GLAAD Launch New Series Highlighting Black LGBTQ+ Small Business Owners
October 8, 2021GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, has launched “Changemakers,” a 4-part video series highlighting LGBTQ+ Black small business owners and their impact within their local communities – before and throughout the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The video series is supported by Ally, a digital financial services company, donating $10,000 to each business featured in “Changemakers."
The series premiere, released last week, shows a story of Kingsley Gbadegesin and his beloved brand K.NGSLEY.
Gbadegesin is a first-generation Nigerian-American and a New York–based creator with years of experience working for brands like Versace, Celine and Loewe. He works to advance liberation for the Black community, the Queer community, and People of Color. His brand aims to redefine our way of thinking about Black, queer, and femme bodies.
As K.NGSLEY’s website states, through his activism and K.NGSLEY, Gbadegesin aims to contribute to building a country, culture, and future that uplifts and does justice to the people that built the United States and its culture in the first place.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black communities and businesses across the United States. In creating this project, I wanted to spotlight how brands can show up for Black LGBTQ small businesses owners in authentic and meaningful ways,” said Abdool Corlette, GLAAD’s Creative Director and co-founder of NEON. NEON, producing “Changemakers” series, is an ongoing digital content series that strives to increase the visibility of Black LGBTQ+ voices and stories.
“In addition to Ally’s financial contributions to these four small businesses, this series helps to elevate the stories of the incredible people behind these change-making businesses, allowing viewers to connect and learn about the challenges and triumphs of being a small business owner during these unprecedented times,” Corlette said.
Check out the premiere below:
“Changemakers” will be available to watch on GLAAD’s YouTube and social media accounts. A new episode will launch each month through December 2021 and we can’t wait to watch them all.