Wednesday, June 25th, was a special day for father-son duo Rick and Ashton Colby. As a part of GLAAD and GROUND Media‘s “Here We Are” campaign, the Colby’s headed to New York City to unveil a billboard in Times Square in collaboration with Paramount at Paramount HQ, telling their story.
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The campaign, which aims to combat misinformation about the transgender community, features the stories of 3 transgender people from Ohio and Florida alongside their supportive family members, one of these stories being the Colby’s.
Ashton is a 32-year-old LGBTQ advocate, speaker and consultant who loves to hike and kayak with his dad, play guitar and cook, he also happens to be transgender. According to GLAAD’s research, 71% of Americans claim they don’t personally know someone who is transgender, this PSA campaign aims to change that.
With support and space from Paramount, Ashton and Rick were able to spread their message even wider with a giant billboard in the iconic Times Square.
“I’m just thinking about my younger self, I would have never believed that this would happen,” Ashton said after the billboard was debuted Wednesday morning.
“I can’t really articulate the depth of the feeling to be here with him to see that in Times Square,” his father shared. “It’s absolutely stunning and surreal.”
Prior to this exciting and highly emotional day, Rick and Ashton stopped by PIX 11 News to discuss their journey. Watch the segment here:
“I was really afraid, as all transgender people are, that they’re going to be completely rejected by their family. I never lose sight of the fact that I have a dad that supports me and loves me,” Ashton shares.
Rick talks about what it was like for him when Ashton first came out. “Like many parents of trans kids, I had no frame of reference,” he begins. “But I knew that non-acceptance was not going to be an issue. I love my child unconditionally.”
The pair also appeared on NBC News Now on Wednesday morning. Watch the segment below, starting at 36:22.
“At a time when anti-transgender rhetoric and legislation are growing at alarming and dangerous rates, it is crucial that Americans hear from transgender people about their lives and how the current political and cultural climate can be harmful to them,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis says about the campaign. “Most Americans are exposed to trans issues through media-biased narratives. GLAAD and GROUND Media’s new campaign dispels these misconceptions to introduce Americans to transgender people and their supportive families who showcase that trans identity is real and that everyone deserves to be who they are and live safely.”
Learn more about the campaign and hear more stories at www.herewearenow.com.