The Advocate's Champions of Pride 2021 are the unsung heroes who are making inroads for LGBTQ+ people in their fields of work and in their communities every day despite the risks or challenges. More than 100 changemakers (two from each state, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Territories) have been named to the list.
With trans rights and safety under siege across the country, it’s imperative to amplify and elevate the breadth of LGBTQ+ identities. The Champions of Pride print and digital editions and virtual event is our way of honoring the diversity and dedication of so many in the LGBTQ+ community.
With a long history in working with LGBTQ+ folks, Jessica Halem, MBA, was the inaugural LGBTQ outreach and engagement director at Harvard Medical School. Previously, Halem ran the Lesbian Community Cancer Project in Chicago. There she implemented the nation’s first cultural competency trainings for the Centers for Disease Control and served on then-candidate Barack Obama’s first LGBT Advisory Committee. Halem, who identifies as a Jewish queer femme, also trained in improv at Chicago’s famed Second City. She utilizes the knowledge she gleaned there to “coach individuals and teams on dealing with difficult moments,” she says. “I like bringing my sense of humor, years of connections and experience, together with great ideas and teams,” she says. “I am passionate about helping LGBTQ people take up more space with more confidence and more joy while manifesting the world we all deserve.”
Currently, Halem, also serves on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which, “launched a microgrants program to get money quickly into the hands of LGBTQ creators, nonprofits, and activists.” she says. “I am so excited to see what these partners are doing on the front lines of issues like incarceration, trans youth, queer history, and housing.”