GLAAD’S WEBBY AWARD-WINNING DIGITAL VIDEO SERIES “CHANGEMAKERS” RETURNS; BLACK LGBTQ EXCELLENCE SHINES IN SEASON 2 TRAILER

Contact: press@glaad.org

“Changemakers,” presented by Ally Financial and produced by NEON, GLAAD’s digital content brand aiming to increase the visibility of Black LGBTQ people, returns with a Season 2 announcement and exclusive trailer drop on AdAge.com

Guests slated for Season 2 include WNBA Star Layshia Clarendon, “Shark Tank’s” Braxton Flemming (Stealth Bros & Co), House of Tulip Executive Director Mariah Moore, and Head Developer of ValiDate Dani Lalonders

New York, NY – Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced Season 2 of “Changemakers.” The award-winning series returns with four episodes spotlighting the powerful work of bold founders and CEOs of Black trans and nonbinary-owned businesses who are reshaping their communities and disrupting their industries.

The series, presented by Ally Financial, kicks off Tuesday, January 31 with an exclusive trailer debut on AdAge.com. The season premiere will be available to watch on GLAAD’s YouTube and social media platforms on Monday, February 6th, with new episodes each week through February 27.

Watch the trailer here.

Photos from “Changemakers” are available: here (credit GLAAD).

The series premiere, launching February 6th, features House of Tulip Executive Director, Mariah Moore. Moore is a Black trans woman who leads New-Orleans based nonprofit organization House of Tulip. House of Tulip provides zero-barrier housing, case management, linkage to care, and community programming to trans and gender nonconforming people in need of a safe place to stay while growing the supply of affordable housing in the area.

“Changemakers” is proudly produced by NEON, GLAAD’s digital content brand aiming to increase the visibility of Black LGBTQ people. NEON leverages the power of storytelling and GLAAD’s platform to create multi-dimensional and accurate portraits of the Black LGBTQ experience. In a series of intimate docu-shorts, this new season of “Changemakers” amplifies stories of local heroes and sends messages of support, inspiration and encouragement to Black & LGBTQ business owners and industry leaders.

“The new season of ‘Changemakers’ is so timely because it tackles some of the most pressing issues facing Black LGBTQ people across industries,”  said Abdool Corlette, GLAAD’s Creative Director and co-founder of NEON. “From sports to housing to video games to health care, ‘Changemakers’ is shining a light on four Black trans and nonbinary leaders who are fighting to make sure that the needs of their communities are not ignored.”

In addition to being a presenting sponsor, Ally will donate $10,000 to each “Changemaker” ($40,000 total) to empower them to continue making positive change through their businesses and into their communities.

“The GLAAD Changemakers video series puts a spotlight on the successes and impact these exceptional individuals are making in the face of adversity, sparking a dialogue, and ultimately creating a more inclusive and open environment – something we encourage our Ally teammates to do every day,” said Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer at Ally. “The decision to work with GLAAD for the second consecutive year to amplify the voices of these LGBTQ+ trail blazers was an easy one. We stand next to, and celebrate, the victories of these entrepreneurs, and hope this program will continue to leave a lasting impact on the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.”

“Changemakers” launched in 2022, and featured four Black LGBTQ small business owners: Kingsley Gbadegesin of the clothing brand K.NGSLEY; Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart, owners of Brooklyn-based antique/vintage concept shop BLK MKT Vintage; nonprofit founder Guy Anthony of Black, Gifted & Whole; and Chef Joya, a premiere vegan chef in Charlotte, NC.

“This series humanizes issues. It allows audiences to see the people being the change. It allows audiences to peek into what it takes to move mountains and make shifts in industries that have often neglected Black LGBTQ communities,” said Major Nesby, Co-Director of ‘Changemakers’ & Founder of NEON.

“Changemakers” was a People’s Voice Award Winner in the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Video category at the 2022 Webby Awards, and a 2022 Silver Winner for Social Video Series at the Telly Awards. “Changemakers” was also a 2022 American Advertising Federation Innovative Narrative Award Winner, and was awarded Bronze Distinction in the Branded Series Category for the 14th Annual Shorty Awards. “Changemakers” Season 1 premiered exclusively on The Advocate.

NEON launched in February 2020 with its ongoing Black history legacy series, showcasing current Black LGBTQ leaders from multiple disciplines as they pay homage to groundbreaking Black figures of the past. Shortly after the launch, NEON inserted LGBTQ issues into the conversation on the red carpet of the 51st NAACP Image Awards, specifically asking celebrities about Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s support for their transgender daughter Zaya. Since then, NEON has also produced its “Black Queer Love Stories” video series, which premiered in The Advocate.

NEON also conducts weekly interviews on Instagram with Black LGBTQ creatives across a variety of industries to speak about the importance of Black LGBTQ visibility and representation. Notable interviews over the past year include TS Madison, Shea Coulee, Kalen Allen, George M. Johnson, Tia Kofi, and more.