Family Equality is thrilled to welcome Benjamin to our Communications Department!
Benjamin Grennagel, Social Media Intern
Benjamin Greennagel joined Family Equality in February 2023 as a Social Media Intern. Benjamin is a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design and is now pursuing a Master of Studies in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. Last year, Benjamin served as a VSFS intern with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, helping launch the Facing Diplomacy campaign by utilizing online platforms like Twitter and StoryCorps to collect stories of courage from American diplomats.
In personal creative projects, Benjamin seeks to explore topics regarding queer theory and the experiences of gender-expansive people. Powerful immersive storytelling can evoke empathy, and Benjamin aims to use writing in this way while encouraging young people to think critically about the world. As a multimedia creative, Benjamin is especially excited by projects that incorporate sound design and video production to connect with a broader audience.
Outside of work, Benjamin can be found drinking too much coffee and scouring JSTOR for articles on art history.
Top 3 favorite podcasts, books, or TV shows?
I’m way too indecisive to rank my top 3, but a few books that I really cherish are “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong, “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin, and “How Democracies Die” by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, I’m usually writing in some shape or form anyway! My spare time is often filled with personal creative projects. I also love music production and performing arts, so I try to weave those into my free moments as well.
What drives you to do this work?
Over the past few years, it has been extremely difficult to watch the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation unfold. This motivated me to help foster more interconnected, inclusive spaces for queer people and ensure that I am part of the push for policies that protect our community. I am constantly grateful for and in awe of the work of LGBTQ+ advocates, and to be a part of that work is an honor.
Also, with the continued increase in queer visibility, I frequently find myself moved by queer people who are demonstrating that it is possible to create warm, caring spaces for our families, whatever shape our families may take. It reminds me that although there is plenty of work to be done, unconditional love and joy are still within reach.
What does family equality mean to you?
Family equality means that everyone has the right to choose how they want to exist with the people they love. It is the opportunity for all people to build their own families, in every infinite variant of the “family” structure.
Life motto:
“Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.” – from a poem by Emily Dickinson