Ken Romano’s Post

Now that Pride month is over, I wanted to make a little post to talk about the first piece of content on RuneScape that I've really had a lot of control over: the 2024 pride event. This project required a lot of pushing to realise - last year there was no event, and as a prominent member of the LGBTQ+ community it was very disheartening. This year I wanted to ensure that wasn't the case, and that we showed our support for every member of that community. To that end, I designed an event with a diverse cast, spoke to other members of the community for feedback, and designed rewards I knew I could be proud of. Working on this event ended up being some of the hardest work I've ever done. I had to design gameplay and narrative, implement code, and even do some of the concept AND final artwork myself to see this event become a reality (not to undermine the talented work of the other artists that helped finalise the 3D rewards). But this wasn't the hardest part - that was the inevitable death threats, harassment and bigotry I was subjected to because of this. Harassment that the community faces every day of the year, not just during one month. And a reminder that events like this - made by queer people for queer people - are an important and important show of support for the community; but they shouldn't end when June does. Creating diverse, accepting and inclusive content all year round should be the goal of all artists and designers, and something I hope to strive for within all of my other content too. Ok back to radio silence on this page! If you want to check out the event, a breakdown and transcript are available on the wiki: https://lnkd.in/ezBiD8MB

Knowing how imperative it is for us to turn down the white noise and reclaim our narratives, NBJC, along with our comrades at @nclrights @glsen @hrc @thetaskforce & @familyequality commission groundbreaking research to explore the beliefs of Black people toward #Black #LGBTQ+ and same-gender loving people and the policy issues impacting us all. The research had several significant goals: 1. We aimed to grasp Black people’s values and perceptions surrounding Black LGBTQ+ issues and policy priorities. 2. We examined support for Black LGBTQ+ policies and overall political participation, checking for a sense of “shared fate” regardless of background. 3. A key goal was to understand better how to reshape the narrative around Black trans, queer, and gender-expansive people and those who love them or otherwise understand none of us are free unless and until all of us are free.  Shout out to Fannie Lou Hamer. Hashtag trust Black women who love Black people. 4. The study sought the best messages and messengers that resonate authentically with Black values. And  5. One of the critical findings from this research is how turning down the white noise about us affects our solidarity. Many incorrect narratives have distorted perceptions of our attitudes and beliefs. By our, I mean Black people in our beautiful diversity. Despite external narratives suggesting a shift toward the GOP among Black voters, our research did not reveal significant changes in Black voter behavior. Instead, the dynamics are more split along age cohorts than gender lines. Additionally, the most important policy issues for Black Americans, in order: 1. healthcare,  2. inflation, the cost of everything, including health care, housing, and education are too damn high, and  3. battling anti-Blackness and discrimination. These issues are critical not just on the election ballot but in our daily lives. Learn more about what we did, why we found, and why it matters at nbjc.org/BlackFacts. Hear more from the @surfacelevelpodcast https://lnkd.in/eN2kN4TH. #LetsALLGetFree #TeachTheBabies #DataThatMatters #TheMoreYouKnow

Check out this incredible tool created by MBA/MPA in Sustainable Solutions candidate, Will Lamb, ISSP-SEA! #LGBTQ+ #DataAnalytics #SocialImpact #Sustainability #MBA #MPA #GreenMBA

While I despise the planned roll back of DEI progression in this next administration, it doesn't change anything about what we're doing at WORTHI. I've said it likely a million times at this point, but let me clear my throat and run it back: THIS IS NOT DEI, THIS IS GROWTH MARKETING, THIS IS BRAND PRESERVATION! We don't target specific audiences for brands to fill a quota -- we do it so they can grow handily against their competitors. We don't create content catered to individual communities so studios can high five internally for doing a good deed -- we do it to put butts in seats in theaters. Regardless of politics, by 2040, this country will have a minority white population. Regardless of politics, the LGBTQ+ community is growing exponentially with each new generation. We as a people are becoming more layered than ever before, so don't fear tactics that appeal to specific audiences -- you should instead fear general or mass marketing because that sh*t is what's really scary. So, if you want your brand to have a fighting chance, is not a question of "doing the right thing" -- it's a question of doing the strategic thing.

If your org is posting wins this week, theres a concerning level of tone deafness. Black people, women of all colors, and the LGBTQ+ community are grappling with what’s next. Are we safe? What is going to happen in our lives? Physical safety is top of mind. Psychological safety is also top of mind. Career may or may not be top of mind. To see materialist wins come down our timelines is a reminder of just how much we really don’t matter. It’s hurtful. It’s painful. It’s inconderate. I’m grateful to the brands who decided to go dark (not post to social media) even just for a few more days. Captialism has a way of rearing it’s ugly head, highlighting the focus of brand - not the heart of people - once again this week. And that’s disappointing. This is why I choose to to center marketing for good. We have influence; a gift that not all have. We get to choose how we use it. I encourage you to choose humanity every time.

