Maria von Känel (she/her) is a co-founder and General Manager of the Swiss Rainbow Families Association.

Out of her activism for LGBTI families she had the idea to create a special day to celebrate rainbow families all over the world. The International Family Equality Day (IFED) is an official LGBTIQ* awareness day which takes place every first Sunday in May since 2011. The Council of Europe recognises IFED as an important tool to combat homo- and transphobia and to promote a tolerant and cohesive society.

Maria is founder and board member of the Geneva based NGO “International Family Equality Day” (IFED). She was co-president of the campaign «equal marriage for all». On 26 September 2021, Switzerland approved marriage for same-sex couples. This political victory was entered into force in July 2022 but, for von Känel and the organisations she leads, there is much more to be done.