June 24, 2023 • 29 mins
Ryan Gorman hosts an iHeartRadio nationwide special featuring May Malik, Senior Advisor for Public Education in the Department of Health and Human Services. May Malik discusses the work HHS has done during the COVID pandemic and what comes next following the conclusion of the public health emergency. Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications & Talent for GLAAD, also joins the show. Anthony Allen Ramos joins the show for Pride Month to explain the challenges facing the LGBTQ community and the work GLAAD does to promote LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change.
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(00:00):
Welcome to iHeartRadio Communities, a publicaffairs special focusing on the biggest issues impacting
you. This week, here's RyanGorman. Thanks so much for joining us
here on iHeartRadio Communities. I'm RyanGorman, and we have some important conversations
lined up for you. In justa bit, we'll check in with Glad
for Pride Month, but right now, to get things started, I'm joined
(00:23):
by May Malick, Senior Advisor forPublic Education in the Department of Health and
Human Services. She's with us todiscuss the department's efforts related to COVID and
what comes next following the conclusion ofthe public health emergency. May thank you
so much for taking a few minutesto come on the show. And in
your role at HHS, you've beenworking with the COVID nineteen Public Education campaign.
(00:46):
It's one of the largest public healtheducation efforts to date. Can you
tell us more about what the campaignhas accomplished over the last three years?
Sure? And Ryan, thank youfor having me. It's really great to
be on. So we launched theWeekend Do This campaign, the COVID nineteen
Public Education Campaign in April of twentytwenty one, and we had a primary
(01:08):
goal of increasing confidence and vaccines acrossthe nation at a really crucial time.
We set out to reach ninety percentof adults in the US at least once
per quarter, and we also setout to do some intensive, culturally competent
outreach to the communities that we knewwould be most at risk and most vulnerable.
(01:33):
So, you know, we endedup executing one of the largest public
education campaigns in US history, andwe did that in some specific and I
think most crucially evidence informed ways.So we use TV, print, radio,
and digital ads to reach people wherethey are and in the languages that
(01:53):
they speak. In fact, wedelivered nearly fourteen thousand ads in fourteen languages,
and a lot of that content istailored in ways that really speak to
the specific culture and geography of theaudiences we're trying to reach, which I
think is so essential to ensuring thatpeople feel seen. We also engaged a
(02:15):
variety of diverse organizations as strategic partners, from Major League Baseball to the National
Parent Teacher Association to NASCAR, sothat we could bring crucial vaccine information to
folks where they are in their communities. And we also worked with local doctors
(02:36):
across the country I absolutely love thework that we did with them. We
put them out there on TV,radio, social, and print to amplify
our message through trusted faces because ourresearch shows that people trust the professionals in
their lives the most, like theirown family doctors, and so really really
(02:58):
good work there. I'm proud tosay, you know that all of these
we can do. This campaign effortshave contributed to the more than two hundred
and seventy million Americans that have gottenat least one vaccine and the more than
fifty six million who've restored their protectionthrough getting an updated vaccine. Were there
specific strategies that you employed in thoseespecially hard to reach and underserved communities to
(03:25):
get them the information about the importanceof the vaccines. Yeah, you know,
I think that the language and culturalcompetency was a very specific, intentional
strategy that we employed throughout the campaign. It's one of our driving objectives to
reaching communities that are historically harder toengage or that are historically underserved with important
(03:51):
information about COVID and vaccines, andso, you know, there's a lot
of intentionality about targeting advertising to areaswhere vaccines are lagging and ensuring that advertising
is culturally and linguistically competent. We'vealso been bringing these messages directly to people
in these areas where they are throughpop up clinics and informational events all over
(04:15):
the country. It's part of thatapproach to ensure that we are visible to
folks in the communities in which theylive, work, in play, and
so just a few examples, wesponsored Lunar New Year community festivals across the
country this year to connect with AsianAmerican, Native Hawaiian and Pacific islanders.
