David Rey Photography
Innovators
Carlos Santiago
Meet some of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Santiago Solutions Group and the Association of National Advertisers’ Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing “work to change how brands and Hollywood portray the LGBTQ+ community and other diverse groups,” says Carlos Santiago, the gay Latino CEO of the former and cofounder of the latter.
During the past year, AIMM “has gained significant influence in the marketing industry by advocating for transformative change and setting new benchmarks for inclusive marketing,” he says, adding, “Specifically, we’ve debunked the myth that featuring LGBTQ+ consumers is bad for business. AIMM’s research uncovered that consumers are more likely to ditch brands that retreat from inclusive practices than those that remain steadfast.”
“LGBTQ+ equality isn’t just a social issue — it’s a reflection of our evolving society,” he notes. “AIMM research shows that younger generations, especially Gen Z, where 75 percent of people identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies, expect and demand equality in the workplace and for all consumers…. Brands that embrace this reality aren’t just doing the right thing — they’re securing their relevance today. Equality isn’t optional — it’s essential for social progress and business success.” @ana_aimm
Melissa Simpson
Stacey YvonneStacey Yvonne is a critic and entertainment journalist who can be found in Los Angeles eating snacks at events. She loves to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and specifically highlight Black and female members. She can be found at SYvonneCreative.com
Stacey Yvonne is a critic and entertainment journalist who can be found in Los Angeles eating snacks at events. She loves to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and specifically highlight Black and female members. She can be found at SYvonneCreative.com
Stacey Yvonne is a critic and entertainment journalist who can be found in Los Angeles eating snacks at events. She loves to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and specifically highlight Black and female members. She can be found at SYvonneCreative.com
Mars Sharrock
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Melissa Simpson
Becoming who you are — and showing people your true self — is essential for queer people, “but it’s also fun!” says Mars Sharrock, program director for The Wardrobe, a Philadelphia nonprofit combating clothing insecurity. Whether you need clothes for a job interview or to affirm your gender transition, The Wardrobe makes sure that you are kitted from head to toe.
“Fashion — feeling good in what you wear — is an expression of self. Self-determination goes beyond basic needs and is about creativity, expression, and freedom,” Sharrock says. And it’s self-determination that they want everyone to have access to, regardless of income, race, religion, or even criminal record.
The organization launched a program called “Returning Wardrobe,” which focuses on clothing and education services for formerly incarcerated people. And Sharrock has helped the program increase its services to transgender and queer community members by over 50 percent in just the past few years. “Clothing is a basic need, so I see the work The Wardrobe does as helping people get their basic needs met,” Sharrock says. @_sharrockin_