Episode 21: Family Equality: A Conversation with Jaymes Black
In this episode of the More Elephant podcast, we celebrate Pride month in the United States and continue our feature of highlighted great work by non-profit leaders and their teams. We talk with Jaymes Black, CEO of Family Equality, the leading non-profit focused on fighting to protect and support LGBTQ+ families.
Jaymes shares her journey from corporate America to leading Family Equality and being at the forefront of efforts to elevate the stories of LGBTQ+ families while continuing to give voice and challenge discriminatory efforts to delegitimize the community.
Despite facing significant personal and professional challenges, Jaymes discusses her pivotal More Elephant moments and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her vision for what she wants to do to change the world for the better. The episode touches on the hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures in 2023, focusing on the specific threats to LGBTQ youth and families.
The conversation also highlights the issue of government interference in parental decisions and the need to prioritize joy in work. Jaymes highlights the importance of storytelling, community collaboration, and the role of joy and hope in advocacy work while stressing the increasing importance of collaboration and partnership within the LGBTQ+ community to address discrimination and inequality.
Tune in to gain insight into the transformative efforts of Family Equality, a beacon of hope in the ongoing fight for equal rights and representation for all LGBTQ+ families.
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Show Notes
Jaymes Black (any/all pronouns) joined Family Equality in 2021. They are the first African American person to lead the organization in its 44 year history. Thanks to their trailblazing leadership and fierce advocacy, Jaymes has propelled the organization to the forefront of the fight for equality, making significant impacts for LGBTQ+ families across the country.
A highly respected policy advisor, Jaymes has been invited to be part of crucial discussions at the highest levels of government – including with the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, the LGBTQI+ Leadership Council, and the White House – on topics and issues that affect LGBTQ+ families.
Prior to joining Family Equality, Jaymes worked in the corporate sector where they have a long history of senior roles in the defense, technology, and finance industries. They decided to turn their business acumen, lived experience, and passion to work for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them.
Jaymes has ushered Family Equality through a tremendous chapter of growth. From expanding the organization’s work to protect LGBTQ+ youth and families in schools to deepening the focus on removing barriers to parenthood, they have prioritized not only advancing lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ families, but also advancing racial and social justice for BIPOC communities, those living in rural areas, and those living at or below the poverty line.
As an invited keynote speaker at various events including the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, Black Parent Pride Summit, and Unleashed, Jaymes shares the the joys and challenges LGBTQ+ families face as well as their personal experiences growing up LGBTQ+ in the rural South, being pulled out of the closet as a teen, and navigating life as a Black queer parent.
Jaymes’ advocacy has helped propel Family Equality further into the national spotlight with appearances on Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio, The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, and more. They have also hosted a bipartisan panel discussion at the U.S. Capitol, led collaborations with national movement partners, and, in 2022, were recognized as one of Out Magazine’s Out100.
After relocating from their home state of Texas in search of a more welcoming community, Jaymes, wife Cheralyn, and twin sons, Duke and London, now enjoy life in the metro Washington D.C. area.
Key More Elephant Takeaways in this Episode:
Jaymes shares her personal journey and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ families in building their families.
She discusses the importance of representation and inclusion in the work of Family Equality and the transformation the organization is undergoing to be a catalyst for change.
The conversation also highlights the issue of government interference in parental decisions and the need to prioritize joy in the work.
and more…
More About Family Equality:
Website | Instagram | Family Equity and Justice Project
Family Week 2024 Schedule | LA Impact September 28, 2024: Purchase tickets here
Transcript
More Elephant Intro
[00:00:38] Jason Rudman: Welcome to the latest More Elephant Podcast. And as I've said, frequently, we about once a quarter step away from what we normally do. And we invite a powerful leader talking about powerful things that you may not know much about. Generally in the nonprofit space, and more so in the spirit of staying around corners and entering spaces and places that again might not be part of our normal everyday. So I'm delighted to welcome a personal friend to the podcast, James Black, the CEO of Family Equality, and Family Equality is fighting to protect and support LGBTQ families for more than 40 years.
They've been fighting the fight, providing resources, access to key information about laws and policies to help LGBTQ parents and families through the joys and challenges of parenthood. So, as a parent of, to, a parent of, Welcome to the podcast.
[00:01:41] Jaymes Black: Thank you for having me, Jason.
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