One of the best parts of my job is hearing from GLSEN Alums—former students who benefitted from GSAs and other GLSEN resources made possible through your support—who have dedicated themselves to social justice.
I’m inspired by so many of their stories and wanted to share an update from a recent GLSEN Alum who served as a student and member of GLSEN’s National Student Council:
“GLSEN taught me the importance of, and the skills needed to effectively advocate for, the rights of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized people. Now, as a documentary filmmaker, my work focuses on criminal justice, gender and sexuality, and law.
Your support provided the foundation for me to do this work and will help today’s students take their advocacy to the next level.” —Matt Nadel (he/him)
Matt discovered filmmaking in middle school. At first this provided an escape from his internal (queer) world but—as he learned about LGBTQ+ organizing and the power of representation—he began to use filmmaking as a tool to explore his own queerness and develop a profound connection to the rich stories from our LGBTQ+ community.
Today, Matt is an award-winning documentarian whose work focuses on gender, sexuality, and law.
His subjects include advocacy efforts of a group of Black trans women in New Orleans, an examination of the AIDS epidemic, and a portrait of a 1950s gay rights pioneer. Reflected through Matt’s lens are countless reminders of LGBTQ+ struggles, wins, and shared history.
This June, millions of young people will be graduating from high school and embarking on the next phase of their lives. They have grown up with GLSEN, but the truth is, the seeds of support that invested individuals like you help to plant in schools across the country allow us to grow through them.
Every student we reach through your generosity becomes prepared to help others beyond their school days, often through a lifetime of advocacy and a commitment to building a better future for all. The power of your support is truly exponential.
Thank you for your support,
Paul Irwin-Dudek (He/They)
Deputy Executive Director for Development
GLSEN
