Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD's President and CEO, appeared on Shift/MSNBC's "Out There with Thomas Roberts," alongside GLAAD Board of Director Co-Chair and transgender advocate Jenny Boylan, and Transparent actress Judith Light.
During the segment, Sarah Kate discussed GLAAD's Accelerating Acceptance, a new survey conducted in collaboration with Harris Poll, which measures attitudes toward LGBT Americans. The poll that found cultural acceptance of LGBT people is lagging behind the nation's policy gains towards LGBT equality.
"What was great about the poll is that 2/3 of Americans are comfortable and ready for the LGBT community…About 1/3 of America is uncomfortable, and this is about acceptance," Sarah Kate explained. "We saw it play out in Alabama on Monday when the poll was released. What we saw [in Alabama] was policy moving forward and acceptance not necessarily there."
"The issues are particular in the South, but they're not only in the South," Jenny added, sharing a personal story about students' parents in New England refusing to let their children hear her, a trans professor, speak.
Sarah Kate went on to explain the importance of engaging both straight and cisgender allies to make sure the needs of the LGBT community are heard and understood far and wide.
"It's not just the law that has to change. It's people's heart," said Jenny. "My mother used to say, 'it's impossible to hate anyone whose story you know.'"
The group of four—in which the gay, lesbian, and trans community, as well as allies—were represented, went on to discuss President Obama's perspective on the LGBT community, reflected in his recent interview with BuzzFeed.
Learn more about the findings of Accelerating Acceptance and check out GLAAD's #GotYourBack campaign to learn about committing to allyship.