We provided vaccine clinics at the biggestannual Native American POWs around the country.
(04:43):
We've reached more than three hundred thousandpeople through dozens of events at historically black
colleges and universities, and we've createda ton of resources like commercials, toolkits,
websites, and an app in Spanish, while also hosting live and online
events to reached Latino audiences. Sowe've done a lot of really good and
(05:04):
effective work in meeting folks where theyare. I'm Ryan Gorman with May Mallock,
Senior Advisor for Public Education in theDepartment of Health and Human Services.
So how's the ending of the PublicHealth emergency impacted. How you're communicating with
the public about COVID and vaccinations,Well, we continue to see COVID as
(05:25):
a public health priority that's important tounderscore. Cod hasn't gone away. People
are still getting seriously ill, beinghospitalized, and they're dying from COVID,
and vaccines are still important for restoringthat waning protection, and vaccines continue to
be free for everyone. So weencourage folks to get their updated COVID vaccine
(05:47):
and we could possibly see another updateof the vaccine in the fall. So
we're going to keep getting the importantmessages out and I'd like to use this
opportunity to really get the ones thatwe're underscoring now out, which are that
most people who have never been vaccinatedagainst COVID can still protect themselves against severe
(06:08):
illness with one dose of an updatedvaccine. Some people are going to need
an additional dose because of their ageor their health, and that may put
them at high risk for COVID complications. Everyone who has not yet gotten their
first COVID vaccine will now get theupdated formula as their primary vaccine. And
(06:29):
if you're already vaccinated but don't yethave an updated vaccine, just go out
and get one. This is especiallyimportant if you are an older adult or
you have a chronic medical condition,because you are at higher risk for severe
COVID illness. And now that we'veseen what it's like to live through a
pandemic, hopefully we never have todo that again. But what is the
(06:49):
Department of Health and Human Services doingto be prepared for another health emergency or
epidemic if we were to face one. Yeah, thanks, Ryan, that's
an important question. I mean,the we Can do this campaign is an
unprecedented effort in terms of a federalresponse to a public health emergency through a
(07:11):
nationwide, culturally competent communications and outreacheffort. It hasn't been done, and
so as a result of that,we've got a ton of learnings. We
have to know how We've got thebest practices, the expert expertise, and
very importantly the data right to knowhow to respond to another potential public health
(07:31):
emergency. But I do want tomake sure that we are emphasizing that COVID
continues right to be a leading causeof definationwide. It's no longer the dominating
force, and so our response changesa bit, but it continues to be
a public health priority for the administrationeven with the ending of the Public Health
(07:55):
Emergency, So we've got the lessonslearned, a stronger infrastructure and the tools
vaccine testing and treatments to manage thevirus and to be better prepared for a
potential emergency. And we continue todistribute vaccines and therapeutics for COVID, and
some of the structures that we setup during COVID as part of the Public
Health Emergency are going to continue aspermanent parts of the Department of Health and
(08:18):
Human Services. So I'm really hopefulabout all of our learnings and the infrastructure
that we've implemented to better prepare usfor a potential issue in the future.
May Malick, Senior Advisor for PublicEducation in the Department of Health and Human
Services. May thank you so muchfor taking the time to come on the
show. We appreciate it. Thankyou for having me. Ryan all right,
(08:39):
I'm Ryan Gorman here on iHeartRadio Communitiesand now to bring in our next
guest for Pride Month, I'm joinedby Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice president of
Communications and Talent at GLAD. Youcan learn more about this organization at GLAD
dot org. That's glaad dot org. Anthony, thank you so much for
(09:00):
taking a few minutes to come onthe show and first of all, give
us an overview as to how thisorganization came about in the work that you
do. Absolutely, thank you forhaving me. Happy pride to you and
everyone. GLAD was created in nineteeneighty five, originally as a response to
the negative and inaccurate headlines that we'recoming out of New York City during the
(09:20):
AIDS and HIV crisis. So,you know, flash forward to now we
are the world's largest LGBT to mediaadvocacy organization, and so what that means
is that we're working with media,working with media and through media to make
sure that our storylines for the LGBTcommunity are included, that they're done well,
(09:41):
that we have representation from all partsof the community because listen, we
know how much that what people see, what they read, what they listen
to is so instrumental and shaping acceptance. And also for people like myself,
it's also critical for ourselves to seeourselves represented and in really great ways,
and so that's what we do everysingle day. Um, you know,
(10:01):
we are all about just making surethat media and it's many, many of
porns that we have in twenty twentythree are including us, that they are
including us in the right way,and we're you know, just really a
part of the process. Let meask you a really basic question in case
some of those listening aren't aware ofthis. What does LGBTQ stand for?
