Now that Pride Month has just come to an end, we wanted to give a little shoutout to influential LGBT leaders that we have been following for the past month. Here’s a list of a few of our current favorite advocates! Don’t forget to check out their blogs/websites and social media accounts to keep up with all the great work they are doing.
Ravi Roth Ravi Round The World
Ravi is an adventurous, gay male from New York City. He has a big heart and an open mind, especially because he has dedicated his life to traveling the globe and learning about the LGBTQ culture and history in various cities and countries. Ravi gets to try new cuisines, visit important landmarks, attend cool events, and start unforgettable friendships with locals while also advocating for the LGBTQ+ community all over the world. He is living the dream, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where his next adventure takes him. Check out his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, & Youtube!
Diana Scholl We Are the Youth
Diana is the co-founder and journalist for the photographic journalism project, We Are the Youth. This project was created in an attempt to tell the life stories of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout America. Diana’s passion for this community has allowed her to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth where they can share what they are going through with people that will respect who they are. Check out her organization here: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr! Oh, and here’s her private Twitter so you can stay up to date on all the cool things this amazing woman is up to.
Laurel Golio We Are the Youth
Laurel is the co-founder and photographer for We Are the Youth. She partnered up with Diana, her fellow Brooklyn-based childhood friend. The two have created magic together, speaking at events and shows all around the nation. Laurel’s talents have allowed her to contribute to respectable works such as The New York Times and the British Journal of Photography, along with many others, but her skills have also allowed her to be help make We Are the Youth as successful as it is. Her contributions to the LGBTQ+ youth community are critical, so check out all the great work this duo does here: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr. And for all you photography fans, make sure to visit her website here!
Shane Ortega Shane Speaking
Shane Ortega is a retired combat veteran who transitioned into his male self in 2009, while he was actively serving in the military. His transition has been a major accomplishment for the LGBT military community and he has been and will continue to be a hero for his strength. It’s a huge step in the right direction for equality. Today, Shane continues to work for various not-for-profit organizations aimed at advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. Shane Ortega is still fighting for what he believes in, and is a dedicated hero and role model for people all over the world. And this man knows how to properly balance work with fun. He’s also a competitive bodybuilder for the National Physique Committee! Check out his Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram here to see what else he’s up to.
Mike Marcotte Give Me The Mike
Mike Marcotte is an openly gay Minnesotan, and on top of his full time career working at a television station, he is very passionate about travel. This inspired him to start his travel blog, and he caters it to the LGBT community (but don’t worry, it’s just as interesting for the heterosexual folks reading it). He also loves to volunteer his time to events and galas, helping raise money for important causes. Despite Mike’s challenging childhood and young adult years, he has managed to move forward and become a leader. To learn more about his story and what he’s currently working on, check out his Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Arielle Scarcella Vlogs
Arielle is a famous Youtuber who is known for her conversations surrounding LGBT culture, sex, relationships, and just life in general. She takes a fun, casual approach to topics that can be seen as controversial or nerve wracking to talk about normally. She has all sorts of fun videos on her channel and they are not only engaging, but hilarious as well at times! We need more people like Arielle; people who aren’t afraid to speak their mind while having a blast doing it. She stands up for what she believes in and advocates for it in a way that connects with people. Check out her Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube Channel (linked above).
It’s important that people stand up for what they believe in and start important conversations to educate and engage their communities. Say It With A Condom believes that these people deserve recognition, so this is a thank you to all of you that continue to put yourselves out there everyday. Stay amazing, and Say It With A Condom!