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panel single"> <div class="container content"> <article> <h1 class="post-title">Familiarity, Framing & the Power of Telling Our Stories</h1> <p class="post-date">February 15, 2024</p> <p class="byline">By <a title="View posts by Michael Dabbs" href="https://gillfoundation.org/author/mdabbs/">Michael Dabbs</a>, Senior Director of Impact</p> <div class="entry-content"> <img width="1024" height="678" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gill-Foundation-Power-of-Storytelling-The-GenderCool-Project-1024x678.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gill-Foundation-Power-of-Storytelling-The-GenderCool-Project-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gill-Foundation-Power-of-Storytelling-The-GenderCool-Project-300x199.jpg 300w, https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gill-Foundation-Power-of-Storytelling-The-GenderCool-Project-768x508.jpg 768w, https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Gill-Foundation-Power-of-Storytelling-The-GenderCool-Project.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <p>In the work to achieve LGBTQ equality, we are no strangers to the importance of sharing our stories. Storytelling is one of our strongest allies, crucial to every success we’ve had as a movement. Stories act as bridges, connecting us to each other and making the unfamiliar, familiar.</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Familiarity is the first step toward acceptance.</strong></p> <p>Studies, like one from the Public Religion Research Institute last year, have found that having <a href="https://www.prri.org/spotlight/americans-relationships-to-the-lgbtq-community-partisanship-and-support-for-lgbtq-rights/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">close relationships with LGBTQ people has a positive correlation</a> with support for pro-LGBTQ policies, from marriage equality to non-discrimination protections to embracing different gender identities and pronouns.</p> <p>You don’t have to know an LGBTQ individual personally to feel increased levels of familiarity: GLAAD’s 2023 Accelerating Acceptance Survey found non-LGBTQ adults are <a href="https://glaad.org/publications/accelerating-acceptance-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">30% more likely to feel familiar with LGBTQ people</a> if they have been exposed to LGBTQ people through media or entertainment.</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>In media representations, we often see stories of hardship.</strong></p> <p>Over the past year, nearly everyone has encountered stories showing how harmful policies and rhetoric have made life harder for LGBTQ people, especially youth. That reality is unfortunately all too common, and these are important stories to tell.</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>But framing matters.</strong></p> <p>It’s just as important to use storytelling to highlight shared dreams, goals, and resilience. We can define people by their aspirations and contributions – before introducing their challenges. <a href="https://www.comnetwork.org/blog/the-power-of-perception" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This asset-minded storytelling approach led to the paradigm shift</a> that won over hearts and minds on marriage equality, and it should not be abandoned.</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Check out these examples of storytelling in action.</strong></p> <p>These productions from the past year show how LGBTQ stories – even those marked by unimaginable challenges – can lead with an asset lens, build familiarity, and become a force for good:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>In ABC’s <strong><em><a href="https://ouramericaabc.com/who-im-meant-to-be-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our America: Who I’m Meant to Be</a></em></strong>, six transgender teenagers from the GenderCool Project shared their experiences with millions. They talked about something that is lost in many conversations about transgender youth: the parts of their lives that are thriving, happy, and just like other teenagers.</li> <li>Last fall, Tenderfoot TV released <strong><em><a href="https://dearalana.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dear Alana</a></em></strong>, a podcast documenting the tragedy of a young woman who died by suicide after undergoing conversion therapy. What struck me as I listened was how host Simon Fung – using interviews with Alana’s mom and readings from her journals – is intentional about introducing Alana through her vivacious personality and aspirations.</li> <li>Family Equality released a six-episode podcast <strong><em><a href="https://www.familyequality.org/shining-through-the-clouds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shining Through the Clouds</a></em></strong> in August. As the title suggests, it features stories from LGBTQ families detailing how they stay resilient and optimistic in the face of the latest wave of anti-LGBTQ attacks.</li> </ul> <p>Please join us in watching and listening to these stories. You won’t regret it!</p> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="container content" style="padding-bottom: 60px;"> <p> <span class="cta-wrapper"> <a href="/perspectives">Back to Perspectives</a> </span> </p> </div> <footer class="footer panel"> <div class="table container"> <div class="cell cell-50"> <div class="social-links-wrapper"> <h4>Follow Us</h4> <ul class="social-links"> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegillfoundation/" target="_blank" title="Facebook"> <i class="fa fa-facebook"></i> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/gillfoundation" target="_blank" title="Twitter"> <i class="fa fa-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/OutGiving/videos" target="_blank" title="YouTube"> <i class="fa fa-youtube"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="cell cell-50 pad-left"> <div class="footer-menu-wrapper"> <ul id="menu-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-4616" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4616"><a href="https://gillfoundation.org/about/">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4617" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4617"><a href="https://gillfoundation.org/contact/">Contact Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4618" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4618"><a href="https://gillfoundation.org/employment/">Employment</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4619" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4619"><a href="https://annualreports.gillfoundation.org">Annual Reports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4620" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4620"><a href="https://gillfoundation.org/media-and-news/">Media and News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5010" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5010"><a href="https://gillfoundation.org/grants/">Grants</a></li> </ul> <form role="search" method="get" class="search-form" action="https://gillfoundation.org"> <label> <span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span> <input type="search" class="search-field" placeholder="Search" value="" name="s" title="Search for:"> </label> <input type="submit" class="search-submit button" value="Go"> </form> <p> Site by <a href="https://www.vermilion.com/" target="_blank">Vermilion</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </footer>   <script type="text/javascript">var cffajaxurl = "https://gillfoundation.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; var cfflinkhashtags = "true"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/app/_/lib/jquery/dist/jquery.min.js" id="jquery-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/custom-facebook-feed/assets/js/cff-scripts.min.js?ver=4.2.6" id="cffscripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/app/_/lib/sass-to-js/js/dist/sass-to-js.min.js" id="sass_to_js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/app/_/lib/flexslider/jquery.flexslider-min.js" id="flexslider-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/app/_/lib/swiper/swiper-bundle.min.js" id="swiper-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://gillfoundation.org/wp-content/themes/app/_/js/dist/main-min.js" id="main_js-js"></script> </body> </html>