Bi+ Representation in the Media: A #BiWeek Panel Discussion

In honor of the 3rd annual #BiWeek (co-founded by GLAAD), GLAAD is hosting a panel discussion on bisexual+ representation in today’s ever-changing media landscape. Moderated by Mathew Rodriguez (Mic), the panel of bi+ media experts includes Alex Berg, (Producer, HuffPost Video), Eliel Cruz (Executive Director, Faith in America; YouTuber; journalist), Bryan Ellicot (trans* & bi advocate; brought lawsuit against NYC for anti-trans discrimination; BiNet USA board member), Ashley C. Ford (Matter Studios, Authorized, BuzzFeed, ELLE), and Denarii Monroe (Black Girl Dangerous, Everyday Feminism, Ravishly). Come hear the panelists discuss how their intersecting identities inform their work in media, media’s role in fostering bi+ acceptance and visibility, and more. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more on celebrating bisexuality+, visit http://glaad.org/biweek Alex Berg is a bisexual and queer video producer and on-air talent at The Huffington Post. She hosts segments about LGBTQ and social justice issues, and produces videos on national news, feminism and race. In 2014, her coverage of the Bisexual White House Summit was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, 'The Nightly Show' and more. In her free time, Alex plays roller derby with the Gotham Girls and mentors underserved teenagers through Girls Write Now. You can see more about her here: http://alex.lgbt/. Eliel Cruz is the Executive Director of Faith In America, an organization dedicated to ending religious based bigotry towards LGBT people. He has worked on the intersections of faith, sexuality, and gender for five years. Cruz is a prolific speaker and writer on religion, (bi)sexuality, media, and culture as seen in the Huffington Post, Upworthy, Mic, Daily Dot, Everyday Feminism, Washington Post, Sojourners, DETAILS Magazine, Quartz, Rolling Stone. He's the co-founder and former president of Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition, an organization that advocates for safe spaces for LGBT students at Seventh-day Adventist colleges. He has a BBA & BA in International Business and French Studies from Andrews University. Bryan J. Ellicott is a born and raised Staten Islander from Great Kills. He attended all New York City public schools in Staten Island, as well as graduated from City University of New York College of Staten Island. He is active in New York City politics and activism in New York City and across New York State. At 24, Bryan received media attention for the lawsuit he brought against the city after he experienced anti-trans discrimination. He is an executive board member of both SIDA (Staten Island Democratic Association) and SDNYC (Stonewall Democrats of New York City), and a Board member of BiNet USA. Ashley C. Ford is a writer, editor, and public speaker. Currently, she is also writing a memoir, and co-editing the anthology Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture with Roxane Gay. Ford has written or guest-edited for The Guardian, ELLE, BuzzFeed,Slate, I-D, Lenny Letter, Matter, Design*Sponge, and various other web and print publications. She's spoken at SXSW, Earlham College, Hippocamp Nonfiction Writing Conference, and various other events and universities. She taught writing at The New School and Catapult.Co. Ford works as a development executive for Matter Studios, where she focuses on web series and documentaries, and is also the host of Audible.Com's interview series, Authorized. New-York based social justice warrior Denarii Monroe's writing has been regularly featured in Everyday Feminism, Black Girl Dangerous, Ravishly, Wear Your Voice Mag, and others. Most of her decade-long activist work has been rooted in student activism, with a focus on intersectional LGBTQIA+ issues, but she has also helped organize in and outside of school around anti-war, women's, and other issues. She has a B.A. in English from Rutgers University - New Brunswick and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Mathew Rodriguez is a queer, Latino, New York city-based award-winning journalist, essayist and activist. He is currently a staff writer for Mic and is the former community editor for TheBody.com. His writing has been featured in Slate, The Advocate, Refinery 29, Modern Loss and more. He has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential youth in America by POZ Magazine on their annual POZ 100 list. HIV Equal named him one of the top 10 most captivating voices of 2014 and Mused Magazine named him one of 2014’s Top 10 Game-Changers. He is also a renowned speaker who has addressed audiences nationally and internationally at the New York Public Library, Times Square, the Apollo Theatre and the International AIDS Conference. He is a member of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Association of Health Care Journalists.