GLSEN Rise Up LA Program Journal – October 28, 2023

OCTOBER 28, 2023

NeueHouse Hollywood

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Wilson Cruz

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As of 10/18

For more than 30 years, GLSEN has been the leading national organization working to create safe and inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ youth.

With more than 650 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced this year alone, our work has become immeasurably harder.

Now more than ever, we must come together as a collective and Rise Up for LGBTQ+ youth.

Rise Up is GLSEN’s ongoing campaign supporting, celebrating, and protecting LGBTQ+ youth.

Rise Up is about taking action and declaring that every LGBTQ+ student has the right to exist and live their full and authentic lives.

It’s about all of the ways we as LGBTQ+ people unapologetically claim our dignity and worth, and specifically how we amplify the visions and needs of LGBTQ+ young people.

For the more than 2 million LGBTQ+ youth across the country, we’re working as a collective power to show more than 2 million displays of public support.

However, we know the outcome we want will not happen tomorrow, or next week, or maybe even next year.

Hope is a discipline.

It’s not just wishful thinking.

As the leader of GLSEN, I promise to do my best every single day to fight for racial, gender, and disability justice and maximize our impact for LGBTQ+ youth.

Tonight, I ask you to join me in Rising Up — like wild seeds we Rise Up out of the places we are planted, often where we are told we don’t belong and where we are denied the nourishment we need. Together, we can make change.

Thank you all for the amazing work you do.

Your advocacy and generosity is making a difference, and you’re bettering the lives of students and educators everywhere.

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers (they/she) GLSEN Executive Director

THANK YOU TO OUR HOST COMMITTEE!

Wilson Cruz

Jennifer Beals

Connor Franta

Nico Santos

Amy Astley

Joseph Carozza

David Granados

Matt Schaab

EVENT CO-CHAIRS

Imara Jones

Alan Pilest

HONORARY HOST COMMITTEE

Joel Kim Booster

Matthew López

Leo Sheng

LeVar & Stephanie Burton

Justina Machado

Rafael L. Silva

HOST COMMITTEE

Nadya Okamoto

Roy Quinto, Ed.D

Larry Lane

Carlos Saavedra

Eric Cervini, Ph.D.

Tig Notaro

Darryl Stephens

Tommy Dorfman

Randy Rainbow

Wanda Sykes

Christopher Strazzella

Derek Warburton

Joe Zee

ABOUT GLSEN

We are a multi-racial, intergenerational LGBTQ+ organization working nationally and locally to transform K-12 educational systems in the United States.

Today, after more than 30 years of leading the movement, GLSEN’s national network is over 1.5 million strong, with students, families, educators, and education advocates working to create safe schools.

• More than 500,000 GLSEN resources are downloaded by students and educators each year.

• Millions of students, educators, parents, and allies engage and uplift GLSEN’s content each year.

• Since 2019, GLSEN’s Rainbow Library has sent 45,000 LGBTQ+ affirming books to schools in 30 states, reaching over 3 million youth.

We are a national network of educators, students, and chapters working to make this right a reality.

These Four Supports are the focus of GLSEN’s programs, advocacy, research, and policy work:

RISE UP FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH

In honor of the over 2 million LGBTQ+ youth who exist in the United States, we rise up and engage affirming communities across the country to show 2 million displays of public support.

Whether it’s wearing a button or shirt, putting up a yard sign, or sharing a digital poster, we are creating symbols of hope that can spread the word far and wide to show we are here, they are not alone, and we will rise up for LGBTQ+ youth.

In response to hate and violence in schools, educators started GLSEN. This was over 30 years ago.

In response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, GLSEN partnered with other organizations to make sure that over 70 million people saw LGBTQ+ supportive billboards across that state.

In response to books being banned, GLSEN started Rainbow Library where we send teachers and librarians LGBTQ+-inclusive books — reaching millions across the country.

And now as a community of advocates, educators, students, allies, and leaders, we all need to Rise Up for LGBTQ+ youth as a collective power.

On March 20th, GLSEN launched the Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth campaign, garnering thousands of pledges of support across the country within days.

