Megan Jalal

Megan Jalal is a scientist and poet based out of Tampa, FL. She has three cats, and helps run the Queer & Now Events Calendar for the community in Tampa and St. Pete. They fell in love with TIGLFF because of its dedication to uplifting queer and trans filmmakers and stories.

Megan moved to Tampa shortly after graduating from Florida State University in 2015. Although they always meant to leave Florida, over the years they have come to value Tampa and St Pete as a community. It finally feels like home with the LGBTQ+ chosen family they are building here.

After attending the film festival for several years, she started getting involved in the screening committee, and then helped with marketing and outreach. Becoming a board member was fueled by her wish to incorporate more diversity and collaboration with other parts of the queer community, and grow the festival’s younger audience base. She hopes to work with her contacts in the Black lesbian community, the queer activist community, and the Tampa poetry community, to create diverse and engaging programming for the TIGLFF, expanding it into an immersive arts experience for everyone.

In their spare time you can find them in a hot yoga studio, at the beach, performing poetry at an open mic, or wandering around with friends. They love reading and watching fantasy and sci-fi media, and they have a soft spot for any films that make you say “that was weird.” Professionally, she works in the pathology laboratory at West Tampa HCA Hospital as a histotechnologist.