Lionakis’ Post

I came of age in the midst of the "It Gets Better" project. And here in the States, for a while, it got better. Now, it's getting worse. Ogilvy and GLAAD have created a pretty strong campaign, and I encourage you to watch the video and check out the site. However, the fact that this campaign is even necessary is deeply disappointing. Some sobering statistics: ▪ LGBTQ young people are more than 4x as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. ▪ 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. ▪ 24% of LGBTQ young people reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed ▪ 38% of trans youth (ages 13-17) live in a state with a laws/policies limiting their access to gender affirming care ▪ 24 states have enacted laws/policies limiting youth access to gender affirming care As we approach November, the rhetoric will only get more vitriolic as certain politicians seek to rally their base around a shared hatred of the "other." The reality of the situation is that this rhetoric and the policies that seek to ban gender affirming care have real world effects on the mental health and physical well-being of LGBTQ youth, particularly trans and non-binary youth. It's up to us to protect them.

🌈✨ Discover the Rich World of LGBTQ Literature! ✨🌈 Dive into our latest video exploring notable authors, impactful works, and the powerful themes within LGBTQ literature. Understand the importance of representation and get inspired with our reading recommendations. 📚 #LGBTQLiterature #RepresentationMatters #BookLovers #pridemonth

‘We’ve gone a long way but are by no means complacent.’ Travers Smith partner and senior LGBTQ champion Daniel Gerring discusses with Legal Business the importance for law firms to avoid complacency and how they should continue to persevere with LGBTQ inclusion. Amy Ulliott reports. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gZC_S_rA #legalbusiness #law #lawyers #pride #pridemonth

"LGBTQ Movements after 2011: The Challenges of Activism" Check our wonderful dossier featuring a series of short papers and interviews on LGBTQ activism since the Arab Spring.

This post got me thinking about how inequities persist in my work as an advocate (and manager of an advocacy group). As a white woman, I am conscious of where my identity places me in society and how it provides me with more life opportunities than others. Throughout my career, I have been conscious of how my race impacts my work as a public servant and an advocate for equity and justice in the school and justice system. For me, being an advocate means challenging racism and inequities that persist in systems, but also doing it from a lens that includes people of color. I never advocate for what I think is right, I advocate WITH youth and families, based on the needs they share. I work closely with the community and advocate on their behalf, if that's what they want. I never act alone. I see my role as someone who pushes through the barriers when the youth and families are tiiiired of all the challenges they've faced just attempting to get their basic needs met. So many times I walk into advocacy spaces and see other white professionals who have never done the grassroots, boots-on-the-ground work to understand. I see assumptions being made about situations and solutions. This is yet another form of privilege, power, and racism. While the work has progressed to become more equal-- and Baltimore's activism is amazing-- there is a lot more work to be done to ensure equity within the policy making process. Equity in creation looks like opening these coalition spaces for marginalized people, hosting meetings at times when the community can be present, providing child care, and going directly to people in their community. I am committed to advocating for justice and equity. To be a true ally, I will continue to use my privilege to call other white folks into conversations about equity and anti-racism, challenge folx, and explain what anti-racist service and advocacy looks like. I will also continue to reflect. I will continue to grow my understanding of racism-- my unconscious part in it-- and how I can truly be an ally. It will be a never ending journey, but I am committed to it. I call all other people of privilege to not be blinded by their privilege, and to lean into difficult conversations of race and power. Challenge yourselves to see your biases, and move intentionally towards anti-racism (in your work and personal life).

📣 I focus on my work to help Veterans and often forget that I need help too as a Nonbinary person! 💔 At this moment there are a lot of Anti-LGBTQ bills across many States: 🛂Barriers to Accurate ID 🚽Limiting Access to Bathrooms 🏥Limiting Access to Healthcare 💅Bans on Free Speech and Expression (ie. Drag Shows) 📚Prohibition of School Curriculum on LGBTQ topics And many others… 🇺🇸 In 2023 Legislative Session:   1. Total of 510 Anti-LGBTQ bills were presented 2. 84 passed into law across 23 States.   🇺🇸 So far in 2024 Legislative Session:   1. Total of 487 Anti-LGBTQ Bills presented 2. 21 passed into law across 9 States 🌈 For more information please go to: https://lnkd.in/dtpVqUee #queer #lgbtq #humanrights

The ACLU is tracking 462 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. >>> 462 anti-LGBTQ bills in 2024 -- just two months' time! "In the last few years states have advanced a record number of bills that attack LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth. The ACLU is tracking these attacks and working with our national network of affiliates to support LGBTQ people everywhere. "While more states every year work to pass laws to protect LGBTQ people, state legislatures are advancing bills that target transgender people, limit local protections, and allow the use of religion to discriminate. The ACLU will not stop speaking out against these cruel attacks nationwide. LGBTQ people have a right to live in safety, to thrive, and to be treated with dignity." https://lnkd.in/d9WGe8Eq #LGBTQ #LGBTQrights #hate #antiLGBTQ #socialjustice

These are my last three days with the WA State LGBTQ Commission. As I close this chapter, I write a short letter to our community, which you can read through our newsletter likned below. #queer #lgbtq #2slgbtqia #leadership #transitions #leadershiptransition https://lnkd.in/gBSBtFp5

It's LGBTQ history month! ⁠ But let's be real—Pride is every month if you believe. ⁠🏳️🌈 The Stonewall Riots are a big part of North American queer history. Here are a few book recs about them. ⁠ Middle Grade Books:⁠ - The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman⁠ - Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights by Ann Bausum⁠ - Flor Fights Back: A Stonewall Riots Survival Story by Joy Michael Ellison⁠ ⁠ Nonfiction Books:⁠ - Stonewall: The Definitive Story of the LGBTQ Rights Uprising that Changed America by Martin Duberman⁠ - The Stonewall Reader ed. New York Public Library⁠ - The Gay Revolution: The Story of Struggle by Lillian Faderman⁠ ID: A graphic with a bright blue border and pink and red fonts. Across the top it says "Books About the Stonewall Riots." Underneath that is the image of a rainbow. At the bottom of the graphic is the handle "@bookmarteneditorial." End of description. #AmReading #Books #BookLover #BookWorm #BookNerd #BookLove #BookCommunity #AlwaysReading #QueerBooks #QueerReads #LGBTQBooks #LGBTQReads #BookRecommendations #BookList #LGBTHistory