21. Lance Preston, ED & Founder Rainbow Youth Project, LGBTQIA+ Legal Advocate

Freedom Over Fascism

As a gay youth growing up in a small, deep South farming town in Tennessee, Lance Preston experienced an enormous amount of religious hate from the Southern Baptist Church. Though his family was always supportive, accepting, and loving, his struggles between living his truth and living in Christianity led to a suicide attempt at the age of 19. As a result, he is passionate in his advocacy for LGBTQ2S+ young people – especially those in rural areas where resources are extremely limited. Lance founded Rainbow Youth Project as a social welfare organization in response to recent legislation targeting the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, women, Indigenous people, and immigrants in the United States. He is a hands-on member of Rainbow Youth Project’s leadership team and actively participates in political discourse by advocating for LGBTQ2S+ youth rights at school board, state legislative, and other official hearings across the country. During the 2022-2023 school year, he testified before school boards in 127 districts across 12 states, and in opposition to anti-LGBTQ2S+ legislation before the Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia state senates and houses of representatives. CW: Suicide, murder, child abuse. Rainbow Youth Project: RYP is a social welfare organization that promotes the health, safety, and wellness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual young people throughout the United States. Elevated Access: Non-profit organization that enables people to access healthcare by providing flights on private planes at no cost. Their volunteer pilot network transports clients seeking abortion or gender-affirming care across the United States.----more---- Please support us at patreon.com/freedomoverfascism to help support the podcast and help Stephanie feed her family. Early access to podcasts, bonus content only found on Patreon, easy access to Stephanie for your questions. And other secret bonus stuff just for patrons. Please send questions for a Q&A or Mailbag Episode to [e-mail]. Please subscribe wherever you listen and leave a review to help us be more visible. Patrons will receive bonus content such as Q&As, bonus content, messaging guidance, and more. ----more---- Questions to [e-mail]. More info, message hub, donations: www.hoosiervictoryalliance.org. Newsletter and podcast: substack.com/freedomoverfascism; Social media: www.facebook.com/hoosiervictoryalliance; www.instagram.com/hoosiervictoryalliance; www.threads.net/@hoosiervictoryalliance; www.twitter.com/hoosier_victory; www.post.news/hoosiervictory; www.tiktok.com/@hoosiervictoryalliance; www.youtube.com/@hoosiervictoryalliance; www.spoutible.com/hoosiervictory