OUTFEST INCLUSIVE PRESS INITIATIVE

The Outfest Inclusive Press Initiative is designed to challenge the systemic access gap for emerging LGBTQ+ entertainment journalists, specifically journalists of color, to cover our world class festivals. This year’s inaugural program for the Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival will provide ten freelance journalists press accreditation and financial support as well as journalism-specific

Ose Ehianeta Arheghan

THEY/THEM

Named one of GLAAD’s 20 under 20 Rising Stars, Ehianeta is a freelance journalist in Brooklyn, NY who has written for multiple publications including The Advocate, the GLAAD Blog, NPR and Alternative Press Magazine

Jireh Deng

THEY/THEM

Deng is a queer Taiwanese/Hong Konger American poet, filmmaker and multimedia journalist born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley with bylines in The L.A. Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and NPR

MARCUS’ANTHONY II

HE/HIM

Marcus’Anthony is a Media Correspondent and Pop Culture Enthusiast born and raised in Houston, Texas, now based in Los Angeles, who has interviewed celebrities at highly anticipated award shows and movie premieres throughout the city.

Kristian Fanene Schmidt

HE/HIM

Born and raised in Porirua, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Fanene Schmidt has contributed to a number of media outlets including HuffPost, BuzzFeed and The Washington Post along with serving as the Executive Director of the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti.

Shahamat Mohammed Uddin

HE/HIM industry panels and mentorship from leading queer and trans journalists in the entertainment space. More than just during our festival, the program will give our fellows the connections they need to jump start their careers while showcasing their talents through broadcast, writing and podcast.

Uddin is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY who covers Desi identity, queer culture, and the intersection of both with bylines in VOGUE India, them, Refinery29, and Vulture.

Kelsey Brown

SHE/HER

Brown is a journalist and recent graduate from California State University, Long Beach who is dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices.

Joey Harvey

THEY/THEM

Harvey is a nonbinary Mexican American journalist, creative writer, and poet based in the Los Angeles area with bylines in Queerty, INTO More, LA WEEKLY, and Trash Mag

Gisselle Palomera

THEY/THEM

Palomera is a nonbinary, Mexican-Colombian, multimedia journalist from East Los Angeles who reports on issues affecting QTBIPOC communities and uses their own experiences to educate and create safe spaces within media.

Kayla Thompson

SHE/THEY

Thompson is a writer, advocate, and community consultant who recently graduated magna cum laude from New York University (NYU) in English and American Literature with a minor in Creative Writing.

Lindsay Lee Wallace

SHE/HER

Wallace is a freelance journalist and multidisciplinary writer based in New York City focused on culture, entertainment, health equity and queer beats with bylines in Slate, Teen Vogue, TIME and Bitch Media

AS STORYTELLERS, WE BELIEVE NARRATIVES SHAPE CULTURE. BY ELEVATING UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, WE CULTIVATE CONVERSATION, TRANSFORM INSIGHT INTO OPPORTUNITY, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITIES LEADING US INTO OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE—A WORLD WITHOUT BOUNDARIES, OUTDATED MODALITIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITHOUT FEAR.