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Don’t Create Safe Spaces: Shift Toward Safer Spaces

Posted on March 21, 2024

A photo of a queer person in a safe space.

In the wake of increasing societal awareness around the need to support marginalized communities, the concept of “safe spaces,” particularly in the context of the LGBTQA+ community, has come to the forefront. These spaces are designed to eliminate biases and microaggressions, creating environments that promote respect and inclusivity. But as appealing as this ideal sounds, the notion of a universal “safe space” is both unrealistic and potentially limiting. Let’s explore a more pragmatic approach: shifting from pursuing safe spaces to…

How LGBTQ Entrepreneurs Can Pitch Their Business Ideas to Southern Lenders

Posted on February 19, 2024

Being an entrepreneur is an incredible opportunity. Not only do you get to bring your unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the market, but your approach as a businessperson can also drive change. Your choices can make you instrumental in boosting diverse workplaces in your area and providing support for the next generation of queer professionals. Yet, there are still hurdles before you’re able to have this kind of impact. One of the significant challenges to starting a company is gaining…

Moving Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: Succeed in 2024

Posted on December 30, 2023

As the year comes to an end, many of us feel compelled to set New Year’s resolutions for 2024. This tradition, while well-meaning, often leads to short-lived commitments that fade by February. Why? Because we often view resolutions as temporary changes rather than lifelong transformations. The journey toward personal and professional success requires more than mere resolutions—it calls for a shift toward a goal-setting mindset. So what’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? Resolutions often revolve around breaking…

Queer Women in Motorcycling: Breaking Stereotypes and Shaping the Culture

Posted on December 19, 2023

Queer women have been breaking barriers and redefining the norms of historically male-dominated sports for decades. Motorcycling has long been linked with masculinity, but there’s a growing community of queer women riders who are challenging these stereotypes and making riding more accessible to everyone.…

World AIDS Day: Four Ways to Address Stigma within the LGBTQIA+ Community

Posted on December 1, 2023

In recent decades, significant strides have been made in the global battle against HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day, marked on December 1 each year, serves as a poignant reminder of the progress achieved, the challenges that persist, and the need for continued awareness and action. …

Men’s Health: Beyond Traditional Notions of Masculinity

Posted on November 23, 2023

A photo of a man not conforming to traditional masculinity.

November is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and it is essential to recognize the challenges all men face, as well as how their identities and communities impact those hurdles. In general, men experience hardships related to societal expectations of their gender identities—the pressure to be masculine, maintain a specific appearance, and find fulfillment in their gender roles. This complexity expands when considering factors such as race, cisnormativity, sexual and romantic orientations, generational differences, and the intersectionality that all men carry.…

Small Town, Big Dreams: Jacob Kelley’s Journey to Spread Queer-Inclusive Sex Education

Posted on October 25, 2023

I grew up in a rural town where being unapologetically bold and beautiful was the mark of a troublemaker. I was raised in an area where being queer or identifying with the LGBTQIA+ community was considered a sin, a bedroom secret never to be talked about. In my reality, it felt more like I should move or disappear in order to please the traditions of a predominantly white, heterosexual, cisgender, Christian, and country mindset.…

Empowerment Through Action: How LGBTQ+ Youth Can Channel Climate Anxiety into Activism

Posted on October 12, 2023

A photo of LGBTQ youth climate activists.

Each week, the ongoing climate crisis brings with it new anxiety-inducing headlines about record-breaking heat waves, unprecedented natural disasters, and species extinctions—not to mention the inability of world leaders to effectively and aggressively address these issues to prevent further harm. Unfortunately, these reports are not only worrisome, they are also starting to cause serious mental health problems.…

Historians of the Queer South: Remembering Florida’s ‘Johns Committee’ with Stacy Braukman

Posted on August 17, 2023

A photo of Stacy Braukman, researcher of the Johns Committee.

“Will someone please find out what the hell is going in Florida? We’ve had enough!” Stacy Braukman and I share a laugh. The question she’s just posed feels all too pertinent. My longtime partner lives part of the year in Florida, and through him, I’ve been getting a front-row seat to the state’s noxious anti-LGBTQ, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-protest politics.…

Driving LGBTQ+ Voices: How Allies Can and Should Shape Diverse Workplaces

Posted on August 1, 2023

A photo of LGBTQ allies in diverse workplaces.

Workplaces that cherish diversity are more resilient, attract better talent, and routinely outperform their more homogenous competitors. This sentiment is echoed by a recent McKinsey survey, which found that diverse businesses were 25% more likely to record above-average profits than the market average. Concerningly, however, that same McKinsey study found that only 52% of employees viewed diversity in a positive light, while 61% had a thoroughly negative view of initiatives to improve inclusion in the workplace. As an ally, there’s plenty you…

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