WorldPride Washington, D.C. Human Rights Conference 2025

Mel Willie, Navajo, is the International Two Spirit Ambassador. As Ambassador, Mel amplifies the voices and advances the interests of Two-Spirit people everywhere. As a working professional in Washington, DC, Mel works to increase affordable housing in Native communities. In 2018, Mel founded 7Gen Leaders, a Native Political Action Committee (PAC) that conducts Independent Expenditures to help elect strong and viable candidates to key positions and offices across the country. In its inaugural year, 7Gen Leaders helped elect the first two Native American women to the United States Congress. Mel has over 25 years of experience in public relations, government and public affairs and political consulting at the tribal, local, state and national level. Mel is a graduate of George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management (2009) and as an adjunct faculty he has taught the course, “Native Politics and Grassroots Organizing” from 2014-2017.