Family Equality: A Conversation with Jaymes Black

More Elephant

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.
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…

Chapters

1. Family Equality: A Conversation with Jaymes Black (00:00:00)

2. Jaymes Black's Origin Story (00:01:58)

3. Challenges in LGBTQ Family Creation (00:06:11)

4. Transforming Family Equality (00:16:50)

5. Facing Anti-LGBTQ Legislation (00:21:52)

6. Legislative Challenges and Their Impact (00:24:14)

7. The Importance of Gender Affirming Care (00:26:40)

8. The Power of Joy and Storytelling (00:32:14)

9. Collaboration and Unity in the LGBTQ+ Movement (00:35:35)

10. Family Equality and Future Generations (00:42:00)