HRC Highlights Lives of LGBTQ Southerners as Part of #LoveYourNeighbor Campaign

HRC released several new videos as part of the #LoveYourNeighbor campaign, a storytelling project focused on sharing the experiences of LGBTQ people and allies across the South, particularly in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.

HRC released several new videos as part of the #LoveYourNeighbor campaign, a storytelling project focused on sharing the experiences of LGBTQ people and allies across the South, particularly in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. HRC has permanent campaigns in these three states as part of its Project One America campaign.

The #LoveYourNeighbor campaign is partially funded with a grant from Toyota, which has a manufacturing plant in Mississippi. The videos will be released on social media and promoted by HRC both in-state and around the country.

“Through HRC’s work in the South, we have found that the most effective way to change hearts and minds is simply to share the stories of our LGBTQ friends and neighbors,” said Ben Needham, director of Project One America. “With #LoveYourNeighbor, we take the stories of LGBTQ people living in the South and share them with a broad audience -- many of whom may not have had an opportunity previously to hear these powerful accounts. We are grateful to Toyota for helping to fund this project and shining a light on these people and their lives.”

The first round of videos feature:

Jolie and Lillie Ben, a mother and sister of a lesbian daughter who died by overdose, from Birmingham, AL.
Elaine, a trans woman from Birmingham, AL.
Tommie, a gay priest from Tuscaloosa, AL.
Rae and Zach, a trans couple from Little Rock, AR.
Zeek and Dick, a married gay couple from Eureka Springs, AR.
Toula and Ashley, an engaged lesbian couple from Fayetteville, AR.
Cindy, an ally from Bay St. Louis, MS.
Ivory and Courtney, a married lesbian couple from Hattiesburg, MS.
Shannon and Jennifer, a married lesbian couple from Tupelo, MS.

HRC will release additional videos as part of this campaign through this year and into 2018, focusing on the diverse, compelling experiences of LGBTQ Southerners.

In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared towards advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. HRC continues to work to advance equality for LGBTQ Southerners who have no state level protections in housing, workplace, or public accommodations. Through Project One America, we are working toward a future of fairness every day—changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.

Jolie and Lillie Ben