We Are Allies in the News
10.11.18 We Are Allies founder Chevara Orrin’s article in Medium
10.17.16 Feature article in The Feminist Wire: Soul Survivor: Reimagining Legacy
06.15.16 New UNF Institute studies race and ethnic relations, The University of North Florida’s new initiative to start an open and engaged conversation about race in our country
06.15.16 Article by: AG Gancarski. LOVE IS LOVE: What the HRO Fight is Really About
05.07.16 EVE nominees: 11 women nominated for their accomplishments. EVE: education, volunteerism and employment.
04.17.16 Hands On Jacksonville honors Founder Chevara Orrin with the Edward R. Hayes Unity & Action Award.
04.06.16 Featured article in Folio Weekly Magazine, 29 AGITATORS, TRUTH-SEEKERS & CRUSADERS. “Influential locals who stomp around, kicking ass and taking names”
02.05.16 Fellow Ally, Pastor Reginald Gundy, pens An awakening to what it means not to discriminate, featured in the Orlando Sentinel
12.30.15 Featured article in Folio Weekly Magazine, ACTING UP: In 2015, activists and organizations across varied sectors championed important causes in Northeast Florida
12.28.15 Fellow Ally, Rabbi Joshua Lief, speaks to Forward about How Jewish Leaders Can Keep the LGBT Debate Honest
12.02.15 Local allies of Jacksonville’s LGBT community to get help from unlikely source on Action News JAX
11.30.15 After years of opposition, Reverend R.L. Gundy of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, speaks on First Coast Connect about the importance of updating the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance
08.15.15 Equality Florida Guest Blog: “Spray Paint, Racism and Homophobia Collide at Pensacola’s Graffiti Bridge”
08.10.15 Commissioner Maria Mark: Jacksonville should follow Atlantic Beach’s Example On HRO
07.30.15 Pat Geraghty, President and CEO of Florida Blue, writes guest column for the Florida Times-Union on the importance of statewide protections for the LGBT Community of Florida
05.13.15: WASA founder and co-creator receives “Game Changer” award at Spelman College Women of Color & Leadership Conference
04.30.15: Straight Ally, Gary Chartrand, receives OneJAX Humanitarian Silver Medallion for his work in education and advocacy in Jacksonville
04.14.15: Invited to participate in LGBTQ Civic Panel at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, FL
03.01.15 Featured article in Arbus Magazine HRO: Good for Business
02.25.15: Guest speaker at Tech Data’s Leadership in Diversity Conference in Tampa Bay
01.19.15: City Xtra Magazine features founder, Chevara Orrin, as a Modern Day Civil Rights Leader here in Jacksonville
01.19.15: SOTRU Trans Families by Laura Riggs for CityXtra Magazine
01.10.15: Mass Same-Sex Wedding in Hemming Park “We Are Straight Allies, a group which supports equal civil rights and gender equality was out with white sheets to block the protesters signs so none of the signs would be in wedding photos.”
10.28.14: Founder, Chevara Orrin, along with members from the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, appear on First Coast Connect as part of the ongoing discussion around Transgender Experiences
10.10.14: Winner of JASMYN’s Emerald Award “for their relentless and bold pursuit of equality for the LGBT Community” – received at their Annual “Coming Out” Breakfast in the Non-Profit/Small Business Category
10.06.14: Transgender man steps into the spotlight to help others by Florida Times-Union
09.01.14: Co-Creator, Laura Riggs, writes article “We All Need Allies” for CityXtra Magazine
07.29.14: Acceptance & Economic Success Go Hand in Hand | Support The Competitive Workforce Act. By fellow ally and CEO of Florida Blue, Pat Geraghty
07.16.14: Featured interview with Melissa Ross on WJCT First Coast Connect to discuss the vote on the expanded Human Rights Ordinance in Atlantic Beach
07.02.14: Arbus Magazine Feature Article “Allies for Change”
06.27.14: Florida Diversity Council 3rd Annual LGBTA Summit invites Chevara Orrin to lead panel discussion on “Becoming a Better Ally”
06.14.14: Florida Times-Union “A Father’s Day Card for Jimmy”
05.30.14: We Are Straight Allies featured in June issue of EU Jacksonville Magazine
4.19.14: Winner of City Xtra Magazine’s (the largest LGBT entertainment publication in the South) 2014 LGBT Community Award “Best Straight Ally”
4.09-4.13.14: We Are Straight Allies places 22nd overall as featured creator at One Spark: The World’s Largest Crowd Funding Festival
4.09.14: WJCT-FM LGBT Group to Remain at One Spark Venue despite request to move
4.09.14: Florida Times Union Pro-LGBT Group Criticized at One Spark Festival
4.09.14: First Coast News feature story One Spark Creator’s 9-foot sign ignites controversy
4.03.14: Chevara Orrin invited to participate as Panelist on the LGBTQA Roundtable Discussion at the Florida Diversity Council’s 2014 Diversity & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida
3.29.14: We Are Straight Allies invited to host a break out workshop at the annual Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition Conference at the University of North Florida
03.18.14: Florida Times-Union “Creators fighting for equality for all people at One Spark”
03.09.14: Featured One Spark Creator on #IgniteMedia
02.28.14 Featured One Spark Creator in the March/April issue of Arbus Magazine
01.29.14 We Are Straight Allies participated as a “Partner in Progress” at the JAX2025 Quarterly Update
01.21.14 Chevara Orrin invited as Keynote Speaker of Florida Diversity Council’s Jacksonville Chapter meeting to share We Are Straight Allies campaign strategy
01.02.14 Florida Times-Union Rachel Vitti: School superintendent’s wife making her own mark on educational and human rights issues
12.20.13 Co-Creator Chevara Orrin interviewed by Ashley Townsend of WXJT, Channel-4 on our perspective of the anti-LGBT comments made by Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty
11.22.13 WJCT.org Follow-Up Article to Melissa Ross Interview
11.21.13 First Coast Connect Interview with Melissa Ross
11.18.13 Co-Creator of “We Are Straight Allies” campaign, Chevara Orrin, Dan Merkan and Laura Lane, members of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality met with Russian LGBT activist delegation to share advocacy strategy
11.14.13 Speaking Engagement at Florida Coast School of Law, LAMBDA group
11.06.13 The Folio Weekly (online): United We Stand
10.10.13 Jacksonville Free Press: Community Trustees Lead the Way for Acceptance Campaign
09.13.13 Equality Florida: We Are Straight Allies
09.04.13 HRC: Straight Allies Stand Up for Fully Inclusive Jacksonville Ordinance in New Campaign
08.25.13 Straight Ally Ad Campaign Features Prominent Community Leaders
08.19.13 Co-Creator of “We Are Straight Allies” campaign, Chevara Orrin, and Richmond Wynn, Pastors Victoria and William Hamilton, of Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, met with US Senator Bill Nelson’s office to discuss ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)
We Are Allies 