Q: What does Pride Month mean to you?
Christina: My love is just that - love. I never think of it any differently, and I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who support that.
Q: What is one thing that you'd like for someone to take away from this year's Pride Month?
Ed: Pride 2021 has taken on so much more meaning for so many after the last year and a half of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Pride just happens to be occurring when most areas and businesses are finally fully reopening, so not only is it a celebration of who we are and who we love but also a celebration of life, for making it through the pandemic. There are many similarities between COVID and the AIDS epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s and for many people it brought back those same feelings and fears of losing their friends and family. If this last year has taught me anything, it's that life is precious and that we should live every day in the most full and authentic way we can.
Christina: The past year opened up a flow of dialogue regarding social and civil rights in every aspect of life. I think now, more than ever, it’s important to be able to continue that dialogue, and events like Pride Month allow the LGBTQIA+ community to feel safe in being who they are. I would love for people to experience these freedoms that Pride Month allows and use the month to help them become more open-minded individuals.
How does working for a diverse and inclusive company like 20/20 Visual Media impact your life?
Christina: The people I work with every day allow me to just be myself and live my life. They love me and my partner, and never make me feel like I have to explain myself. It’s sometimes easy to forget that not everyone is afforded the opportunity to be themselves and be comfortable with their coworkers - but I appreciate how much of a family we are and how much love and acceptance is in our workplace.
Ed: In my time at 20/20 Visual Media, I've seen a culture that fosters diversity and inclusivity, and acceptance of all. Spending so many of your waking hours at your place of work means the world to me that the place and the people with whom I work, see me for me, accept me and love me. I don't need to put on a front or be anyone other than myself. Although nervous prior to coming out, I always thought that the team at 20/20 would accept me with open arms and I was correct when that time finally came. Coming out in professional life can be daunting. There are still so many areas of the world where coming out can cost you your job, your family and friends, your health, and even your life. I thank my lucky stars daily that I get to work in an area and in a company where I can be my true self without fear.
Q: What’s the LGBTQIA+ community in Philly like?
Ed: The community in Philadelphia is very diverse, very colorful, and very boisterous, as you can imagine with anything in Philadelphia! Overall, it's a large (sometimes dysfunctional) family. The community has taught me so much about myself over the years and for that, I will always be grateful.
Christina: The LGBTQIA+ is expansive in Philly. It’s an incredibly open and welcoming city that makes space for individuals of every orientation, race, and identity. I think the Pride Month celebrations in Philadelphia are some of the best in the country.
Q: What role do you have working in video production to create space for more LGBTQIA+ individuals?
Ed: It's important in all of our productions that we show the diversity and are inclusive of various cultures, people, and places. Whether it’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, or ability - representation matters! It's what allows people to feel seen and a part of something larger. In cases of LGBTQIA individuals, it shows them that there are more than the 4 walls they may live in, a whole world full of possibilities and that there are other people out there like them. Representation is empowering and it leads to equity. If showing diversity in our productions allows just one person to feel seen and validated then we've not only done our job for our client but also impacted someone's life!
Christina: I think video editing in general is a very inclusive profession. While it is an incredibly individualistic job, it’s almost equally as important to work with a team. Even when you think you’ve made a perfect piece, having the input of a diverse team is important to ensure that what you’ve made is accessible for everyone. As a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I think being able to encourage other individuals to go for the profession they want, without fear of being discriminated against, is the most important role I can have.
