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Black History IS Queer History
A Student-Led Harvard Business School Event
A candid conversation about Black Queer leaders, their influence on society, and how we can honor and continue their legacies
A candid conversation about Black Queer leaders, their influence on society, and how we can honor and continue their legacies
Our Panelists
Our Panelists
Amber Whittington (she/her)
Amber Whittington (she/her)
Laith Ashley (he/him)
Laith Ashley (he/him)
SaVanna Wanzer (she/her)
SaVanna Wanzer (she/her)
Brickson Diamond (he/him)
Brickson Diamond (he/him)
Our Student Co-Hosts
Stephanie Myles (she/her)
Ronnie Wimberley (they/them)
Mini-Biographies
Mini-Biographies
Amber Whittington
(she/her)
Amber Whittington, also known as AmbersCloset, is an Activist, YouTuber, host, and actress who believes in changing the world by changing within. Amber originally started her YouTube channel to help others struggling with the question of sexuality and identity, using comedy, vlogging, and honest conversation as conduits for open interaction and expression. She has since transformed her online presence into an influential force on social media, using humor and motivation to broadcast to a loyal following of over 705,000 YouTube subscribers. Her goal is to empower everyone through positivity, self love, and self confidence; so they feel inspired to show their true authentic self to the world and to show up as the best versions of themselves. Amber is a recipient of the Bayard Rustin Award from the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center for her work in advancing the social movement of black and LGBT rights.
Laith Ashley
(he/him)
Laith Ashley is a singer/songwriter, dancer, model, actor and activist. Before beginning his career in the entertainment industry, Laith was a counselor for homeless youth in New York City and spearheaded trans sensitivity training in medical facilities and homeless shelters. He now uses his platform to help inform others about the trans experience, and the experiences of other marginalized groups, as well as advocate for social justice, in hopes for a more open, loving and accepting world.
Laith is heavily involved with organizations like FLUX, the trans* division of the Aids Healthcare Foundation, and works to raise the profile of the trans* and gender non-conforming community by leveraging social events, safe spaces and innovative advocacy initiatives. He also serves as a customer advisory board member with Folx Health, the amazing new way for queer people to get access to competent healthcare.
SaVanna Wanzer
(she/her)
SaVanna Wanzer has been a Trans advocate, HIV educator, and community organizer for more than 25 years in Washington, DC. As the founder of Capital Trans Pride in 2007, she later started May Is? " All About Trans" in 2018, a series of events celebrating, featuring, and loving transgender people. During her many years of service, SaVanna was the first transgender woman to serve on the boards of Whitman-Walker Health and the Capital Pride Alliance. She has also served on the DC Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee, and has started and maintained multiple peer mentoring programs. Among her many awards, she was recognized with DC’s Black Pride Unsung Hero Award in 2017, Whitman-Walker Legal’s Robert Fenner Urquhart Memorial Award in 2015, and Capital Pride’s Hero Award in 2008.
Brickson Diamond
(he/him)
Brickson Diamond is CEO of Big Answers, LLC, which consults on diversity and inclusion strategy for clients in entertainment, technology, asset management and philanthropy, generating new partnerships and leveraging impactful connections. Brickson began his career and spent 15 years as a marketing and client services executive with The Capital Group Companies, a $2 trillion global asset management firm. He is a founding board member and chair of The Blackhouse Foundation, which provides pathways for Black multi-platform content creators into career opportunities within film, television, digital and emerging platforms. Brickson is a trustee of Brown University, the Middlesex School and Tides, and is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Business School.
Our guest panelists have been incredibly generous with their time and energy to help make this event successful.
Please consider supporting and donating to the following organizations in solidarity with our panelists:
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