By March 28th, Congress introduced GLSEN’s Rise Up Resolution in the House and Senate. Shortly after, various states including New York and Massachusetts issued Rise Up proclamations.

Media companies donated billboard spaces across the country, and dozens of celebrities and influencers shared the campaign on their platforms.

We will continue to Rise Up until every LGBTQ+ youth across the country knows they are loved and supported as their authentic selves.

Purchase your own Rise Up merch –Scan this QR code:

HOW ANDRA DAY’S ‘RISE UP’ BECAME A PROTEST ANTHEM

Andra Day’s “Rise Up” wasn’t intended to be an anthem. The San Diego soul singer says she originally wrote the song, from her debut album Cheers to the Fall, as a prayer for herself during a difficult time. She wrote the song as a reminder to herself to persevere, “to stand up because if you can stand up then you can take the next step, if you can take the next step, you can take the one after that.” But the rousing song resonated widely with activist communities after its 2015 release — the Black Lives Matter movement in particular. Day performed the song at the 2016 Democratic National Convention; by then, ‘Rise Up’ had become an anthem not just for personal perseverance, but for the wider struggle for social justice in our era, providing a “voice for the voiceless.”

‘Rise Up’ turned out to have a life — and a meaning — of its own.

Many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community believe that “Rise Up” encapsulates the energy America needs to move forward in spite of the anti-LGBTQ+ bills in statehouses across our country as the lyrics of the song target a group of people who have been overwhelmed by political, social and economic factors.

“You’re broken down and tired / Of living life on a merry-go-round / And you can’t find the fighter / But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out,” Day sings in the first verse. “And move mountains / We gonna walk it out / And move mountains.”

According to Rap Genius, the verse expresses, “The feeling that nothing is moving forward and life is exhausting and repetitive. There’s no courage left to overcome life’s challenges but Andra has seen the light. She sees what it takes to be victorious and strong. Moving mountains is said to be an impossible task but there is now a determination to achieve the impossible.”

And so, we must Rise Up. Rise Up for LGBTQ+ youth and move mountains for them.

(Special thanks to past GLSEN Respect Awards Honoree, Justin David Sullivan and Remy Kurs, pianist, for this evening’s performance of “Rise Up.)

HONOREE — ADVOCATE AWARD

ANNETTE BENING

GLSEN is proud to present celebrated actor of stage and screen Annette Bening with the Advocate Award for her steadfast allyship of the LGBTQ+ community and her commitment to educating others on queer issues. Bening’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and the power of empathy. As the parent of a transgender son, she has become an outspoken advocate for the rights, acceptance, and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. The actress is a Tony Award and fourtime Academy Award nominee, and two-time Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner.

HONOREE — CHAMPION AWARD

ORVILLE PECK

GLSEN is proud to present trailblazing singer-songwriter Orville Peck with the Champion Award for breaking barriers in country music and for serving as a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth currently experiencing harmful discrimination and legislation across the country. Born in South Africa and raised itinerantly, Orville, who is openly gay, is never seen without his signature fringed mask. He is known and celebrated for his baritone voice, strong musicianship and songs that are sincere yet bold in their storytelling. Orville’s last album, “BRONCO,” was released to critical and commercial acclaim; prior to that, he released his “Show Pony” EP which featured a duet with global country icon Shania Twain. He currently is starring in Reese Witherspoon’s “My Kind of Country” on AppleTV. Known for his unique personal style, Orville has collaborated with many fashion brands including Beyoncé’s Ivy Park, Dior, Michael KORS, and Pamela Love, among others. When not performing or touring, Orville dedicates his time to activism and the causes he is committed to.