(10:22):
Yeah? Absolutely, And I thinkyou know, it's important to note that,
you know, you know, also, you know, with LGBTQ,
like, the word queer obviously isa word that we in the community are
we like, we use it obviously. I know some people remember, you
know, at time when it waskind of not you know, a favorable
word. So the queer community ofLGBTQ, humunity, um, we you
(10:43):
know, we use all of that. And and I think it's important,
you know, with l you know, gbt Q, um that we you
know, the word queer is justreally encompassing of all different parts of the
community. So I think that thatactually is a really great thing for people
to remember this side month. Imean, obviously LGBTQ for those who don't
know a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans queer questioning, there's lots of
(11:07):
ways of being inclusive. You know, people like to use a lot of
different letters, but I think thatyou know, LGBTQ, you know,
with queer really just encompasses all ofus in a in a really you know,
nice way. So June is PrideMonth. First of all, how
did that designation come about for theLGBTQ community And what types of awareness are
(11:33):
you trying to raise? What's themission behind Pride? Yeah, you know,
it's funny, you know, thinkingabout where we are in twenty twenty
three, Pride it feels more urgentand important endeavor. You know it was.
It was started as a protest,ride as a protest, and I
think it's you know, important toremember right now with what's happening in so
many different states across the United States, which are putting forth legislation, some
(11:58):
measures that really can and limits rightfor lgbc's people and right for youth,
especially especially if you're a trans kid. In certain states it's can be really
really difficult. And so, youknow, Pride, I think it is
important to remember to be all ofthose things as it began as a protest.
But I also think, you know, it's important to really celebrate each
(12:20):
other during this month. And Ialways say Pride's a great opportunity to go
back open the queer history book andlearn about all of the people that did
the work before us to get usto this point. Even though it's insane
to think in twenty twenty three howso much has reversed. But I think
there is so much opportunity, youknow, for kids out there, for
people up there during five months toget themselves familiar with some of the trailblazers
(12:43):
who paved the way that helped getus where we are. And you know,
there's gonna be new trailblazers and newpeople that are you know, gonna
be fighting a fight with us nowand you know, hopefully getting us back
on craft because I said, itdoes feel really insane at times for us.
So yeah, Pride, it's agood moment to not back down the
(13:03):
evocal ally and to you know,learn about everything that you can if we
take a step back and take athirty thousand foot view, look at how
the LGBTQ community is accepted in thiscountry. Now, where do you think
we're at? How much progress havewe made? You know, we've done
a lot of studies a glad andI think for the most part is the
(13:24):
finding show that a lot of peopleare okay, you know, a tecting
of gay end there. You know, they've been Will and Gracey, they've
watched Ellen. They're finding you knowwith lesbians. But we're finding is when
we have our trans family and ournon binary family members, and it's just
(13:46):
there's a lot of that's where thingsget a little tricky. And so we're
that glad putting so much emphasis intoreally correcting allows them the information that's out
there and to actually you know,showing these people and telling their stories in
a way that I think really isimpactful. And I think that that's really
where we're seeing the myths. Youknow, that's kind of where acceptance is
(14:11):
fall it's falling right now. Andso we you know, you look at
a movement overall in a more likegeneral way like this is where we are
in the movement. So with transand non binary people, we're doing everything
we can to support them and touplift them and just to kind of see
that, you know, raise theirlevels of acceptance because we know there's unfortunately
so many sense of acts of violence. It happens to trans people, to
(14:35):
non violarized people, and I thinkyou know, that's what we need.
