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Young LGBTQ Southerners New Report

The Campaign for Southern Equality & Campus Pride released a new 30-page report detailing the findings of the 2021 Survey of Southern LGBTQ Experiences. The report “Coming of Age as an LGBTQ Southerner” highlights responses from 4,000+ LGBTQ people in the South about a wide range of topics addressing family life to faith & religious settings to school experiences to health experiences. Dr. Austin H. Johnson Director of the Southern Equality Research & Policy Center (SERPC) at the Campaign for Southern Equality & Assistant Professor of Sociology at Kenyon College stated, “Unfortunately, the dominant narrative emerging from these data is that thousands of individuals throughout the South are not getting the social support they need & deserve at home, in schools & in their communities. This lack of support & inclusion is disempowering & may cause detrimental harm to their mental & physical wellbeing, especially when that lack of support gets compounded with clear, state-sponsored discrimination such as the passage of anti-LGBTQ laws.” Shane L. Windmeyer founder & Executive Director of Campus Pride concluded, “Right now the sad reality is that many young LGBTQ+ people are experiencing a lack of acceptance at home & in their faith communities & it’s especially troubling that younger people are often perceiving & receiving less emotional, mental & physical support & resources than older respondents. Young LGBTQ+ people are being forced to conjure immense strength & resilience to combat marginalization & isolation & it’s vital that we do everything we can, on every level of society, to support and affirm them for being who they are.” 
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Jason Stuart Wins Best LGBTQ Comic

Jason Stuart has won Best LGBTQ Comedian at the Worldwide Comedy Contest & Awards that were presented at The Comedy Chateau Sunday August 28th in North Hollywood, CA. Jason was nominated among the best of the best LGBTQ comedians including Margaret Cho, Billy Eichner, Judy Gold, Hannah Gadsby, Tig Notaro, Steven Roberts, Wanda Sykes, Bowen Yang & Gina Yashere. Stuart stated, "It's an honor to be included among so many funny & diverse comedians. So much has changed since I came out in 1993 which I am so grateful for. But there is still so much more to do, as bias is still among us". This comes on the heals of Jason’s Award winning performance as Best Actor In A Comedy for The Indie Series Award for his Amazon / Revry TV show SMOTHERED he co-created with Mitch Hara. "Smothered" is a fabulous must-see comedy series that brings much needed comedic relief with a 30-minute binge session of 7, 5-minute episodes of outrageous, irreverent & laugh out loud bliss. The series is about a longtime gay couple that cannot stand each other but can’t afford to get divorced. They decide to try & save their relationship by navigating their way through couple’s therapy. They're currently shooting season 2 with guest stars Amanda Bearse, Jai Rodriguez, Aida Rodriguez, Armand Fields, Jasper Cole & more. I talked to Jason & Mitch in 2020 about what they hope to accomplish with this hysterical comedy series & their spin on our LGBTQ issues in this exclusive audio interview. LISTEN
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LGBTQ Task Force Adds New Field Staff

The National LGBTQ Task Force announced that Rae Leiner joins the Task Force as their new Field Director & Elijah Nichols joins the organization as Field Organizer in the Advocacy & Action Department. Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force stated, “We are thrilled to continue building our field department. Rae Leiner & Elijah Nichols both bring rich & diverse experiences, passion & power to this vital aspect of the Task Force’s work. As the queer community continues to face unrelenting & escalating attacks at every level, Rae & Elijah will be instrumental to successfully mobilizing and engaging people in our work for liberation & equity.” Rae Leiner is a Black identified multi-racial non-binary Queer organizer, activist & parent currently residing in the Hudson Valley. An experienced facilitator, community organizer, strategic thinker, embodied practitioner & strategic relationship builder, Rae’s creative thinking & radical dreaming inform their analysis & guide their systemic approach to challenging race, class & gender injustice. Elijah Nichols utilizes over ten years of organizing & advocacy experiences to help build community & foster a commitment to the collective struggle for our liberation. Originally from Michigan, Elijah chose to attend George Mason University & completed a Bachelors in Government & International Politics with a focus on the intersection of class struggles with LGBTQ+ liberation. The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice & equality for LGBTQ people. They are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. 
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Campus Pride 2022 Best LGBTQ Colleges

Campus Pride the preeminent resource for LGBTQ leadership development, diversity inclusion & advocacy within higher education announced their annual Best of the Best Colleges & Universities for LGBTQ students in the United States. The list recognizes the work of 40 campuses that have made their communities safer & more welcoming environments for students, faculty & staff alike. Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride Executive Director stated, “Campus Pride created the Best of the Best List to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of these colleges & universities, creating safer, more welcoming campuses for LGBTQ+ people. Students, prospective students & their families, along with faculty & staff members, deserve to know whether they will be safe on campus, so they can make the best choices for their own academic success & by creating inclusive, safe environments these colleges are taking responsibility for all students.” The Campus Pride list features 40 four-year campuses from across the country. These campuses have achieved 5 out of 5 stars on the Campus Pride Index (CPI), the definitive national benchmarking tool measuring LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs & practices. To earn a ranking of 5 out of 5 stars, campuses receive a percentage score from 90 to 100 based on their LGBTQ inclusive policies, programs & practices. The methodology to determine this year’s Best of the Best List was based on an overall score of 93 percent or higher. Dr. Genny Beemyn, the coordinator of Campus Pride's Trans Policy Clearinghouse concluded, "We are seeing more & more colleges earn 5 stars because campuses are doing more to support their trans students. While all colleges can & should do more to be trans-inclusive, many institutions are taking important steps forward." 
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Out Leadership Welcomes New Member