NOAH CYRUS

In the middle of a whirlwind of loss, heartbreak, and chaos, Noah Cyrus grabbed the reins, took control of her life, and told her story like never before. The GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum Nashville-born and Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter uncovered the kind of strength you only find within. She lived every song, and the embers of her experiences burn bright over a soundtrack steeped in pop spirit, folk eloquence, and country soul. Noah has stepped into herself on her 2022 full-length debut album, The Hardest Part [RECORDS/Columbia Records]. Emerging in 2016 at the age of 16, she immediately captivated audiences with platinum singles “Make Me (Cry)” [feat. Labrinth] and “Again” [feat. XXXTENTACION]. 2020’s The End of Everything EP yielded the triple-platinum “July” and gold “Lonely.” In between earning a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best New Artist,” she teamed up with PJ Harding for the People Don’t Change EP in 2021. NME rated the project “4-out-of-5 stars” and predicted, “it’s not hard to imagine her becoming a household name in her own right.” Along the way, she performed at Coachella twice, while Billboard named her among its “21 Under 21” for three straight years. She also shined on The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, and The Today Show. Now, she introduces the next chapter with the single “I Burned LA Down.

BOARD CHAIR

WILSON CRUZ

Award-winning Actor, Producer, Activist, “Actorvist,” and Humanitarian Wilson Cruz was recently named Board Chair of GLSEN, the nation’s largest organization championing LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education. Receiving the Emery S. Hetrick Award from the Hetrick-Martin Institute for Outstanding Contributions to LGBTQ+ Youth, Wilson became the first openly Gay actor playing an openly Gay role on series television. He also starred as Angel in the West Coast premiere of the award-winning musical RENT which earned him both The Ovation and Drama Logue awards before his reprisal of the role on Broadway. Cruz accepted GLAAD’s 2022 Vito Russo Award WATCH: Wilson Cruz Accepts the Vito Russo Award at the 33rd GLAAD Awards | Star Trek and the Make A Difference Award from the Matthew Shepard Foundation. He has also received the Rand Schrader Distinguished Achievement Award from the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center, the Liberty Award from Lambda Legal, the Visibilidad Award from GLAAD, the Fusion Achievement Award from Outfest, the Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Entertainment and Advocacy from the California Latino Legislative Caucus, the Harvey Milk Equality Award, the Lincoln Aston Public Service Award, Aston-Brooks Award, and the Advocate Award from AdColor.

He previously served as the Director of Entertainment Industry Partnerships and National Spokesperson for GLAAD and devotes considerable time supporting other LBGTQ organizations and political allies.

SPECIAL GUEST

SHERRY COLA

Named “One to Watch” by People Magazine, “11 Asian American Comics Who Need to Be on Your Radar” by Entertainment Weekly and highlighted as “an entertainer who represents the vast spectrum of storytelling across the industry” on the Power of Pride list from Variety, actress, comedian, and writer Sherry Cola has emerged as a rising star in Hollywood. From starring in scripted dramas to showcasing her quick-wit in blockbuster comedies, and performing hilarious, original, stand-up sets on stage, Cola has proven she can do it all. On top of regularly producing new material all over Los Angeles, she is also developing multiple passion projects, including a television series based on her unique experience in radio.

SPECIAL GUEST HOST

MO HEART

Mo Heart is a widely-celebrated and internationally known Drag Queen. She is the face of Amazon Music, hosting their marquee show The Walk In, where she goes into the closets of music’s biggest stars to talk about their most iconic looks including Katy Perry, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Kim Petras, Midland, Yung Gravy, Steve Aoki, and others. She is the official host of the Grammy Awards Red Carpet, Cadillac’s Origins of Audacity series with Queerty, and star of Starbucks’ “Love You a Latte” series. Mo Heart was also runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars and UK v The World.

The Rainbow Library is a GLSEN program fighting book bans that sends LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to schools across the country — for free.

Any full-time staff member at a K-12 school in a participating state or county is welcome to request a Rainbow Library. All types of K-12 schools are eligible: district, magnet, charter, and independent. Each school that applies will be eligible for one Rainbow Library text set, and sets are provided on a first-come, first served basis. Throughout the event, you will see titles from the Rainbow Library program on display.

Over 5,800 schools in 31 states participate in GLSEN’s Rainbow Library, reaching over 5.4 million students!

