Stepping out of a predominantly white, heteronormative community as a gay, mixed-race filipino man in Oregon, Matt Brooks often felt he had to hide who he was to fit in. But after leaving high school, he knew he wasn’t being authentic to himself. He moved to LA and found is chosen family — ones who led him to also find his calling working as a digital creator and social media voice proudly learning about his identity on the way.
The journey has led him to work on campaigns for grindr, E!, Youth to the People, making them a more inclusive space. Now he’s finding his footing back in advocacy, pushing for change with Folx Health, an organization working to provide health to queer and trans people. In this episode, we get into the unlearning, shame to freeness of learning to survive and thrive as who we are.
Resources shared by Matt in this episode include: Changing the Game on Hulu, Raquel Willis, Chase Strangio and Fran Tirado.
Follow Matt on Instagram at @mattebrooks and us at @immadein_
