EPISODE SHOW NOTES

And Then Everything Changed Podcast - Episode 19: Gender Nation ft. Morgan Walsh

Episode 19: Gender Nation

Attempted suicide rates and suicidal ideation among LGTBQ+ kids is significantly higher than among the general population.

CONNECT WITH MORGAN WALSH HERE

In part, this is because the messaging they’re given in the world around them doesn’t resonate with who they are, and evidence shows that if they receive any support to counter that – either at school or home – their risk of suicide decreases substantially. When Morgan Walsh and Keiko Feldman recognized there was a need for representation in school libraries they took matters into their own hands and created Gender Nation to work directly with California public schools to fill school libraries with books LGTBQ+ kids can identify with.

On this episode, Morgan joins Ronit to talk about how her own family’s journey inspired her to co-found this nonprofit which now has a thriving booklist curated with input from educators, Gender Spectrum, PTAs and principals and also shares some of her favorite recommendations for books that offer messages of support and inclusivity.

Morgan is an actor, writer, producer, entrepreneur and mother of three living in Los Angeles. She has worked in film and television for over 20 years, most recently starring in BET’s Games People Play. She is the co-founder of 10th Avenue Tea, which in 2017 was awarded Most Innovative Product by Expo West.

The idea for Gender Nation emerged in 2014, as Morgan connected with parents supporting LGBTQ+ youth in her community. She believes – and the evidence shows – that exposure to inclusive and uplifting stories helps kids feel more seen and heard, minimizing bullying and fostering a better learning environment.

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ABOUT YOUR HOST

I’m a writer, a teacher, a native New Yorker, and I love hearing about people’s lives. When I think back to my elementary school days at PS 20 in Flushing, Queens whenever we began social studies or a history lesson I wasn’t that interested in learning about battles, topography, or politics. What I wanted to know was how people lived: What their families were like, how they adapted to their circumstances, what they ate, how they celebrated, how they felt.
 
Sociology became my major at Binghamton University and in my life so far I’ve been an actress, a salesperson, a Zoo Keeper’s Aid, a volunteer animal trainer, an ELL teacher, a mother, and a wife. I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had, all of which led me to create this podcast which is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve undertaken. I couldn’t ask for a better job than having in-depth conversations with survivors, thought leaders, authors, social justice warriors, and people who believe that we are all connected and then getting to share their stories, insight, and vulnerability with listeners.
 
I’m so glad you’ve landed on this page. I hope you find stories here which resonate with you and that you’ll tune in every week. 
 
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ATEC (Episode 10) (ATEC Pin 3)