For more information or to support GLSEN’s Rainbow Library Program, scan here:

SPECIAL GUEST

FORTUNE FEIMSTER

Affable, charismatic and one of a kind, Fortune Feimster is a standup comedian, writer and actor who uses her confessional comedy to bring people together. Through laughter and storytelling, Fortune shows audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and sexual orientations that common ground is only a joke or two away. The North Carolina native began her ascent to popularity as a writer and panelist. She can currently be heard every morning on Sirius XM and hosts a weekly podcast with her wife, Jax, called “Sincerely Fortune.” Fortune has been building an innovative, inclusive, and unique career for more than 20 years. Be it on the road, her radio show, film, or television, her contagious and joyous comedy is touching lives and bringing us together daily.

SPECIAL GUEST

WAYNE BRADY

Multiple Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Wayne Brady has made his mark on stage and screen as an actor, producer, singer, dancer, songwriter, and television personality. A true multi-hyphenate, Brady’s career path and personal life journey have helped him see the world in a unique way. His aspirations have always gone beyond solely starring in various entertainment projects, and under his A Wayne & Mandie Creative banner. He’s set out to create new content across different platforms that showcase innovation and inclusivity in fun and powerful ways. A five-time Emmy winner (the first to win Daytime and Primetime awards in two consecutive years), Brady has an impressive TV. In 2024, Brady returns to Broadway in the all-new production of The Wiz, leading the cast as the titular character.

Advocacy is core to Brady’s life. He champions the need for more resources and better understanding of mental health issues, especially in the Black community. Brady’s public announcement about his pansexuality brings awareness to an underrepresented community and he continues to support and promote LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations such as Broadway Backwards and Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Brady is a longtime supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and SAY The Stuttering Association for the Young.

SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMER

INIKO

Expressive and existentially curious, singer/songwriter Iniko makes music for soul searchers. The Brooklyn native fuses sinewy vocals, the musicality of a multi-instrumentalist, and an adventurous imagination to tackle anxiety, damaged romance, and philosophy with warmth and whimsy. In the process, Iniko (they/them) has generated an inimitable brand of cosmic soul — and a growing fan base that includes 2 million TikTok followers. The Columbia Records artist has continued doing so with “The King’s Affirmation,” their triumphant 2022 single, which pulsates with the electricity of a star coming into their own.

As a nonbinary artist, Iniko wants to stand up for their peers in the queer community. That ambitious goal will take them to places they might not have traveled as a teen with social anxiety. With a new project on the way, Iniko looks to use their music as a mirror for them and the rest of the world.

SPECIAL GUEST DJ

MASHA MAR

Serbian-born/LA-based, Masha Mar is a DJ, producer, and promoter known to move dancefloors into blissful journeys, across moods and grooves. Masha started Dig Deeper LA in 2014 to showcase the vast spectrum of quality music hiding in forgotten crates. Most recently, she co-founded the open-air series Take It Outside with Heidi Lawden. She champions independent radio with residencies on both NTS Radio (Beyond The Clouds) and dublab (Analogue Players Club). Masha released her debut record ‘Virgil’s Dream’ in Nov 2022 on Night Prism after releases on SOS Records, Femme House, and Dusk Recordings and has more music out soon.

STUDENT BIOS

Lucia Salazar-Davidson (any pronouns), is based in California, and serves as GLSEN’s Chapter Network Freedom Fellow.

They are a mixed-race Latine lesbian, community organizer, activist, student, actor and playwright.

Raised in a small conservative town in Alaska, they did not have access to many resources or representation for the LGBTQ+ community, and their activism stems from a desire to provide that representation to others, and to promote queer joy and community in all its forms.

Lucia has been involved with organizing and activism with GSA’s and leadership roles within their school district on a local scale, the interfaith group Queeranteen Camp, and GLSEN’s National Student council.

Owen Grossman (he/any) is an 18-year-old queer advocate and current board member for GLSEN LA. Last year, he served as the Youth Board Member for GLSEN LA where he helped organize and host a queer prom for Los Angeles youth. At school, he is the leader of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, a student leader for the DEI Team, and a member of the Dance Team. In addition, Owen is the captain of his school’s Speech and Debate Team and has won both State and National Championships. Owen is deeply passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and hopes to go into politics in the future to continue the fight for social justice.

