The second in GLAAD’s “Vote with Pride” video series launches today with a discussion about the midterm election consequences for LGBTQ families, and the importance of voting to secure our rights. In conversation with GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, and Stacey Stevenson, CEO of Family Equality, Stevenson describes how her family decided to leave Texas, and that states proposing laws against LGBTQ people are forcing families to flee their homes to find safety and acceptance. Stevenson offered resources for families and urged all LGBTQ and ally voters to speak up for all families.

VIEW/EMBED LINK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRb6VkmpNEY&t=2s

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hRb6VkmpNEY

Stacey Stevenson: “I could no longer live in a state where state leadership calls my sons’ parents abnormal. It’s literally, Sarah Kate, part of their 2022–23 legislative platform that homosexuality is an abnormal condition. I could no longer live in a state where they’re trying to pass something even more comprehensive than Florida’s Don’t Say Gay. With all the anti-trans legislation, we are seeing many families flee their home states. We’ve created a crisis hub at Family Equality called Path2FamilyEquality.  When people have to flee to a state where they are welcome like California, we have resources for them, if they have to stay, for whatever reason, we are there for them… Our community, LGBTQ+ people, need to truly understand what’s at stake. Even if you’re not married or have a family, LGBTQ+ rights as a whole are at stake. How to get people out to vote is to ask, do you know what’s at stake and what this means to your future?

The series features conversations between LGBTQ artists and advocates across the diverse spectrum of the LGBTQ community and with LGBTQ leaders, to discuss the critically important issues at stake in the midterm elections, ensure LGBTQ voices are in the national campaign conversation, and urge LGBTQ and ally voters to the polls.

The series rolls out on GLAAD’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels, with each conversation focusing on key issues of the midterm elections for LGBTQ and ally voters, including marriage equality, abortion access, healthcare, economic equality, the freedom to read amid efforts to ban LGBTQ-inclusive books, and the freedom to vote

Family Equality’s resource guide “Path2FamilyEquality” is here.

The “Vote with Pride” video series kicked off on Wednesday with out actor, activist and producer Wilson Cruz in conversation with Voto Latino’s President and CEO María Teresa Kumar about the power of the LGBTQ and Latine vote. 

VIEW/EMBED LINK HERE: https://youtu.be/wTa0nBHfVt4 

GLAAD and Family Equality also teamed up to air ads featuring LGBTQ families to urge voters to the polls, talking about the risks to marriage equality, and humanizing the family of a transgender teen.

“MARRIAGE THREAT” AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaaQRtzk2DI

KENT AND DIEGO: “When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, we both looked at each other and said: I think our family could be at risk. When we fought for marriage equality, we never thought we would be at risk of having it taken away. Walking down the aisle was very special and something I never imagined would happen for me. We can no longer take for granted the rights we thought were our protections. And marriage equality could be next. We all have to turn out to vote. It’s important for all families.” 

GLAAD also released a new version of an ad featuring the Briggle family of Texas and their transgender teenager. Mom Amber Briggle invites all families to join them and speak up for equality at the ballot box.

“TRANS FAMILY” AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_kdnpICXs

AMBER BRIGGLE: “Do you wanna meet a family of a transgender kid? Here we are. There are some politicians who are trying to tear my family apart simply because my son is transgender. Trans kids don’t have a political agenda. They are just kids. They wanna be left alone. They have the same hopes and dreams and deserve the same equality as your child does. My family is just like yours. We love our kids unconditionally and we will never stop fighting for them. Stand with us. Go to glaad.org/vote and make a plan to vote.”  

Upcoming conversations include actor and director Billy Porter and Rashad Robinson from Color of Change, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis with Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson; former Mayor of Houston and current President and CEO of The LGBTQ Victory Fund, Annise Parker, on the record number of out LGBTQ candidates and in elected office, and honorees from GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 Class of 2022 – LGBTQ youth who are working to increase visibility, safety and success for youth across America- a conversation featured on Teen Vogue’s platforms as well. 

Additional research:

• 9 million LGBTQ adults are registered to vote
• At least 114,000 LGBTQ couples are raising children
• In 2016, an estimated 705,000 United States households were headed by a same-sex couple.
• A record high 71% of Americans support marriage equality, seven years after the Obergefell decision legalized it nationwide.
• A GLAAD poll of Florida LGBTQ and ally voters shows their top issues include restoring abortion access (47%), gun safety reform (31%), housing costs (22%), inflation (22%), and LGBTQ equality (19%).
• LGBTQ voters are expected to be 14% of the eligible voting population by 2030, according to a recent analysis of population data. 

About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

About Family Equality: Family Equality is creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety, and belonging of family. As the leading national organization for current and future LGBTQ+ families, we work to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, support, storytelling, and education. Learn more at familyequality.org.