Rich's page

End of Year · 30 November 2021 to 31 December 2021 ·
GLAAD is fighting for a world where every LGBTQ person can be accepted and loved exactly as they are -- and we need your help to make that vision a reality!
2022 will mark 14 years since I started at GLAAD and joined an organization dedicated to LGBTQ acceptance. Over the years my colleagues and I have worked on placing stories of gay and lesbian couples during the fight for marriage equality; educated the world about transgender people and issues through film, TV, news stories and resources; helped hundreds of celebrities and notables come out + send messages of support to LGBTQ youth; and fight back and organize against anti-LGBTQ activists and politicians.
LGBTQ people have made incredible strides, but big battles are still to come. Here's a snapshot of the impact my colleagues at GLAAD had in 2021:
-We launched our Social Media Safety Index, a roadmap for LGBTQ safety across social media platforms and a tool to create accountability when platforms allow LGBTQ misinformation, hate speech, and flat out lies about our lives to go viral.
-Our virtual GLAAD Media Awards aired on Hulu, bringing a LGBTQ awards show to living rooms all over and raising the bar for what LGBTQ representation in Hollywood means today.
-On Spirit Day, we lit the Empire State Building and worked with the White House to send a message to LGBTQ youth everywhere.
-We grew our work to educate the world about HIV prevention and treatment, including working with the one and only Lil Nas X. The world needs to learn and know that people living with HIV, when on the right treatment, cannot transmit HIV.
-With over 100 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures, our team worked tirelessly to educate Americans about the harmful nature of these bills through local and national reporters.
Next year we will continue this work and also launch a voter registration and education campaign during one of the most important mid-term election cycles of our lives. LGBTQ voters and allies can and will make a difference. There is so much at stake and we can't do this work without your help. Thank you and have a restful and healthy new year!
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