Episode 35: Mark Segal - Original Founder of the Gay Liberation Front - Lifelong Activist and Advocate

Fiftyfaces Focus 2024 Pride Special

Mark Segal is a social activist and author, who participated in the Stonewall riots and as one of the original founders of the Gay Liberation Front where he created the Gay Youth Program. He was the founder and former president of the National Gay Newspaper Guild, and has won various journalistic awards. He is a lifelong activist who organized the first Gay Pride parade in 1970 and remains an active advocate today.

This rollicking story of a life in activism is one you won’t want to miss, from his introduction to activism by his Suffragette Grandmother at the age of 13, to his awakening in NYC of the 1970s. Mark’s journey as an activist was bold and brave – he garnered national attention for the gay rights movement by some unorthodox methods – such as interrupting a live TV news broadcast. It is thanks to him that many of the rights taken for granted today received attention and he is reflective when we discuss how far we have come – but equally what still remains to be done.

Our fourth Pride series is supported by JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan Chase has long been a supporter of equality in all forms, including for the LGBTQ+ community. Starting with the very first PRIDE business resource group in 1996, they recently strengthened their commitment by creating the Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs and a full-time, dedicated team to deliver on a global LGBTQ+ agenda.
The Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs partners closely with stakeholders across the firm to promote intersectionality and leverage its combined resources to deliver equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, clients, partners and communities, worldwide.