LGBTQIA+ (U)

Inspire campus communities with LGBTQ+ speakers who champion acceptance, inclusion, and social justice. These authentic voices motivate students to promote understanding, equality, and advocacy through powerful stories and meaningful dialogue.

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LGBTQIA+
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LGBTQIA+

Schuyler Bailar

<p>Schuyler Bailar is the first transgender athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team.</p><p>By 15, Schuyler was one of the nation’s top-20 15-year-old breast-strokers. By 17, he set a national age-group record. In college, he swam for Harvard University, on the winningest Harvard team in 50 years. Schuyler’s difficult choice – to transition while potentially giving up the prospect of being an NCAA Champion – was historic and timely.</p><p>His story has appeared everywhere from 60 Minutes to <i>The Ellen Show</i>.

Jai Rodriguez

<p>Best known for his role as the “Culture Vulture” in the Emmy Award-winning show <em>Queer Eye For The Straight Guy</em>, Jai has been helping to shape American culture—and the cultural representation of the LGBTQ community—for nearly two decades.</p><p> Emmy Award-winning actor Jai Rodriguez’s career began at age 18, when he was cast as Angel in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical <em>Rent</em>.

R.K. Russell

<p>R. K. Russell is a former NFL football player, a published writer and poet, essayist, social justice advocate, and artist. </p><p>In August of 2019, Russell made history by becoming the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual.

Amiyah Scott

<p>Amiyah Scott is a proud advocate of the <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">LGBTQ+ </span>community and has centralized her focus on giving Transgender Females a voice. Amiyah’s confidence and outspoken attitude resonates with the culture.

Judy and Dennis Shepard

<p>On October 7, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, son of Judy and Dennis Shepard, was brutally attacked, tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, Wyoming, and left to die. In the aftermath of Matt’s death – an anti-gay hate crime - Judy and Dennis Shepard started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor his life and aspirations.

Gordon Bellamy

<p>Gordon Bellamy helps leaders and creators understand how to responsibly harness AI, anticipate ethical risks in emerging technology, and lead with intention in a changing landscape.</p><p>As Director of Cinematic Ethics at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Gordon Bellamy teaches the next generation of creators how to navigate the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence, storytelling, and emerging technologies across film, television, and games.

Dominique Jackson

<p>Model, Actress, Author, Advocate and Activist Dominique Jackson is best known for her leading role of Elektra Abundance on the FX television series <i>Pose</i>.</p><p>From fleeing persecution as a transgender woman in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago to starring in television hits, Dominique Jackson has seen it all.

Bryan Terrell Clark

<p>Known for his starring Broadway roles in <em>Hamilton</em> and<em> Thoughts of a Colored Man</em>, as well as for Netflix’s <em>Inventing Anna</em> and Disney+’s Emmy Award-winning <em>Sneakerella</em>, Bryan Terrell Clark inspires audiences to dream big, create a positive impact on others, and discover the best version of themselves.</p><p>Bryan has also appeared in numerous television and streaming productions such as the critically acclaimed Netflix drama <em>When They See Us</em>, <em>Queen Sugar</

CeCe McDonald

<p>CeCe McDonald shares profoundly affecting stories from her life as a trans woman of color and hate crime survivor, while inspiring audiences to stand up for acceptance, justice and equality.</p><p>CeCe is a transgender activist and revered icon of the LGBTQ community.