Meet Daniel Orsino

Daniel Orsino (aka Duke to close friends) was born & raised in the Philadelphia area. He spent his teenage years living outside of Camden in Gloucester City. He attended Gloucester County College and Rowan University. Mr. Orsino is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and is in a loving domestic partnership with his husband, Mr. Rithy Ros. They live in North Philadelphia with their pitbull, Delilah. 

He has worked as a professional cook, a factory worker, and a senior center social services coordinator. He currently works  as a HOPWA (Housing for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS) housing counselor in North Philadelphia. He also serves on the LGBT Elder Initiative Advisory Council at William Way, and served as a planner for Philadelphia's forum on HIV and aging, The Reunion Project. 

Daniel Orsino began advocating for community causes in the mid 2000's while still in high school. Throughout his college years he was active in various community projects including the performing  & fine arts, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and other social advocacy. In 2008 he canvased for the Obama Campaign and it was one of the most inspirational experiences of his life. In 2011 he attended  Occupy Philly at Dilworth Park to protest social and economic injustices. He has organized several events and programs, including South Philly Pride 2019, The North City Queer Elder Project (aka Project NorCi), A March in Support of Ukraine with Senator Street, and many others.

In 2019, Mr. Orsino, a Progressive, decided that one of the most effective way to change people's opinions on social & political issues was from within the opposition. Running as a Republican, Mr. Orsino promoted a Progressive, Pro-Choice, Pro-LGBTQ+ Agenda in the 2019 Municipal Election.  The exercise was an overall success. At the time, Mr. Orsino unknowingly also became the first openly LGBTQ+ person in the City of Philadelphia's history to be on the ballot for Council in a General Election, receiving nearly 1/5 of the votes against one of the most beloved incumbents on the ballot. 

In the wake January 6th Insurrection, Mr. Orsino concluded he had changed as many minds as he could and his efforts were no longer a productive use of time, as the base of the Republican Party had proven to be mostly beyond saving. He soon after left the party.

Daniel Orsino a long history of helping others and taking direct action to promote Social Justice on a community level. From his work advocating for social service accessibility for all, to his transit advocacy for senior citizens, Mr. Orsino believes that a cornerstone of Democracy is fairness and equity. He has personally worked to promote access to voter registration and information, provided hundreds with access to LIHEAP & PA rent rebates, and singlehandedly distributed thousands of senior produce vouchers for the PA Department of Agriculture.  During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Orsino personally delivered thousands of meals to those in need across the city of Philadelphia and even assisted in taking seniors to get their COVID Vaccines.