5 Things / Trojan Horse
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For years, I had a front-row seat to witness transformation. I got my first business license in Boston in February 2004 when I started the first wedding planning business in the US to plan legal LGBTQ weddings.
When I first started, about one-third of Americans supported marriage equality and Mass was the only state where it was legal. When I stopped planning 14 years later, marriage equality was legal everywhere, with 70+% societal acceptance. I watched policy drive societal acceptance.
I witnessed families come together to celebrate a timeless rite of passage that had previously been denied. I overheard a grumpy uncle say, “I don’t know how I feel about this whole gay marriage thing” as he arrived, and later saw him hugging his nephew with tears in both their eyes. Love was the only thing that mattered.
Those weddings were transformative. I loved creating spaces for LGBTQ+ couples to feel safe and helping them redefine gendered traditions. My work was also to advocate for inclusion – transforming an entire industry, in fact, a society, through the Trojan horse of a beautiful, super fun wedding.
Don’t get me wrong: we have a long way to go for true LGBTQ+ equality. But we have also come so far, so fast. It would never have been possible without an army of allies – and without a whole lot of love.
That’s what we need in all spaces, in all movements – allies and a whole lot of love.
This Week's Good Vibes:
Scholastic Publishes Pride Guide
Scholastic Books published a Pride guide, offering educators a curated list of LGBTQ+ books for children and more. This follows backlash last year for allowing schools to opt out of offering diverse books at book fairs, a policy Scholastic later reversed. The guide emphasizes the impact of queer literature in affirming diverse identities and includes a glossary, resource lists, and mental health support. With book bans and anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda increasing, this guide represents Scholastic’s commitment to diverse books and support for queer youth…and I’ll celebrate it, despite it being reactive, rather than proactive.
Claudia Sheinbaum Breaks Glass Ceiling in Mexico
Mexico has elected its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, a physicist and former mayor of Mexico City. Her victory is notable for a number of reasons: this follows Mexico's 2019 constitutional reform mandating gender parity in political candidates, which has dramatically increased female representation. By 2022, women held 50% of the seats in Mexico’s lower house of Congress, and today, women lead a third of Mexico's states. Sheinbaum is also the first person of Jewish descent to lead the predominantly Catholic nation. This historic win marks a significant step towards gender equality in a country where women only gained the right to vote for president in 1953.
Planet Fitness Affirms Trans Inclusion
Planet Fitness recently stood by its trans-inclusive locker room policy, revoking the membership of a member who posted a video misgendering a transgender woman and violating the gym’s no-photo rule. The revocation sparked right-wing backlash, but Planet Fitness emphasized their commitment to inclusivity, stating discomfort isn't grounds for denying access. This policy aligns with their Judgement Free Zone® ethos, promoting a welcoming environment for all. Their 2024 Pride Collection reinforces this message, with profits supporting the It Gets Better® project. Planet Fitness sets a powerful example for inclusive practices, countering the restrictive policies seen in many red states.
& 5. FIFA and Citigroup Expand Parental Leave
FIFA and Citigroup are leading the way (or catching up, depending on who you ask) in promoting gender equality and parental leave support. FIFA's new protocols offer 14 weeks of paid maternity leave for players and coaches, and eight weeks for adoptive and non-biological mothers. This move, extending rules initially for players in 2020, aims to normalize women’s experiences in sports. Clubs can also now provide menstrual health leave and can sign players outside transfer windows to cover parental leave absences.
Call to Action:
GRACE is a transgender-led national nonprofit organization that’s creating videos featuring conservative and center-right parents standing up for their trans children. Watch and share this first video of Eric Childs, Operation Iraqi Freedom combat Veteran – and father to a transgender teenager. He also happens to have conservative values.