Meet Nicholas Grant

Nicholas Grant

Class of 2023 BEQ Pride LGBTQ Leader Under 40

Pronouns: He, Him

Age: 38

Who or what inspires your leadership purpose? And why?

My leadership purpose is inspired by the hope that I can use all of the privileges, support and opportunities offered to me to not only lead within my communities but help to build, mentor and sponsor future leaders for the LGBTQ+ movement. As a naval officer, clinical psychologist and president of a national LGBTQ+ nonprofit, I am dedicated to caring for, leading and uplifting those around me. This commitment stems from a deep appreciation of those who have gone before me, whose shoulders I stand on, and who continue to pull me up throughout their own leadership journeys. ~ Nicholas Grant, Ph.D.

At the root of Nicholas (Nick) Grant’s professional work and volunteer service is a commitment to the use of psychological knowledge to foster fairness and social justice specifically for LGBTQ+ people and communities. Nick has taken many actions in the service of his committment. Some of these actions include: serving as chair of the American Psychological Association’s writing group that revised the Resolution on Opposing Discriminatory Laws, Policies, and Practices Aimed at LGBTQ+ Persons, which was supported by 100% of APA’s Council of Representatives; volunteering since 2015 on the board of directors for the national non-profit organization GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, including being the first-ever psychologist elected as President in 2021; and, serving as an appointed member of the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs Advisory Committee, bringing psychological science to the table in informing local policies which are used as models across the country. 

Over the past five years Nick has also engaged in extensive efforts to support the rights of transgender Americans to serve in the US military, including work in the US Senate, US Navy and within multiple professional psychological organizations. Nick’s dedicated efforts at protecting, supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ people and communities is the type of leadership necessary to secure an equitable future for the community.

Nick hopes the next decade primarily centers around increasing rights at the state level. Although the Equality Act and other related federal legislation would be ideal, Nick believes upcoming advocacy efforts for the LGBTQ+ community are state level and will focus on equal rights and protections for transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse people, expanding access to gender affirming care, and increased protections from discrimination for all members of our community. In order to achieve this, Nick believes more inclusive coalitions are needed to champion LGBTQ+ rights to further community progress. Nick feels the next decade will see major advances in healthcare and mental health care specifically tailored to LGBTQ+ needs and lived experiences.

To learn about more leaders recognized by BEQ Pride, visit https://businessequalitymagazine.com/MoreLeaders

To connect with this leader, visit linkedin.com/in/nicholasegrant