Out Leadership the oldest & largest coalition of global companies working to improve LGBTQ equality in the world welcomes the D. E. Shaw group as its newest member firm. Todd Sears, CEO & Founder of Out Leadership stated, “We’re delighted that the D. E. Shaw group has joined our global community of firms that now represents over 6 million global employees. We appreciate the firm’s clear commitment to a diverse, equitable & inclusive work environment, recognizing its view that a sense of belonging drives creativity, productivity & many critical business imperatives. This closely aligns with our approach & we’re excited to start working with their firm.” Eddie Fishman, member of the D. E. Shaw group’s Executive Committee concluded, “I’m excited for our firm to be part of Out Leadership to support its important work. We look forward to working together to foster a welcoming, supportive environment where all of our people feel they belong & can reach their full potential.” Among its efforts to foster an inclusive workplace the D. E. Shaw group annually hosts its Momentum Fellowship an undergraduate program for students who self-identify as part of the LGBTQ community. The firm counts among its employee affinity groups DESC.out which seeks to foster community among LGBTQ employees & allies to promote an inclusive work environment that supports all sexual orientations & gender identities. Out Leadership partners with the world’s most influential companies to build business opportunities, cultivate talent, & drive LGBTQ+ equality forward. They believe that LGBTQ+ inclusion positively impacts business results & that including LGBTQ+ people at the most senior level of executive leadership builds business. 
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AIDS Memorial Quilt Changing Pattern

The National AIDS Memorial has partnered with Southern AIDS Coalition to bring sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to communities throughout the Southern U.S to highlight & honor Black & Brown lives lost to HIV & AIDS as part of “Change The Pattern”. The new initiative is funded by a $2.4 million grant by Gilead Sciences. John Cunningham National AIDS Memorial CEO stated, “The National AIDS Memorial is honored to partner with Southern AIDS Coalition & Gilead Sciences to bring the Quilt to the South as a touchstone to actively engage communities most impacted by HIV/AIDS. By creating an empowering message & safe spaces for conversation, we can uplift, inspire & make progress toward ending the HIV epidemic, challenge cultural stigmas & continue the legacy of advocacy that the Quilt represents.” Dafina Ward, Executive Director of Southern AIDS Coalition added, “Just as the Quilt was founded 35 years ago as a visual representation of the need to end stigma & provide equitable resources to communities most impacted by HIV & AIDS, Change the Pattern is a call to action & change in the South…The sharing & telling of these powerful stories through the Quilt, coupled with advocacy & open dialogue, can help end HIV-related stigma and bring the stories of those we’ve lost to light.” Dr. Shanell McGoy, Director of Corporate Giving at Gilead Sciences concluded, “Gilead is so proud to support this innovative program that will use the Quilt as a powerful teaching tool & connector to raise greater awareness & help change these statistics. To end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must continue to examine new ways to reach & actively engage communities that continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV.” 
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LGBTQ Military Homecoming Gala Event

The Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) Homecoming Gala takes place September 8th at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA from 6P to 10:30P & is presented by USAA. The Honorable Shawn Skelly, Assistant Secretary of Defense For Readiness will be a guest speaker. Skelly is a retired United States Navy officer, national security expert & LGBTQ rights advocate. During the Obama administration she served as Director of the Executive Secretariat at the U.S. Department of Transportation & from 2013 to 2016 as a special assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics. In 2017 she was appointed by Obama to the National Commission on Military, National & Public Service making her one of the highest-profile openly transgender presidential appointees in U.S. history. In 2017 Out Magazine named Skelly to its list of 100 most influential LGBTQ Americans. Skelly was appointed to Biden's transition team for the Department of Defense in July 2021 & was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness by voice vote. The Modern Military Association of America is the nation’s largest non-profit organization for LGBTQ service members, military spouses, veterans & allies. Formed through the merger of the American Military Partner Association & OutServe-SLDN they are a united voice for the LGBTQ military & veteran community. They work to make a real difference in the lives of our modern military families through education, advocacy & support. “Reuniting in Pride 2022” the MMAA Homecoming Gala tickets run from general admission $350 & up to veteran tickets from $150 up. Get $50 off your ticket by using the promo code: MMAA50. (Excludes VIP Tix) Attire is Black Tie or Military Equivalent. 
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