We need more representation in media.We need more people to meet these people
and to understand that they're just likethe rest of us. I'm Ryan Gorman,
joined by Anthony Alan Ramos, vicepresident of Communications and Talent for GLAD.
We talked about what LGBTQ means andstands for a few minutes ago.
(14:56):
Non binary. It's another one thatcan be confusing for some Can you step
us through what that means? Yeah, for someone that is non binary,
they often will use they them pronounsand they feel, you know, either
not fully connected with you know,male or female genders. So they're somewhere
(15:18):
in the middle, they're somewhere inbetween, and they feel possibly connected to
both genders, both masculine book feminineside of themselves. And I think that
it's something that people have, youknow, had just kind of process which
I can understand. The you know, the pronouns are so important that I
(15:39):
understand when something new comes up peopleat a hard time with it. But
you know, there's a lot ofpeople out there that you know, just
feel like a little bit not allone or the other. And so that's
really what that means. And youknow, we're doing a lot of work
with media to have more representation ofnon binary people. I think the aga
(16:00):
Kate Dylan in Billions that was youknow, one of the earlier, you
know, representations of someone who wasnon binarian television, and so we need
more of that, I think,just to kind of get people to better
understand what being known by areas sothey don't want to be defined specifically one
way or the other. Yeah,they do. They feel very much as
(16:22):
like of their own. They don'tidentify fully with you know, being male
or female. It's a little bitmore of this tont of you know,
being connected potentially to both sides andto not labeling themselves as you know,
someone who is, you know,male or female. Another question that often
comes up during these discussions. Canyou explain the difference between gender and sexuality
(16:47):
as it relates to the LGBTQ community. Yes, um, I think one
of the best ways that we havesaid this and one of my co workers
said this, and I think it'sreally important to it, and it kind
of gets that gender is who yougo to bed as and sexuality is who
(17:07):
you go to bed with. Actuallymakes it really easy to understand. Another
issue I wanted to ask you about. I've seen a lot of research on
LGBTQ youth in this country and morespecifically some of the mental health challenges that
they face. Can you talk aboutthose challenges and this problem that we are
(17:30):
dealing with. Yeah, I thinkone of the most important things to realize
is that, you know, whenit comes to transuse, you know,
there's so many places across the companythat make it next to impossible for them
to live the way that they feeland to express themselves. And I think
(17:51):
with you specifically, you know,we are really doing a lot of work
with social media and the major companyto yeah, people to understand that the
hate it's online for trans people andtrans kids, for the lack of you
know, protection putting forward for transuse on social media is really detrimental to
(18:18):
the mental health of so many ofthese kids. And I think you know
about the way I think you knowyou have to remember is that when you
allow someone to be as they areand to express themselves, the opportunity for
them to live happy and full andsuccessful lives is so much greater. And
so that's what I think is reallyimportant to remember here and some of the
(18:41):
organizations that I've taught to in thepast. One of the things that has
come up to is that, youknow, for some of these younger people,
they're going through all of this andthey don't necessarily have a support system
at home. How big of anissue can that be. I think it's
the biggessue and you know, itsince fortunate because I think you know,
for kids, especially if they don'thave you know, the approval of their
(19:03):
parents or their sibling, it canbe really isolating and sad. And I
think, um, one of thethings that we talked about often is chosen
family and which is really a conceptof you know, your family is who
you choose and you know, whetheryou were born into it or you are
you know, blood related. There'sa lot of people out there that we're
(19:23):
loving, support you for who youare. And I think you know that
is you know, a positive partof social media. I think a lot
of kids and you can find peoplelike that, you know, who are
like themselves and feels connected. Um. And so yeah, you know,
a chosen family member could be afriend, that could be a teacher.
