Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Mandi Remington, Board of Supervisors for Johnson County, Iowa

Mandi Remington (she/her) is a queer millennial political activist running for a position on the County Board of Supervisors in Johnson County, Iowa. A single mother of three, including a trans child, Mandi is a lower middle-income wage earner. She is most passionate about advancing platforms that prioritize equity for disadvantaged socioeconomic groups. Mandi recently lost an election in 2023 for a position on the Iowa City Council but is running again on a platform of abortion rights, as well as affordable housing, childcare, food, and transportation.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Sam Bell, Rhode Island Senate District 5

This week we continue our profiles of progressive candidates running for office in 2024! Today we are featuring Sam Bell, who is a Democratic Socialist Rhode Island State Senator. Sam (he/him) is a geologist with a Masters and PhD both from Brown University in Providence, the city of Sam’s district. He is most passionate about healthcare, housing, and fighting poverty. Sam and his wife Samantha are both openly bisexual and are proud parents to their 2-year-old son Jacob.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54Andrew FMarch 20, 2024election, #election, science, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, lgbt, lgbtq, LGBTQ Support, LGBTQ rights, #lgbti, transgender rights, father, bisexual, JewishComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - DeShanna Neal, Delaware House of Representatives District 13

This week we are profiling DeShanna Neal (she/they), a single mother of four who is an LGBTQ+ rights activist and Democratic Socialist Delaware State Representative. Elected in 2022, they ran on a platform focusing on mental health, the environment, and the legalization of marijuana; this year their focus is on Accessibility for all, Maternal Healthcare for Incarcerated Women, and LGBTQ+ rights. DeShanna is the author of the children’s book My Rainbow, about their transgender daughter, and they are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as, Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour. They have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix (UoPX), and just recently graduated with a master’s degree from Wilmington University (WilmU).

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Kim Jackson, Georgia State Senate District 41

This week we are profiling Rev. Kim Jackson (she/her/hers), an ordained Episcopal priest and the first openly LGBT+ state senator in Georgia. A Black millennial lesbian, Jackson works to protect voting rights, reform education and criminal justice, expand Medicaid, and protecting immigrants and refugees. She is the vicar of the Church of the Common Ground, a “church without walls” ministering to the needs of the unhoused in Atlanta, and is very passionate about providing affordable housing to Georgians.

Holly Clausius: Exploring The Transformative Power Of Music

Sometimes we pay more attention to what others are saying about us than actually who we are, and we end up getting lost in their noise. However, some people eventually can connect with their true self like Toronto-based musician Holly Clausius, thanks to music. Her social change single ‘Big Plans’ placed second in the Cross Canada Artist For Social Change competition in February 2021. This song focuses on marginalized youth and individuals who have been outcasted in society. She dedicated the song to those who felt isolated and pressured not to be their authentic self. Also, she wanted to take the idea of a tour indoors, with opening acts from people's kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, making it a virtual apartment-wide tour to raise funds for Black Lives Matter Toronto. We talked to Holly Clausius about her latest album, BLM, the queer music industry, and more. Check out our interview below to find out more about Holly Clausius.

zIssue 36, ArtBaşak YirmibeşogluSeptember 29, 2021#music, #queermusic, #lgbti, #feminism, #BLM, #hollyclausius, music artist, queer, music, female artists, LGBTQ, bisexual, BL, blmComment

Crys Matthews Makes Us Believe America Again

Due to recent political events, we cannot stop asking ourselves these questions these days: What kind of country do we want to live in, work in? What kind of America do we believe in? There are many social justice issues in the country, but social-justice singer-songwriter Crys Matthews feels like all of these issues are human issues. Even with all that happened in the country, she is hopeful for this country, which is why she made ‘Changemakers’ which is her latest, hope-fueled, love-filled, social justice album. "Call Them In" the second single off of the album and a very powerful song, is meant to honor John Lewis. Crys Matthews reminds us America is going to get a chance to be America again no matter what happened in the past and she makes us believe in a brighter future. We talked to Crys Matthews about her music, politics, and personal life. Check our exclusive interview with Crys Matthews to learn more about her.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 34Başak YirmibeşogluJuly 19, 2021#music, #folkmusic, #politics, #blm, #lgbti, #crysmatthews, #johnlewis, #homage, music, blm, LGBTQ, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ+, lgbtqComment