Coral Gimbernard (she/her) Coral is a queer senior located on the land of the Seminole people, in Florida, and is thrilled about her second year with the GLSEN NSC! She is a community organizer, facilitator, and peer educator with Planned Parenthood. She is the president of her school’s GSA, and is working with them on a student-led digital magazine! She is also heading a new local queer banned book club in her area. She is passionate about increasing access to education about health and sexuality that represents our humanity and diversity. Otherwise, she is a choir kid, a bookworm, a Christmas enthusiast, and a relentlessly inquisitive novice at life.

NATIONAL STUDENT COUNCIL

The National Student Council (NSC) is a dynamic and empowering youth leadership program for high school students, proudly sponsored by GLSEN. The NSC is a platform for LGBTQ+ youth to cultivate their leadership potential, amplify their voices, and actively contribute to creating more inclusive and equitable environments for all students.

The NSC plays a pivotal role in providing feedback on GLSEN’s processes, programs, resources, and overall strategy. As youth representatives, the students offer their unique perspectives and insights, ensuring that GLSEN’s initiatives remain relevant and impactful. NSC members are passionate about social justice and actively seek to deepen their knowledge and practice around racial justice, gender justice, and disability justice.

This year’s NSC cohort is reflective of GLSEN’s mission to center youth experiences and leadership. GLSEN’s Youth Programs staff have refreshed the NSC program accordingly to ensure that each student is a developed leader, expert, and powerful social change agent for LGBTQIA2S+ students.

NSC students inform GLSEN’s campaigns and days of action; develop youth-led and adult-supported projects; self-select into dozens of external opportunities to advocate nationally for change (e.g., panels at the Department of Education, articles in Teen Vogue and other major outlets, and much more). The NSC also have the opportunity to build power with other youth leaders in our chapters and across the country by 1) developing new resources that are responsive to the most urgent needs of students across the country, and 2) directly connecting with students who are new to GLSEN, and supporting them in finding their own place in the movement to realize safe schools for all students.

With the invaluable support of our partners and generous supporters like you, the National Student Council is able to remain a constant force for social change.

To learn more, visit https://www.glsen.org/nsc

PAST BOARD MEMBERS

Through their willingness to serve on GLSEN’s National Board of Directors, the following individuals have advanced GLSEN’s critical mission over the past three decades. We express our sincerest gratitude to these passionate ambassadors for their service to our organization and to the LGBTQ+ youth across the nation. They have truly left a lasting legacy that will continue to impact our community.

Adam Okoye

Aidan Grennell

Alberto Rojas

Andrew Graham

Ann Acrey

Ann Simon

Anne Gable

Anthony Collerton

Ashleigh Pfriem

Blake T. Franklin, Esq.

Bob Chase

Brenda Freiberg

Brian Graden

Cathy Tanelli

Charles E. Todd

Chip Sullivan

Christie Hardwick Vianson

David Melancon

David Silva

David Waterbury

De Palazzo Tamayo

Deann Sweeper

Deborah Dagit

Deborah J. Keating

Debra Esparza

Dick Barbieri

Donna Crocker

Ed Pierce

Elliott K. Fukui

Eric Nilson

Erik Stegman

Erika Karp

Ernest B VanSeasholes

F. Bennett Cushman

Gail Lopes

Grant F. Peterson

Jackie Duncan

Jared Nayfack

James Johnson

Jane Harper

Jascie Williams

Jeffrey C. Quinn

Joanne E. McCree

Jon Buchmeyer

Joseph McCormack

Joshua Lamont

Joyce Koons

Judy Corman — Deceased

Karen E. Brown

Kathryn Rafter

Kathy Fleming

Larry Miller

Leif Mitchell

Leslie C. Brtek

Lou Alexander

Louis Thomas

Martin Pfeiffer

Martin Seldman, Ph.D.

Mary Bonauto

Mary Gentile

Mary Jane Karger

Michael Balaban

Mitch Heller

Nathan Triplett

Patricia Pollok

Patricia Evert

Paul Cothran

Philip Lovejoy

Raquel Seidel

Reid Williams

Ric Weiland — Deceased

Rikchard Barbieri

Rick Moran

Robert Sanborn

Robert Gregg

Steve Epstein

Steve Salee

Steven Fuchs

Steven Kohlhagen

Susan J. Webb

Susan Karlin

Talia A. Stein

Thomas D. Kraemer, Ph.D.