It could be you know, someonethat you just happened to meet who wants
(19:45):
to be you know, a reallygood support to you. So I think
that's really important to remember, youknow, Pride months and beyond as well.
I'm Ryan Gorman with Anthony Allen Ramos, vice president of Communications and Talent
at GLAD. Earlier you mentioned theviolence that many transgender individuals in this country
have faced. Can you talk moreabout that, because this is another area
(20:07):
where the numbers are staggering. Yeah, I mean, especially for trans women
of color, there is an alarmingamount of violence and attacks that happen.
And listen, I think that somuch of this goes back to just this
misinformation and lack of representation for peoplewho are trans and trans women of color
(20:30):
in the media. I think about, you know, if we were able
to turn on or you know,you can go to the movies and see
a trans woman in a leading rolein a romantic comedy, like what that
means to so many people? AndI think, you know, also the
answer your question, so much isof this violence and hate is is rooted
in this idea like a toxic masculinitywhere if anything you know, is a
(20:52):
bit challenging of someone's masculinity or youknow, presenting in a feminine way,
you know, people have such acan have such a strong, you know,
terrible reaction, and so we're doingeverything began to you know, to
make people aware of what's happening whenit comes to these attacks and violence,
but also to just showing and getrepresentations with people so they can fully understand
(21:14):
people in a better way and hopefullythese stats eventually go down. You mentioned
something else that I thought was reallyinteresting that I want to come back to.
Social media can often be viewed ina very negative way, and there's
a lot of reasons for that,but for this particular community, the LGBTQ
community in this country, when youhave individuals who maybe don't feel accepted or
(21:37):
have the support in their close socialcircle that they need, social media and
the connections that can be made canbe very helpful. Yeah, and I
think, you know, thinking aboutsocial media, but also's like there's been
such a one of the lanes ofmedia that has been a growing priority for
Glass has been this kind of gainingaspects where inclusion really has increased. When
(22:03):
I think that, you know,if you think about a lot of these
us out there, they are meetingpeople like themselves, you know, in
the metaphors virtually on law and onsocial media, and you know, being
able to commagine too, you know, if they don't have someone at home
who is you know, understanding oryou know wanting to or you know,
it can be easy to be ayoung kid at home, a young queer
(22:26):
kid at home, and to feellike you're the only person like yourself out
there. And so if you thinkabout the possibility of you know, social
media providing a space to you know, connect young people and hopefully they can
you know, be kind to eachother and support each other and then to
also just feel a little more umconfident to be themselves, I think that
(22:48):
that's a really powerful thing. Youknow, social media as a trinpy space
to navigate, especially to be ayoung person. But you know, there
are good things and I think youknow, if people can use it in
that way to find community and supportfor each other other, than you know,
that's really what it should be,not for pearing people down and writing
comments that are you know, nothelpful and anonymous and all of that.
Going back to the issue of acceptance, how much does that vary depending on
(23:14):
the generation that we're talking about.You know, it can be subscrising.
I mean, it's it's you know, I don't never. I mean,
I think, you know, it'seasy to say, like you know,
grand on Grandpa and Middle America arenot going to understand. But you know,
there are there are like a lotthere's different things, and you know,
there's been also some alarming stats aboutmillennials, um finding certain parts of
(23:38):
the community less you're being less accepting, and so I don't really know what
to say beyond I mean, Ido know that, like there are a
lot of interesting the circumstances where I'vebeen pleasantly surprised where people you know,
of a certain age, like yousaid, of different generations have been wonderful
and really wanting to get to knowthey're they're queer family member or friends.
