Hayden’s List Chats with Stan J. Sloan, The Family Equality Council’s new Executive Director

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This past June, The Family Equality Council announced their new Executive Director, Stan J. Sloan.
Last week, I got the opportunity to speak with Sloan as the beginning of his tenure coincided with Family Equality Council’s 21st Annual Family Week. It was exciting to discuss his background in community service, his goals for the Family Equality Council, the highlights of Family Week and how to combat “religious freedom” laws that promote hate and exclusion.

Back in the 90s, it was Sloan’s first assignment as a priest that sparked his passion for community service. He was stationed at St. Leonard’s house where he provided support services to help transition formerly incarcerated men back into society. “To see people achieve when the odds are totally stacked against them is very rewarding,” Sloan told me as we chatted.

Sloan has worked with the homeless, LGBTQ and AIDS service communities for over two decades. He has spent the last fifteen years with Chicago House, most recently as CEO, where he helped provide housing and employment programs for those disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ poverty and/or gender nonconformity.

As Executive Director at Family EqualityCouncil, Sloan plans on doing an abundance of listening, especially at the beginning. He wants to get to know the staff, board members and donors so that he can help transfer their hopes and dreams into action. Sloan is particularly passionate about the fact that only 5% of the LGBTQ population support LGBTQ causes and he feels that needs to increase dramatically. “It’s a huge opportunity to create a different type of culture.”

He also wants to focus on LGBTQ income inequality. LGTBQ families and youth are twice as likely to go to bed hungry. Many LGBTQ community members and allies are unaware of this statistic. When he shared this with staff, board members and donors, Sloan said many people were brought to tears.

Sloan’s first week with Family Equality Council was not just all meetings. Sloan enjoyed his time at all the Family Week activities. He was particularly inspired by the Multi-Racial Ice Cream Social, seeing adults and children of all races running, playing, eating ice cream and having fun.

Beach Campfire was also a highlight, where 500 LGBTQ families spread out on the sand. Josh Tayloe, Hayden’s List Director of IT also attended the event and felt it was “such an inspiration to see so many different types of families within the LGBTQ community. We all discussed how it’s great for our kids to know they’re growing up in an inclusive environment and they’re not alone.”

Sloan hopes that his title of Reverend will help bridge the gap that exists for religious conservatives versus the LGBTQ community. As far as the so-called “Religious Freedom” laws that keep popping up, Sloan said the Family Equality Council will continue to work against these laws with other national coalitions. Sloan shared that the Family Equality Council is proud to have started the #StandwithTarget campaign, since Target received backlash for promoting gender inclusivity.

Standing with companies that support the LGBTQ community is where Hayden’s List helps. Sloan said Hayden’s List is a “huge benefit” to the LGBTQ community and especially LGBTQ families. “If you have contractors or other service workers coming into your home, it’s imperative that you check if they’re LGBTQ friendly” and Hayden’s List is the resource to do that.

Hayden’s List congratulates Reverend Sloan on his new position. We look forward to expanding our partnership with the Family Equality Council.

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Proud to announce new partnership with “Family Equality Council”

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Hayden’s List is proud to announce a new partnership with the Family Equality Council.

Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in this country and their six million children. We are changing attitudes and policies to ensure that all families are respected, loved, and celebrated—including families with parents who are LGBTQ. We are a community of parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren that reaches across this country. For 30 years we have raised our children and raised our voices toward fairness for all families.

Visit their website via our Partners page and stay tuned for a list of their upcoming events and resources in your area!

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Florida did what?

The last few weeks we’ve been talking about the state of Indiana and their passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows businesses to turn away clients whom they feel based on their religion they don’t need to serve. A bakery just doesn’t want to feel forced to make a cake for a same-sex couple, as that marriage is against their religion. Here at Hayden’s List that makes us wonder, would they turn away a straight couple who calls for a cake celebrating their second or third marriage? According to the Bible, divorce is quite the sin, but something tells us those bakeries wouldn’t turn down that business.

This last week the Florida House of Representatives overwhelming voted a similar measure, but this one was directed at LGBT families looking to adopt. It would allow adoption agencies to turn away an LGBT couple, stating based on their religious beliefs they don’t feel a child should be in a home without a mom and a dad. So, now this week at Hayden’s List we have a new question – does this mean they are going to turn away a single mom or a single dad? They do realize they also don’t have a mom and dad in the house.

Our site is named Hayden’s List for a reason. Our namesake is the product of an amazing birthmom in Cleveland, Ohio, who made the decision to give up her baby knowing she couldn’t provide him the life he deserved. She wanted to help a family start their family, and without hesitation she chose our Founder, Scott Tayloe, and his husband, Josh. Every child deserves a loving home, below is a map provided by the Movement Advancement Project showing current laws for LGBT families looking to foster and adopt in their states. Where does your state stand?

Here at Hayden’s List we are proud to be a resource directing our LGBT family and friends to adoption agencies that do support their decision to start or extend their family. So what can you do to help?

1. Have you adopted or know someone who has? Tell us what agency they used, so we can ensure our LGBT family doesn’t go through a negative experience, during such an incredibly positive time of their lives. Review today, make a difference to someone searching tomorrow.

2. Incredible organizations like the Family Equality Council are out there on the road, fighting against these bills being passed every day. Help them keep up the fight by donating. Even $5 can go towards ensuring more kids find loving homes. Donate today and be a part of the fight.

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Check Out These Two Handsome Devils

This past weeFullSizeRenderkend Josh and Scott Tayloe attended the 11th Annual LA Awards at the swanky Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel to celebrate the Family Equality Council’s achievements.  Among those who were honored was Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, an openly lesbian politician working to make big Texas-sized strides in LGBT family rights.  Other attendees were Hollywood writers and actors of both Modern Family and Glee, the very important people who’ve helped bring this subject matter into living rooms across America and on a global scale.

Hayden’s List is a proud supporter of Family Equality Council and can’t wait to see the day when all families are protected.

 

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