William Durant-Emmons

Yashar Hedayat

Zita Arocha-Smith

HONOR SOCIETY

The Honor Society gives members the opportunity to partner with GLSEN to develop school climates where difference is valued for its positive contribution toward creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For an annual commitment of $1,200 or more, Honor Society members help steward GLSEN’s vision and work towards creating safer schools for an increasing number of schools and communities.

Addressee

Summa Cum Laude ($50,000$249,999)

John H. Simonds* and Dan Swilley

Kevin Brockman and Dan Berendsen

Tides Foundation

Magna Cum Laude ($25,000-$49,999)

Joseph L. Arena and Dr. Thomas D’Eletto

Wilson Cruz

Robert Greenblatt

Eugene Kapaloski

Jerry E. Magar, Jr.

Noah Roskin-Frazee

Matthew Schaab and Joe Pinto

Kelly Schwartz

Ted Snowdon and Duffy Violante

Senior ($10,000-$24,999)

Anonymous

Sequoia Adams

Andrew Bly

The Howard Greenfield Charitable Foundation

Jerry E. Magar, Jr.

Dean Pitchford and Michael Mealiffe

David and Meredith Rusoff

Barbara Webster

Esta Rose Fund

The Sank Family Foundation Inc.

Junior ($5,000-$9,999)

Anonymous

Ronald Ansin* and Jim Stork

Zarina Birnbacher

David Colley

Kyle Ferari-Munoz

Michael and Susan Gelman

Bradley Lagore and Kenith Goodman

Matthew Gromada

Addie Guttag

Ronald S. Haft

Luke Hall

Mr. David Hish and Mr. Adam Keplinger

Brent Joseph

David Lapham and Clark Mitchell

Gwen Marcus and Nancy Alpert

Mr. Curtis L. Pendergrass

Stan Ponte

Carlo Steinman

Elizabeth Stribling-Kivlan and Rebecca Cleary

Marjorie and Joseph Walsh

Dolotta Family Charitable Foundation

The Faretheewell Foundation

The Reilly Family Fund

Sophomore ($2,500-$4,999)

Vivian Adamakos

Mr. Brian Agnew

Jennifer Antin

Chely and Lauren Blitzer-Wright

John Booth

Christopher Elmore

Mary Gentile, Ph.D. and Mary Jacobsen

Daniel Grooms

Tiyale Hayes

Brian Holloway

Diving for Life

Edgar and Holli Martinez

James McNamara and Francisco Laguna

HONOR SOCIETY (CONT’D)

Idina Mentzel

Michel Mercure and David Dechman

G. Barrow Moore

Gustav and Hanna Papanek

Ms. Alison Smith

Talia A. Stein

Todd Tiemann

Ruth and David Waterbury

Kevin Williamson

The Mo and Cher Willems Foundation

Daniel Grooms

Freshman ($1,200-$2,499)