(24:00):
I mean, I think about recentlyeven um, you know, my an
aunt of mine who told me aboutmeeting someone who was trans at the supermarket
the other day and just had areally great, you know conversation. And
I think that, you know,had she not been familiar with the work
that I'm doing every day, youknow, I just think, you know,
so it's like there's always that andI think that, um, you
(24:21):
know, I do think so alsothere there is hope with the youth eventually
as we always say, because thereare you know, we we found so
many times that you know, groupsof friends today that are younger, you
know, several of them identify asqueer or as a BPQ, and there
just doesn't seem to be that likesuch a distinction between them, and they
(24:42):
feel just you know, they wantto support each other no matter what,
and it doesn't it's not so muchof a topic anymore. For for the
young avoys. It seems like thebiggest issue at the moment where those who
are part of the community and thosewho aren't are having a tough time understanding
each other is with the transgend endercommunity. Can you help us understand that
(25:03):
group a bit better? I alwayssay, you know, to put yourself
in someone else's shoes for a momentand realize, like if you were born
and completely felt like you were inthe wrong body, and how difficult that
would be. And so when peoplestart reacting or having questions, I just
you know, try and make peoplebecause I mean, if if that were
(25:26):
my case, it would be horribleto feel like you were trapped and couldn't
be who you actually were. Andso that's how you know, I mean,
basically, you know, it's justI mean I was born a man,
I identify as a man, butif I you know, if I
internally felt, you know, asa different gender, it would be really
(25:48):
difficult to be, you know,in this body. And so that's what
I have to people just need tounderstand that, like, it would be
really difficult to not to not beable to be and to live your life
as you saw it and as youfeel. We talked earlier about the violence
that some in the LGBTQ community haveexperienced. What about discrimination, how has
(26:08):
that progressed in recent years, andwhat is that experience like for those who
identify as LGBTQ. Yeah, Imean I think it's I would say it
just it feels it just feels sointeresting to be employment for an egree in
having this happen, because I eventhink about ten years ago, things felt
(26:30):
so much different, and it's youknow, it felt like we had gotten
past a lot of these discriminations andthese apps of um this hage when it
comes to people that are LGBTQ,and so I think there's just you know,
it's has been such a chaotic time. But you know, I mean
that's what happens though people through history. I mean, you know, there's
going to be these moments and itcan be so easy to get overwhelmed and
(26:52):
it just like check out and belike, you know, it doesn't evolve,
it doesn't effect, but it does. You know it doesn't. You
can't like get lack cluster about it. You can't get discouraged. I mean,
I think it's a time we haveto just show and not all of
things, to learn about everything,because it's like, you know, especially
for people like I live in LosAngeles. I mean I could just sit
here and you know, live mylife and be happy, but it's like
(27:14):
I have made it a priority tojust learn about like what's going on in
Texas, what's going on in Florida, was doing in Tennessee, because I
think it's so important that we actuallyrealize. I think there is still this
kind of idea like that people arelike, oh, you know, people
are sustening up, gay people now, everything fun and obviously we know not
the case, and so people needto wake up and just like look around
(27:36):
and actually what's happening in different countriesare different states all over the country and
obviously all over the world too.And final question for you for those who
want to learn more about the workyou do, who want to support your
organization, Where can they go forall of that and what resources do you
have available for everyone? Absolutely,I mean you can always do to glab
(27:57):
dot org a dot or that's ourwebsite. All of the latest will be
there, and of course on socialglaad on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and
beyond. But I think, um, it's you know, just be as
vocal and be you can just listenand understand what's happening. And I think,
(28:18):
you know, just remember that.Um it's it's a it's an important
time for us to I mean,I think there's so much opportunities you think
about. There's such a good chancethat you know someone with a part of
the community or you have a familymember, and I think, you know,
we have to just step up andsupport them. And I think,
um, Pride Lence is a greattime to remember that. But obviously we're
(28:38):
glad and for so many buzz Prideas three hundred and sixty five days a
year and uh, you know itdoesn't just end on at the end of
June. So but uh but yeah, I mean, you know, and
I know we talked about some heavystaff, but there is hope, and
I do think that things are theyhave to get better, and I think
that, you know, we justalign and have people in the fight with
(29:02):
us, we can get there.We can get back there again. Anthony
Allen Ramos, Vice president of Communicationsand Talent for GLAD. You can learn
more again at glaad dot org.That's glad dot org. Anthony, thank
you so much for the time.Really appreciate you coming on the show.
