In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Brandon Wolf, Vice President of The Dru Project and a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre about the recent nationwide launch of the No NRA Money Pledge campaign that has already reached over 60 million people online and has drawn more than 200 candidates and lawmakers who are publicly refusing funding and support from the National Rifle Association. Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the pledge and urged her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join her. Other early signers include Carlos Guillermo Smith a Florida state representative whose Orlando district includes the Pulse Nightclub where 49 people were killed in an attack that targeted a mostly young, gay and Latino crowd. There are also 16 signers from Colorado where the mass shooting at Columbine High School focused national attention on this issue in 1999. In the past weeks several key organizers of the #NeverAgain movement have amplified the #NoNRAMoney campaign focusing more attention on the NRA’s strong arm tactics for blocking progress on gun safety. Brandon talks about what he would like to accomplish with both The Dru Project and the No NRA Money Pledge and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.
When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBTQ equality Wolf stated, “I think we’ve made a ton of progress on equality. I think that we have a lot to be proud of as a community for how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. There are a lot of movements in this country. There are a lot of disenfranchised groups that have been fighting for their rights as long as they can remember and they haven’t come nearly as close as we have. But my personal commitment is that we continue to move forward; that we continue to move towards a place where we don’t have to feel like we’re fighting for our rights every single day. A place where you can’t be fired just for being LGBTQ; a place where harassment and discrimination are not legalized; a place where I don’t have to go to a nightclub looking for the exits because I don’t fear someone is going to harm me for who I am. My personal commitment is to again empower young people, a new generation of leaders that are going to challenge the status quo and say we’ve done a hell of a lot of great work but we’re not done doing great work until everyone in this country, everyone no matter black, white, brown, blue, LGBTQ feel safe in their own skin and I’m personally committed to amplifying that message until we get it done.”
Brandon Wolf is Vice President of The Dru Project an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization whose mission is to spread love across the nation and promote gay straight alliances. The organization is named after Christopher Andrew Leinonen and his partner Juan Ramon Guerrero who were among the 49 killed at Pulse Nightclub on June 12th 2016. The Dru Project also offers scholarships to students who truly exemplify Drew's spirit for inclusion and unity.
For No NRA Money Info: nonramoney.org
1 comment:
Brandon is an articulate and intensely self directed activist who has his eye on what is important and that is to keep remember the past, but keep the focus moving forward. A wonderful interview.
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