Asher Gellis

Found & CEO, JQ International

Asher Gellis was born in Los Angeles and raised in the Conservative Movement, where his passion for Jewish community and inclusion first took root. His early work with United Synagogue Youth, the Bureau of Jewish Education, Young Judaea, Hadassah, and the JCC movement laid a strong foundation for what would become a lifelong career in Jewish leadership. After earning his MBA from Pepperdine University—a Christian institution that both challenged and sharpened his values as a gay Jewish professional—Asher founded JQ International, a pioneering organization dedicated to fostering a healthy and dynamic fusion of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities.

Drawing on his education, professional expertise, and personal journey, Asher has built JQ into a vibrant center for identity, education, and community support. Under his leadership, JQ has launched innovative programs in community building, inclusion consulting, and teen engagement, as well as beloved cultural celebrations and experiences such as Persian Pride, Queer the New Year, and the first official LGBTQ+ and Ally Birthright Israel trip. In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Asher also established the JQ Helpline, the first national support line for LGBTQ+ Jews, their families, and allies.

In recent years, Asher has served as a Community Advisory Board Member for Southern California Media Group (PBS SoCal), a PresenTenseLA Fellow, an American Jewish World Service Global Justice Fellow, and a leader within Eighteen:22, the global network of LGBTQ+ and ally Jewish changemakers. He continues to mentor and advise Jewish and non-Jewish institutions worldwide on inclusion, leadership, and community engagement.