Absolutely, Thank you so much.Have a good one, all right,
and that'll do it for this editionof iHeartRadio Communities. As we wrap things
(29:26):
up, I want to offer abig thanks to all of our guests and
of course to all of you forlistening. If you want to hear previous
episodes of this show, we're onyour iHeartRadio app. Just search for iHeart
Radio Communities. I'm your host,Ryan Gorman. We'll talk to you again
real soon.
Welcome to iHeartRadio Communities, a publicaffairs special focusing on the biggest issues impacting
you. This week, here's RyanGorman. Thanks so much for joining us
here on iHeartRadio Communities. I'm RyanGorman, and we have some important conversations
lined up for you. In justa bit, we'll check in with Glad
for Pride Month, but right now, to get things started, I'm joined
(00:23):
by May Malick, Senior Advisor forPublic Education in the Department of Health and
Human Services. She's with us todiscuss the department's efforts related to COVID and
what comes next following the conclusion ofthe public health emergency. May thank you
so much for taking a few minutesto come on the show. And in
your role at HHS, you've beenworking with the COVID nineteen Public Education campaign.
(00:46):
It's one of the largest public healtheducation efforts to date. Can you
tell us more about what the campaignhas accomplished over the last three years?
Sure? And Ryan, thank youfor having me. It's really great to
be on. So we launched theWeekend Do This campaign, the COVID nineteen
Public Education Campaign in April of twentytwenty one, and we had a primary
(01:08):
goal of increasing confidence and vaccines acrossthe nation at a really crucial time.
We set out to reach ninety percentof adults in the US at least once
per quarter, and we also setout to do some intensive, culturally competent
outreach to the communities that we knewwould be most at risk and most vulnerable.
(01:33):
So, you know, we endedup executing one of the largest public
education campaigns in US history, andwe did that in some specific and I
think most crucially evidence informed ways.So we use TV, print, radio,
and digital ads to reach people wherethey are and in the languages that
(01:53):
they speak. In fact, wedelivered nearly fourteen thousand ads in fourteen languages,
and a lot of that content istailored in ways that really speak to
the specific culture and geography of theaudiences we're trying to reach, which I
think is so essential to ensuring thatpeople feel seen. We also engaged a
(02:15):
variety of diverse organizations as strategic partners, from Major League Baseball to the National
Parent Teacher Association to NASCAR, sothat we could bring crucial vaccine information to
folks where they are in their communities. And we also worked with local doctors
(02:36):
across the country I absolutely love thework that we did with them. We
put them out there on TV,radio, social, and print to amplify
our message through trusted faces because ourresearch shows that people trust the professionals in
their lives the most, like theirown family doctors, and so really really
(02:58):
good work there. I'm proud tosay, you know that all of these
we can do. This campaign effortshave contributed to the more than two hundred
and seventy million Americans that have gottenat least one vaccine and the more than
fifty six million who've restored their protectionthrough getting an updated vaccine. Were there
specific strategies that you employed in thoseespecially hard to reach and underserved communities to
(03:25):
get them the information about the importanceof the vaccines. Yeah, you know,
I think that the language and culturalcompetency was a very specific, intentional
strategy that we employed throughout the campaign. It's one of our driving objectives to
reaching communities that are historically harder toengage or that are historically underserved with important
(03:51):
information about COVID and vaccines, andso, you know, there's a lot
of intentionality about targeting advertising to areaswhere vaccines are lagging and ensuring that advertising
is culturally and linguistically competent. We'vealso been bringing these messages directly to people
in these areas where they are throughpop up clinics and informational events all over
(04:15):
the country. It's part of thatapproach to ensure that we are visible to
folks in the communities in which theylive, work, in play, and
so just a few examples, wesponsored Lunar New Year community festivals across the
country this year to connect with AsianAmerican, Native Hawaiian and Pacific islanders.
