the Pride Luncheon. Mika's extensive knowledge of local restaurants and food vendors has been invaluable in planning and executing successful events.

Mika is particularly proud of the success of the charity auction at the Pride Luncheon. She considers herself a walking billboard for the LGBTQ+ community, constantly advocating for visibility and inclusion. Her goal is to see PrideFest continue to grow and remain free for everyone.

Outside of her professional and community work, Mika enjoys hiking and biking on local unpaved trails, exploring local restaurants and food trucks, and being involved in the local rock and metal music scene. She also loves shopping. For Mika, her personal life and community involvement are intertwined, making her advocacy work a natural extension of who she is.

Mika's initial inspiration to come out was her child, and meeting Vivian Versace further motivated her to live her truth publicly. Her dedication to making St. Joseph a better place for her child drives her continued efforts towards LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. Mika hopes to see the Pride Board grow in size and leave a legacy of inspiring others to be comfortable with who they are.

The best part of coming out socially for Mika has been the many wonderful friends and acquaintances she has met along the way.