Nolan’s message to allies is simple: don’t be a fair weather fan. “Please don’t just show up occasionally or because it’s fun to be at a social event or parade,” he says. “We love and appreciate your support, but it needs to be every day, in everything we do. Inclusion is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!” Nolan practices what he preaches every day as an ally for other communities, spearheading the production of more than 400 pieces of short-form content commemorating Black History Month, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Women’s History Month and Pride Month. In his personal life, he’s on the Executive and Planning teams for the PrimeTimers, an LGBTQ+ group focused on fighting against ageism in the community.
What is the state of LGBTQ+ representation in media? I think the entertainment industry has made great strides toward reflecting characters and storylines for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people but I personally don’t think that the industry understands the importance of inclusion. We need more organic stories and characters that are a part of content.
Advice for allies on how to show up for their LGBTQ+ colleagues? Please don’t just show up occasionally or because it’s fun to be at a social event or parade. We love and appreciate your support, but it needs to be every day, in everything we do. Inclusion is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!
