Page 41 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2

Rich continues to be dedicated to lives of the most marginalized, we, cacy within the chamber. On a fun
full LGBTQ equality as well as spir- in turn, liberate ourselves. Deeply note, Natalie is bass player for the
itual equality because he envisions rooted in the Philadelphia LGBTQ surf-punk band Venus in Furs which
a better world where being gay and community, she has served on the toured nationally back in 2012. The
living true to oneself is no longer a boards of the William Way LGBT band has two full-length albums, an
sin. Community Center, Identity Kit EP and a release on vinyl.
Project, Mountain Meadow Camp,
AMBER HIKES and was a long-time organizer for BLAIR HIRST
(She, Her) is 34 the Philadelphia Dyke March. She (They, Their) is 28
GOVERNMENT—City Government organized numerous events to bene- NON-PROFIT—Engineer and
and Community Advocate fit LGBTQ organizations including Advocate Amber Hikes
GALAEI, Mazzoni Center, Equali-
Amber Hikes recently shared ty PA, Equality Forum, Attic Youth Blair Hirst is a trained biomed-
that her coming out story was one Center and ACLU-PA, among ical engineer, project manager and
where she was led by her moth- many others. will soon earn an Sc.M, Executive
er, the late Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Management of Technology and
Hikes, asking her to complete a sen- NATALIE HINCKLEY Innovation from NY Universi-
tence that went something like this (She, Her) is 34 ty Tandon School of Engineer-
“Mom, I’m…” and she shared that SMALL BUSINESS—Video ing. From their high school Gay
she responded with tears. Amber, Production Entrepreneur and Surf- Straight Alliance to co-chairing the
a leader in her own right, had the Punk Musician Memorial Sloan-Kettering Employ-
benefit of a superwoman and an ee Resource Network, Blair has al-
ally on her side from the beginning. Natalie Hinckley did a daring ways been an out member of their
Her courage and strength seems to thing at age 24: she used her savings community advocating for equity Natalie Hinckley
come from her deep sense of fam- to start a video production compa- and equality. Blair helps to foster
ily and community. Amber is the ny and began working as a director. an environment in which LGBT
executive director of the Office of In an industry where less than ten employees, patients, caregivers and
LGBT Affairs for the City of Phil- percent of commercial directors community partners feel respected,
adelphia, where she develops policy are women, her uncommon choice comfortable and valued, regardless
and serves as the principal advisor required confidence and self-moti- of sexual orientation or gender
to Mayor Jim Kenney on issues vation. After ten years in business, identity. Blair is also involved with
that affect the LGBTQ community. the company now has proven suc- ensuring that Memorial Sloan-Ket-
Hikes joined the Office of LGBT cess with recognizable national tering maintains their designation
Affairs in March 2017, and has set and international clients. In 2009, as a Human Rights Campaign Na-
her sights on fighting and advocat- Natalie was an early adapter of tional Healthcare Equality Leader.
ing for the most vulnerable popula- live-streaming video as a service for The designation is a point of pride Blair Hirst
tions within the LGBTQ commu- her business along with live events for Blair, but what they are most
nity, specifically youth, transgender like sports and conferences as well proud of is creating a sustainable
people and people of color. As the as brand and product story videos. foundation around LGBTQ equal-
new executive director, Amber’s Natalie has made managing success ity in the organization —through
accomplishments include intro- and innovation seem easy. She pri- better policies, a culture of inclusion
ducing Philadelphia’s new Pride oritizes philanthropy by giving back and encouraging the next round of
flag last summer—includes black to the community as well as making leaders to step up and speak up. As
and brown stripes— to publicly video accessible to underrepresent- co-lead of the LGBT Employee
and symbolically recognize racial ed communities. In 2016, Hinckley Resource Network, the group has
discrimination within the LGBT Productions was recognized as busi- received commitment from the in-
community. Her personal philoso- ness of the year by the Wisconsin stitution to collect sexual orienta-
phy guides the Office’s mission and LGBT Chamber of Commerce for tion and gender identity data in the
approach: when we fight for the these efforts in diversity and advo- future; secured inclusive bathroom

BEQ PRIDE December 2017 | 41