Anonymous

Robert Abbey

Amy Astley and Mimi Snow

Mr. Neil E. Beecher

Kathleen Behrens

Daniel Burnstein and Martin Martinez

Lawrence Cacciatore

Penny and Bruce Castleman

Tin Chow

Chris Ciompi

David Clancy

Dr. John R. Cook*

Brendan Culligan

Ms. Allison S. Dendy

Robert P. Denny

Philip Diamond

Martha Dixon-Ehrenfeld and Carla McKay

Mark Dukes

Griff Field

Debra Fogarty

Michelle Fredstrom

D. Grant Gilbert

Mr. Bruce Gillispie

Lisa Graustein

Anthony O. Heilbut

Matthew Hempeck

Sara Hill

David Hogan

David and Vicki Huebner

Michael Hughes and Marty Fung

Paul and Christopher Irwin-Dudek

Eileen F. Keenan

Joshua Kempner

Steven and Gale Kohlhagen

Lisa Kohn

David Lehn

Carol Leister

Benjamin Lipton and Steven Ball

Kurt Locher and Anne Stark-Locher

Kristen LoPrell

Kelsey Louie

Frank Loulan and Richard Pearce-Moses

Paul L. Marsolini

Trish McAleer and Rob Baynes

Barbara J. Meislin

Michael L. Miller

Timothy J. Moshier

Leslie W. O’Loughlin

Susan and Curt Parnes

Dan Peternell

Milo Pinkerton and Virgil Taus

Robert E. Putney, III

Kimberly Reed and Claire Jones

Edward H. Richard

Paul Rosenfeld

Eileen Ryan

Sheila and David Schiferl

Camden Scott

Norman Selander-Carrier

Miriam Sexton

Mr. Benjamin Short

David Silva

Veronica Singletary

Emily Skyle-Golden

We thank GLSEN for their commitment to LGBTQ+ youth worldwide and proudly congratulate this year’s Honorees

HONOR SOCIETY (CONT’D)

Mr. Ben Stein

Geoffrey W. Tuba

Judy K. Underwood, Ph.D.

Melvyn Vader and Robert Henderson

Wayne Welch

Dr. Peter J. Welch

Karsonya Wise

Wayne J. Zahner

Roy Zemlicka

Elliott Zivin and David Tisdale

COCC Partners

Hitter Family Foundation

The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers Fund

Stonewall Community Foundation

Unified For Pride

Pittsburgh CAPA

The Wheeler Family Fund

WEILAND SOCIETY

The Weiland Society was established to recognize individuals who have created gifts to GLSEN through tax-wise planned giving. Gifts made by Weiland Society members enable GLSEN to plan long-term for the programs, activities, and advocacy that will help us realize our vision of ending anti-LGBT bullying and harassment and providing a safe school climate for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Anonymous (6)

Joseph L. Arena and Dr. Thomas D’Eletto

Howard Auerbach and Andy Baker

Julian T. Baker*

Michael D. Balaban

William J. Barnise*

Edward Becker

Kevin Beer and Gregory Cason

Richard Bennett and Jeffrey Berns

Stephanie K. Blackwood

Chely and Lauren Blitzer-Wright

*Deceased

Constance Boland and Gary Cutler

Robert Bole and Artenzio Diorio

Bryan Bridges and Dotan Limon

Martin Brook and Eileen MacMillan

Matthew Brown

Robert M. Browne*

Leslie Brtek and Cathi Lamberti

Marvin Burke and Wallace Hutchins

Eliza Byard and Eva Kolodner

David Carney

Frank D. Carson

WEILAND SOCIETY (CONT’D)

Rhonda Chattin

Michael B. Collins*

John Cook* and Waverly Cole*

John Cooke*

Marilyn Copeland

Douglas E. Cowan

Steve Crowston

Robert W. Davidson

Richard A. Davis

Richard C. de Long

Don S. Disner

Harry Drasin

Michael F. Driscoll*

Zach and William Durant-Emmons

Robert G. Egge

Cristy F. Elkins

Maia Ettinger and Donna Daniels

Patricia M. Evert

Elaine Phyllis Fine*

Family of Charles Fishburn

Susan L. Foulds

Vincent Gambino*

Mary Gentile and Mary Jacobsen

Denis Gerdes and Charles Gerretson

Barbara Gittings*

Thomas Gladwell and Andrew Reynolds

William Gootee and James Golob

Brian Graden

Dane Grams

Allen Greenstein*

Roger S. Haase

John Hannigan

Christie Hardwick and Jane Harper

Bern Hartman

Leonard Helfrich

Mitchell Heller and Jim Morrison

Harold Bryan Hill*

Rand Hoch

James G. Hoffman

John R. Hoffman

John Neral and Richard Huffine

Kevin Jennings and Jeff Davis

Robert Wilson Johns*

Arnold Kantrowitz*’