Today — one hundred fifty-nine years after slaves in Galveston, Texas were freed — we stand in unwavering solidarity with Black Americans in a continued pursuit of freedom, liberation, and justice. On this Juneteenth, we honor the generations of activists and organizers who put their bodies on the line to advocate for racial equity. The relentless determination of those activists, including Black LGBTQ+ young people, remind us that freedom is hard-fought, and too often, the first direct action is taken by the most marginalized folks on the ground. Allyship means making sure that those folks aren’t alone. The intersectionality of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression is alive and authentic within Black culture. But racism and stigma has erased many Black queer folks from history. Today, we celebrate Audre Lorde, Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, and Barbara Jordan — whose words and actions paved the way for political representation. We honor James Baldwin, Stormé DeLarverie, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy — whose contributions to art are cemented into American culture. We salute Andrea Jenkins, Laphonza Butler, Alicia Garza, and Patrisse Cullors — whose social justice work fuels Black liberation. And we honor and uplift you today, too 🧡 At The Trevor Project, our mission is to end suicide amongst LGBTQ+ young people. We know that while Black and BIPOC LGBTQ+ folks fight for racial equity, we must talk about the mental health impact that comes with experiencing injustice. According to our 2024 U.S. National Survey, 41% of Black or African American LGBTQ+ young people reported considering suicide in the last year, and 19% of Black or African American LGBTQ+ young people have been physically threatened or harmed in the past year because of their gender identity. Knowing the numbers matters; we can change them. This Juneteenth, The Trevor Project reinvigorates our daily commitment to advocating for Black and BIPOC LGBTQ+ young people. We champion you, stand beside you, and will never stop fighting for civil rights and racial justice. #Juneteenth #TrevorProject #LGBTQ #Solidarity #Intersectionality

A new Chrome partnership to support underrepresented creatives Google's latest partnership with Adobe and ADCOLOR aims to empower underrepresented artists, marketers, and creatives with free one-year subscriptions to Adobe Express Premium and Adobe Creative Cloud. This initiative seeks to promote diversity and inclusion in the digital space. Key highlights include: • Access to Adobe's best-in-class tools like Photoshop and Lightroom • Support for underrepresented groups such as Black, Indigenous, disabled, and LGBTQ+ communities This partnership is a significant step towards bridging the gap in digital equity. Share your thoughts on how this initiative can impact the creative industry in the comments below! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dJsHvgfv #CreativesUnite #DiversityInclusionMatter #ChromePartnership #AdobeExpressPremium #AdobeCreativeCloud #UnderrepresentedVoices #DigitalEquityMatters #CreativesEmpowerment #TechForGood #InclusiveTech

Life in the FAST lane at Future Ops / AdMonsters #OpsNY with Addy Atienza and Rashaun Hall. TMB (Trusted Media Brands) is part of Fuse Media's Culture Collective, which features Black, Latino, LGBTQ, and other focused FAST channels. TMB brings everything from Fail Army programs to Family Handyman. There’s no Nielsen for FAST! No single source of truth for what is successful… But you can definitely tell from the platform (OEMs) what is NOT working. Samsung, LG, and Vizio are the big three, but you can make good revenue off of smaller players like Fubo. The platforms have a lot of power/control—you have to keep them as informed as possible. Good chance they will start acquiring many content channels. They’re also building their own content—FAST channels are running into “Hey, we’re not going to market your stuff cuz we have something just like it." They also want exclusive content, like Samsung with Conan O’Brien. Cross-channel PMPs is the next big frontier—blending audiences across the Culture Collective. But interesting—60% of the inventory right now is sold direct.

If I was a beginner LGBTQ+ speaker building my email list from scratch, I would do these 3 things: 1. Create a high-value lead magnet to attract my target audience. 2. Place my lead magnet strategically by adding it as my custom button on my LinkedIn profile, adding it to my Featured Links section, and adding the sign-up link to my posts and when I comment on others' posts (when relevant). 3. When I do cold outreach, I would send it to leads so they can learn more about my talk and my style. Having a lead magnet isn't enough. You have to know how to get it in front of the right people.

We posted an image to our social media much like the one below, as we always do for the month of June. And like we always do, we received some hate mail and disturbing comments. A common theme in them is that because we support the LGBTQ community, environmental conservation, and better wages and conditions for farm workers, that we have gone “woke.” I hear things like this ad nauseam - “get woke, go broke.” Whatever. But here’s the thing. I don’t believe there is such a thing as “woke.” It’s a stupid moniker that ignorant people slap on anyone who disagrees with them. Instead of - ya know - having a civil dialogue or respectfully disagreeing and going on with life. Another thing is that if we did go “woke” we haven’t gone broke yet, and our sales have never been adversely impacted by our support of the LGBTQ community, etc. So for us, making statements of support for the things we care about has only strengthened customer loyalty. There is no substitute for focusing on your product, and I get that. But our business has a double bottom line and is committed to being a force for good. I live in a state where queer people are being discriminated against as a matter of government policy. I think it’s wrong, and have no problem saying so. The LGBTQ community has always supported us, and we want the World to know that absolutely everyone is welcome at Yaupon Brothers American Tea regardless of who you are and who you love. We’re sticking to that philosophy no matter how many ridiculous pearl-clutching emails we get.