Washington, DC—Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) releases three emotional and inspiring videos highlighting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Mississippians, Alabamans, and Arkansans sharing their courageous stories. The video is part of HRC’s Project One America Summer of Conversations story-telling campaign announced earlier this month.

“We want people to start a conversation about equality whether on front porches, in backyards, or around the dinner table,” said Brad Clark, director of Project One America. “When people get to know their LGBT friends, family members, and neighbors, hearts and minds start to change.”

The video captures testimonies of LGBT people in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, sharing stories of discrimination as well as hope and aspiration living and working in the South. Participants represent various backgrounds and detail real-life issues related to growing up, raising families, and working in the South, while identifying as LGBT. 

 Summer of Conversations is meant for people to host formal or informal gatherings of friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, and loved ones. A report by Public Religion Research Institute shows when Americans know someone gay or lesbian, they are more likely to favor LGBT protections. The study finds nearly two-thirds of Americans have a close friend or family member who is gay or lesbian, nearly three times the number reported in 1993. Also, roughly one in ten know someone who is transgender.

 Media consulting firm Putnam Partners shot, edited, and produced the video.