Fred S. Karger

Mary Jane and Tom Karger

John P. Kefferstan

Mark Kennedy*

Jon Kiehnau

Herb King*

David W. Knapp*

Danielle F. Knight

Joyce Koons

Thomas Kraemer and J. Adam Miller

Leonard W. Kraisel

Kay Lahusen*

Amy Lai and Carrie Borows

Pam, Robert, and Joshua Lamont

Alba Adelaide Lavino*

Tory Lea and Margaret Penney

F. Elliot Leonard and Roger Marsly

Mr. Edward & Dr. Barbara-Ann Levine

Joseph A. Levy*

David C. Lohse

Maxwell Lowe

Peter McKown and Kenneth Heng

Mark R. McMahon

Rory Michaels

Dee A. Michel

Donald Abram Miller Trust

Anne Millman

Pamela and Paul Ness

Pieter Noomen

Michael Nutt and Yaniv Dabach

Ian L. Patrick

Vincent J. Patti

WEILAND SOCIETY (CONT’D)

Ryan Pedlow

Grant F. Peterson*

“Sally” Sarah Pick

Rodger Pitcairn

Kathryn Rafter

Thomas C. Ragan

Patsy Rogers

Elizabeth Rowell

Mr. Howard A. Rubenstein

Robert Saltzman and Edward Pierce*

William Santee*

Mary Savarese

Kay and Timothy Schermerhorn

Quentin S. Schneider*

Brian P. Schumann

Arnold T. Schwab*

Norman and Ronald* Selander-Carrier

Martin Seldman and Kelly Rae Reineke

Robert Seletsky

Anne Simon and Donald Heller

John H. Simonds* and Dan Swilley

Maria T. Spagnola

*Deceased

William G. Sprague*

Michael D. Stone*

Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan

John L. Sullivan

E. Tauber*

Charles E. Todd

Darrell L. Tucci

Henry P. van Ameringen*

Larry Vincent*

Dotty Wade* and Nancy Lyons*

Jon Walden* and Ron Estes

Darryl Warner

Peter Waterloo and John Taylor

Richard W. Weiland* and Mike Schaefer

Matthew and John West

Robert Wilde*

Walt Witcover*

James Wozniak*

Rabbi Barbara Zacky

Nicole Zakorchmeny

Linda D. Zwiren

CONNECT WITH GLSEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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GLSEN STAFF

Director of Operations

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Cass Vincent

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Hasan Inal

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k.jones

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Will Rapp

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Yu-Chi Wang

GLSEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair

Wilson Cruz — Actor, Producer CBS

Vice-Chair

Imara Jones — TransLash, Creator

Treasurer

Malachi Garza — Solidaire Network, Strategy and Innovation Director

Clerk

David Clancy — CAA, VP Regional Lead-Human Resources

Carlos Saavedra

BOARD MEMBERS

Connor Franta

Creative Director, Author, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian

Amita Mehta

Amita Mehta Possible (AMP), LLC, Business Strategist and Career Transition Coach

Matthew Schaab

JPMorgan, Managing Director

Hon. Mauree Turner

Oklahoma State Representative

Karen M. White

National Education Association, Deputy Executive Director

Wayne Hempe

TBWA Chiat\Day, Chief Financial Officer

Mateo Cruz, Ph.D.

Bentley University, Assistant Professor of Management

Christopher C. Strazzella

Goldman Sachs, Global Head of Engineering Recruiting

Jon Tilli

Deutsche Bank, Director in FIC Financing, Global Chair of dbPride

Randall Tucker

Mastercard, EVP Chief Inclusion Officer

JJLA is proud to have partnered with GLSEN to produce tonight’s Rise Up LA event!

We’d like to congratulate tonight’s honorees, performers and show participants!

We also extend a heartfelt thank you to the sta , board of directors, and event committee for their ongoing work in making the world a better place for LGBTQ+ youth. JJ-LA.COM

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS

Donate to GLSEN now!

Text “RISEUPLA” to 243-725

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Make an investment of $1,200 or more toward creating safe and affirming schools for all students. glsen.org/honorsociety

Remember GLSEN in Your Estate Plans

Give a planned gift that leaves a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ students nationwide. glsen.org/Weiland

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#RiseUpLA

Scan this QR code and take the pledge to Rise Up for LGBTQ+ Youth.