The White House Celebrates LGBT Champions of Change

On Thursday, July 19, the White House will honor ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things across the country to ensure safety, dignity, and equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, as demonstrated by their inspiring video entries in the LGBT Pride Month Video Challenge.  

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

These Champions of Change have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of LGBT people across the country, and they represent countless other individuals and organizations who are equally dedicated to equal rights for LGBT people. 

View these video entries online.  And then learn more about these Champions by reading their blog posts below:

• JJ Kahle, a Spanish teacher at The Blake School in Minneapolis who serves as faculty advisor for Blake’s Gay Straight Alliance and Justice League
• CenterLink, The Community of LGBT Centers, a non-profit organization that supports the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers around the country.
• The Military Acceptance Project, a non-profit organization that promotes acceptance of all service members, veterans and their families through enlightenment, empowerment and service.
• George Stewart, a former Army clerk and U.S. Air Force court reporter who volunteers at Harlem office of Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
• The Redwood String Ensemble, a quartet of openly LGBT musicians that was formed at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio
• Heather Carter, who runs the LGBT youth suicide prevention program OUTLoud at the Youth Suicide Prevention Program in Washington State

To watch this event live, visit whitehouse.gov/live at 10:30 am ET on July 19th.

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.