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Architects of Change: Gen Z’s Role in Reimagining Equity and Inclusion

| By Camille Serrano

The National LGBTQ Task Force is thrilled to partner with OutVote, an organization focused on empowering queer and Gen-Z voices in the electoral process. This exciting collaboration combines our advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights with OutVote’s innovative approach to voter mobilization, making it easier than ever for young LGBTQ+ individuals to get involved, stay informed, and make their voices heard at the polls. The article below is guest written by OutVote’s Director of Communications, Camille Serrano.

Living through the Great Recession, the climate change crisis, countless mass shootings, and a global pandemic all before age 30 is kind of wild (to say the least). All the instability does change your perspective on the world. Why trust a system that strikes down affirmative action? What are we doing to stop the fossil fuel industry? And why is the safety of queer and trans children only an afterthought of public safety? 

Older generations look at us and see antisocial unproductive space consumers. Just because we aren’t reading printed newspapers every Sunday, does not mean we aren’t educated on the stakes of the world. Everything we’ve experienced makes us see life beyond the rose-colored glasses and critically question our responsibility for change, which draws many of us into the world of advocacy. 

As queer people of color, we are often instructed to seek careers with security; this means being a doctor, nurse, engineer, or something of that sort that gives your parents immediate bragging rights at family gatherings. We’re told to work toward the so-called “American dream.” Yet, many of the jobs that exist today, such as being a digital strategist or civic engagement manager, weren’t even options we were taught about during career day growing up. These roles weren’t seen as possibilities for us. There’s an added pressure leveraging yourself in America to forge prosperity in your family while pursuing an impactful career. This stands at the center of the stage while navigating queerness serves as a backdrop. 

We are often silenced by our own communities, facing the same systems of violence and inequity in our workplaces that we are actively trying to dismantle. These environments often undermine our well-being while maintaining cultural expectations of what it means to be successful. There’s a reason why hyphenated identities exist – to showcase the intersection of two cultures as your identity is a dynamic living entity. 

With the election days away, we are amplifying youth voices by partnering with 15 organizations, such as 18by Vote, Do Something, and Blue Future, to host a Vote Early Text Bank on October 29th. Get involved by pledging to vote at Pride To The Polls and receive a $10 Lyft voucher to head to your nearest polling place. In this critical election, we are turbocharging our voter engagement efforts in battleground states. Join us for text banking, pledging your vote, or supporting OutVote from a far with a donation

Gen Z is not a passive generation—we are architects of change. With every march, every post, and every hard conversation, we are building a world that is more equitable, inclusive, and just. This is not just about surviving the systems we’ve inherited; it’s about dismantling them and creating something better in their place. Our identities are complex and dynamic, but so is our vision for the future. So next time you see a Gen Z’er, maybe try taking off your rose-colored glasses and try on their clout goggles. It may give you the main character energy you need to slay systems of oppression.

ABOUT CAMILLE:

Camille (she/they) is a queer woman of color with a background working in advocacy nonprofits and political campaigns. During the 2022 election, Camille assisted in social media for Beto O’Rourke and digital fundraising for Lina Hidalgo. Before working as a communications operative, Camille attended Fullerton College and transferred on a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, Camille is obtaining her Masters in Communication at Johns Hopkins University. As a proud queer Korean Pilipina, Camille is a firm believer in utilizing the digital space to mobilize and empower on the path to social change. 

Camille Serrano

Director of Communications for OutVote

She/they

Los Angeles, CA