GLAAD

GLAAD wrapped up the Southern Stories Summer Tour of Texas with a sneak peek clip of GLAAD’s upcoming mini-documentary “GLAAD Presents: State of Change – Texas” at the Aquí Estamos Conference in McAllen, Texas.

In 2015, GLAAD filmed a series of interviews with LGBT advocates, allies and leaders in Texas, including at the 2015 Aquí Estamos Conference, which aims to promote conversations about diversity and the issues facing LGBT people of color. GLAAD has been compiling these interviews into a short documentary as a part of the Southern Stories initiative to amplify the voices of LGBT people in the U.S. South.

Following the screening, GLAAD’s Senior Strategist – Spanish Language and Latino Media, Janet Quezada moderated a panel discussion with some people featured in the documentary. Anel Flores is an artist, activist and author of Empanada: A Lesbiana Story en Probaditas. Sissy Yado is a native of the Rio Grande Valley currently doing nondiscrimination work in Arizona. Cindy Candia is the founder and leader of PFLAG in McAllen. She continues to work with other parents to accept their LGBT children.

Viewers were touched by the short six-minute clip that focused on family acceptance and faith resilience, sharing an eagerness to see the final product. Panelists spoke about how media in the Rio Grande Valley has represented LGBT people when news has broken. They said they would continue to work with GLAAD to help local news outlets improve their coverage, as well as use social media and video to tell their own stories. Quezada also shared GLAAD resources, including the newly released Southern Stories media resource guide, “Southern Stories: A Guide for Reporting on LGBT people in Texas.”

This event is a part of GLAAD’s ground work in Texas this week where staff members will be meeting with community members to discuss ways to accelerate acceptance and amplify the voices of LGBT people in the Lone Star state.

“GLAAD Presents: State of Change – Texas” will be the latest in a series of mini-documentaries about LGBT people living in Southern states. Previously released mini-documentaries have focused on South Carolina and Georgia. To learn more about GLAAD’s Southern Stories initiative, visit the Southern Stories page in GLAAD’s website.