Category Archives: Press

WE ARE ALLIES SUPPORTS TALLAHASSEE MAYOR ANDREW GILLUM FOR GOVERNOR

September 19, 2018 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

Andrew Gillum has been an unwavering champion for LGBTQ equality. As a City Commissioner, Gillum led the charge to expand domestic partner benefits for City employees. As Mayor, when more than a dozen counties were refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Florida, Gillum raised his voice in opposition and extended an invitation for couples to get married in Florida’s capital – Tallahassee. In the wake of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, he spoke up unapologetically for the victims and their families. As the brother of an openly gay man, he knows first-hand the importance of policies that protect the LGBTQ community.

“The first thing that he (Gillum’s brother) did when he had the opportunity was get on the first bus that he could afford, to go all the way across the country to California, with not so much as a job or a house, just so that he could be himself.”

Press

We Are Straight Allies Announces Statewide Expansion of LGBT Human Rights Initiative

June 18, 2015 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2015

CONTACT:
Chevara Orrin
678.637.9041 or contact@wearestraightallies.com

Jacksonville, FL – As part of its statewide expansion plan, We Are Straight Allies (WASA) will feature executives from SunTrust Bank and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the highly successful human rights marketing and public awareness campaign, launched in August 2013. A primary focus of the expansion will be to engage cities, and leaders, in Florida previously receiving a low Equality Index rating from the Human Rights Campaign, as well as create a comprehensive initiative to gain understanding and acceptance for the Transgender Community. Partnering with Equality Florida, WASA aims to broaden the reach of its educational efforts as the organization continues to raise awareness about the challenges still facing the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, despite recent national gains in policy, such as marriage equality.

“Equality Florida is thrilled to partner with We Are Straight Allies as they expand their campaign statewide. This innovative initiative has been effective in raising awareness, educating communities and building support across our state. We look forward to a continued partnership that amplifies allies’ voices in support of LGBTA equality,” says Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida.

The WASA campaign features prominent allies the likes of feminist icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Gloria Steinem; Florida Blue CEO, Pat Geraghty; and Olympic gold medalist and attorney, Nancy Hogshead-Makar. Other allies include highly regarded members of the faith, business and nonprofit community. We Are Straight Allies is recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a valued partner in championing for LGBT equality. “WASA has been instrumental in the cultural shift that is occurring in Jacksonville, FL, as it relates to our community moving closer to passage of a fully comprehensive Human Right Ordinance (HRO) and creating a more safe community,” says founder and co-creator, Chevara Orrin. “We have offered ally trainings across our city to corporate, community and faith leaders who are helping change hearts and minds, one person at a time.”

We Are Straight Allies seeks to educate, engage and “call to action” the business, faith-based, military, government, nonprofit, educational, arts and private sectors as we move towards passage of comprehensive polices that protect our LGBT community against discrimination in the state of Florida. The strategic educational and awareness efforts are targeted toward city and faith based leaders, as well as citizens, to ensure greater equity for the LGBT community in employment, housing and public accommodation. The campaign is designed to reaffirm those supporting fundamental human rights for all citizens and further engage the ambivalent, those who voted against comprehensive protections, and the uninformed about real challenges facing members of our LGBT community.

For additional information, visit the WASA website: www.wearestraightallies.com

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WASA_Logo_Black

Press

We Are Straight Allies Responds to Ferguson Grand Jury Decision

December 1, 2014 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

article-0-207A58A300000578-767_634x532 Jacksonville, FL – In response to the St. Louis County grand jury’s failure to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown, We Are Straight Allies issued the following statement:

We Are Straight Allies express our deep disappointment and stand in solidarity with the family of Michael Brown and those who seek accountability and justice for this senseless killing. America’s long history of racism and police profiling has again influenced a decision that denies a grieving family the right to have this case tried in public.

Fifty years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we are still far from realizing the dream of equality. We as Americans must continue to challenge unjust polices, call for reform of the criminal justice system and hold our local elected officials accountable for better screening and training of police officers hired to “protect and serve” not mete out injustice through racial profiling, illegal stop-and-frisks and the senseless and too frequent killing of unarmed citizens.

We send our deep condolences to the family of Michael Brown and will honor their wish to continue to engage in thoughtful, intentional, peaceful protest. As allies, we know it is critical that the voices of those groups in power stand steadfast with those groups that are oppressed. As straight allies, we work to create a culture of awareness and understanding of the challenges that face those in the LGBT community.

We encourage white people across our nation to use their influence, voices and action to create an America free of bias and discrimination towards Black people and other people of color.

Our histories are inextricably bound. We are not free until all of us are free.

Press

PRESS: Transgender Experiences on First Coast Connect

October 30, 2014 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

This past Tuesday, We Are Straight Allies Founder and Co-Creator Chevara Orrin, along with Gina Duncan from Equality Florida, Tricia Russell, Chair of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality Gender Identity and Expression Committee and Cam, one of newest members of the JCE, appeared on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, as a continuation of our series discussing transgender experiences. [The segment begins at 29:20]

Listen to Transgender Experiences on First Coast Connect

Thank you to all of our partners and panelists for your courage to have dialogue in hopes that we may better educate our city about transgender people and why it is important that we protect the rights of our T-community – you rocked the house!

Co-Workers, Press

PRESS: Florida Blue

August 12, 2014 We Are Straight Allies Leave a comment

Huge THANK YOU to Pat Geraghty, Florida Blue CEO, for his continued support of our “We Are Straight Allies” campaign!

“Honoring the dignity of every person is an ethic that I wholeheartedly believe in. In addition, respect is one of our core values at Florida Blue. The company is an inclusive organization that honors and draws upon the diverse experiences, abilities and backgrounds of our employees. This is what helps us attract the best talent and create an environment of teamwork.

In demonstration of this commitment – I have joined the We Are Straight Allies campaign as a Straight Ally in support of a Human Rights Ordinance in the City of Jacksonville…To reinforce the We Are Straight Allies message, “nothing is more important than our humanity,” and everyone has a right to the same opportunities.”

To read the rest of Pat’s article, click here.