Every day of Pride Month, Mashable will be sharing illuminating conversations with members of the LGBTQ community who are making history right now.
Who says you can't fight for gay rights while wearing Gucci sneakers?
Adam Eli does just that. The 28-year-old activist has been a trailblazing force in the international gay community for several years now. He's the co-founder of Voices 4, a New York-based direct action activist group that uses social media in a major way. The group's aim? "Global LGBTQIA+ liberation." Voices 4's Instagram page functions as a digital meeting ground for anyone interested in lending their voice in a myriad of ways, from marches to meetings.
Eli also uses his own Instagram account, 54.3K followers strong at the time of this post, to spread the word about upcoming rallies and marches and share important updates on queer world news. He also posts regularly about identity, body image, dating, and other LGBTQA-related topics. One day he might be sharing Grindr experiences on his Stories, and the next, it'll be about how he manages his anxiety before speaking in front of a crowd.
SEE ALSO:Man designs a beautiful rainbow turban for Pride
SEE ALSO:Man designs a beautiful rainbow turban for PrideThe Greenwich Village-based activist recently teamed up with Gucci to edit the fashion house's first zine, CHIME. The Chime for Change campaign features stories, videos, and artwork from a variety of voices in an aim to spread awareness and end gender inequality. Eli's partnership with the high-end brand is an important step for queer voices in the art and fashion world — it could open the doors for other notable brands to shine a similar light on LGBTQ issues.
Mashable spoke to Eli about how Voices 4 started, his advice for aspiring activists, and one of his proudest moments (it involves Barbara Streisand, of course). His Stories are viewed by thousands on the daily, but here's some of his story.
The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.
Mashable: What does "Pride" mean to you?
Adam Eli: Pride is when we celebrate how far we’ve come and recommit ourselves to the work that we still have to do.
Mashable: What made you want to start Voices 4, the direct action activist group? Was there a specific event that lead to its creation?
AE:Voices4 started by mistake! Originally, we were marching from Stonewall to Trump Tower to demand emergency visas for the victims of the queer genocide in Chechnya. The first march was bigger and more successful than we could have ever imagined. It became pretty clear pretty fast that we had more than a march — we had a group and a movement.
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Mashable: You've traveled all over the world. What's one thing you've learned about the global LGBTQ community through your adventures abroad?
AE:We truly are a global community and a global movement. Every community that I’ve visited or talked with faces unique issues due to the social, political, and economic climate of where they are. [Editor's note: Eli recently traveled to Hong Kong, where he promoted his Gucci zine and took followers on tours of some of the cities queer spaces, like Mum's Not Home, a cafe and art space.] However, my biggest takeaway is that we’re all looking for the same thing: love, safety, and a sense of belonging.
Mashable: What piece of advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming an activist?
AE:Just start! The biggest misconception about activism is that it's really difficult to get into. The best way to start is to just start. If you’re not sure where to start, go to your local LGBT center, tell them about yourself, and ask how you can help and volunteer.
Mashable: You've had a very exciting career thus far. What are you most proud of?
AE: Barbara Streisand reposted me on her Instagram once ... but really, I’m not sure what I’m most proud of. What I feel most strongly about is the idea that queer people anywhere are responsible for queer people everywhere.
Read more great Pride Month stories:
Explore Stonewall National Monument's digital makeover and add your own story
Man designs a beautiful rainbow turban for Pride
This young activist is fighting to keep LGBTQ youth safe from bullying
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