Category Archives: Uncategorized

#BrianJordanAlvarez (July 10, 1987 – ): Born in #NewYorkCity, Alvarez spent his childhood in #Tennessee where he became interested in acting and making movies, eventually receiving his BFA in Acting from #USCSchoolOfDramaticArts. For many years he made short films, music videos, and other acting projects, but he first became known for a #CollegeHumor episode calledContinue reading “Brian Jordan Alvarez”

#MargaretCho (December 5, 1968 – ): A stand-up comedian, actress, fashion designer, author, and singer-songwriter. Frequently her stand-up addresses social and political problems, most notably issues of race and sexuality in America. Born in San Francisco in a Korean family, Cho grew up in the church where her grandfather was a Christian minister. Growing up was difficult, andContinue reading “Margaret Cho”

#MalaBadi: In the conservative Muslim country of #Morocco, Badi decided to come out as #transgender to their parents during the iftar, or meal that breaks the Ramadan fast at sunset. Unfortunately, their family did not take this news with the joy Badi had inside to finally live their truth. Their father threw a pot ofContinue reading “Mala Badi”

#GeorgeTakei (April 20, 1937 – ): Born to Japanese-American parents, Takei’s family was relocated to internment camps during #WorldWarII (he had relatives who were killed in #Hiroshima), both in California and in Arkansas. Upon the war, Takei’s family had no money, home, or business to look after, and they lived on #SkidRow for five years.Continue reading “George Takei”

#VictimsOfPulse:  The deadliest single act of violence against the #LGBTQIA community in U.S. history. Akyra Monet Murray, 18Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34Stanley Almodovar III, 23Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22Luis S. Vielma, 22Kimberly Morris, 37Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30Darryl Roman Burt II, 29Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21AnthonyContinue reading “Victims of Pulse Nightclub Shooting”

#ImranYousuf: 24-year-old bouncer at the #Pulse nightclub who allowed many to escape the tragedy. He served as a US Marine in Afghanistan, but on the night of June 11th, he ended up saving some 60-70 lives in Orlando. He was one of few people that knew just beyond the people, there was a door to the outsideContinue reading “Imran Yousuf”

#HamedSinno (April 25, 1988 – ): The Lebanese-American lead singer of the alt-rock/indie band #MashrouLeila, he was born to a Lebanese-American father and Jordanian mother. He attended an American school and graduated not knowing much Arabic as his family spoke English at home. Instead, he found he was able to both study and learn Arabic through songwriting,Continue reading “Hamed Sinno”

#WuTsang (1982 – ): A filmmaker, artist, and performer based in both #NewYork and #Berlin, Tsang works in exploring the lives of marginalized communities and “hidden histories,” as well as in how movement can express emotional experiences that cannot be described with language. She seeks to express that which cannot be expressed within binary systems and even her art doesContinue reading “Wu Tsang”

#JerichoBrown (April 14, 1976 – ): Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, Brown graduated from #DillardUniversity, then the #UniversityOfNewOrleans with an MFA and the #UniversityOfHouston with a PhD. He is currently an associate professor of English and the director of the Creative Writing Program at #EmoryUniversity and serves as Assistant Editor at #Callaloo, a quarterly literary magazine that publishes works on the AfricanContinue reading “Jericho Brown”

#AmandaLepore (November 21, 1967 – ): Born in New Jersey to Italian- and German-American parents, Lepore has stated in interviews that she always felt that she was a girl (before there even was the word “#transgender”). Early in her life she was able to begin hormone therapy both through friends and obtaining a prescription byContinue reading “Amanda Lepore”