We provided vaccine clinics at the biggestannual Native American POWs around the country.
(04:43):
We've reached more than three hundred thousandpeople through dozens of events at historically black
colleges and universities, and we've createda ton of resources like commercials, toolkits,
websites, and an app in Spanish, while also hosting live and online
events to reached Latino audiences. Sowe've done a lot of really good and
(05:04):
effective work in meeting folks where theyare. I'm Ryan Gorman with May Mallock,
Senior Advisor for Public Education in theDepartment of Health and Human Services.
So how's the ending of the PublicHealth emergency impacted. How you're communicating with
the public about COVID and vaccinations,Well, we continue to see COVID as
(05:25):
a public health priority that's important tounderscore. Cod hasn't gone away. People
are still getting seriously ill, beinghospitalized, and they're dying from COVID,
and vaccines are still important for restoringthat waning protection, and vaccines continue to
be free for everyone. So weencourage folks to get their updated COVID vaccine
(05:47):
and we could possibly see another updateof the vaccine in the fall. So
we're going to keep getting the importantmessages out and I'd like to use this
opportunity to really get the ones thatwe're underscoring now out, which are that
most people who have never been vaccinatedagainst COVID can still protect themselves against severe
(06:08):
illness with one dose of an updatedvaccine. Some people are going to need
an additional dose because of their ageor their health, and that may put
them at high risk for COVID complications. Everyone who has not yet gotten their
first COVID vaccine will now get theupdated formula as their primary vaccine. And
(06:29):
if you're already vaccinated but don't yethave an updated vaccine, just go out
and get one. This is especiallyimportant if you are an older adult or
you have a chronic medical condition,because you are at higher risk for severe
COVID illness. And now that we'veseen what it's like to live through a
pandemic, hopefully we never have todo that again. But what is the
(06:49):
Department of Health and Human Services doingto be prepared for another health emergency or
epidemic if we were to face one. Yeah, thanks, Ryan, that's
an important question. I mean,the we Can do this campaign is an
unprecedented effort in terms of a federalresponse to a public health emergency through a
(07:11):
nationwide, culturally competent communications and outreacheffort. It hasn't been done, and
so as a result of that,we've got a ton of learnings. We
have to know how We've got thebest practices, the expert expertise, and
very importantly the data right to knowhow to respond to another potential public health
(07:31):
emergency. But I do want tomake sure that we are emphasizing that COVID
continues right to be a leading causeof definationwide. It's no longer the dominating
force, and so our response changesa bit, but it continues to be
a public health priority for the administrationeven with the ending of the Public Health
(07:55):
Emergency, So we've got the lessonslearned, a stronger infrastructure and the tools
vaccine testing and treatments to manage thevirus and to be better prepared for a
potential emergency. And we continue todistribute vaccines and therapeutics for COVID, and
some of the structures that we setup during COVID as part of the Public
Health Emergency are going to continue aspermanent parts of the Department of Health and
(08:18):
Human Services. So I'm really hopefulabout all of our learnings and the infrastructure
that we've implemented to better prepare usfor a potential issue in the future.
May Malick, Senior Advisor for PublicEducation in the Department of Health and Human
Services. May thank you so muchfor taking the time to come on the
show. We appreciate it. Thankyou for having me. Ryan all right,
(08:39):
I'm Ryan Gorman here on iHeartRadio Communitiesand now to bring in our next
guest for Pride Month, I'm joinedby Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice president of
Communications and Talent at GLAD. Youcan learn more about this organization at GLAD
dot org. That's glaad dot org. Anthony, thank you so much for
(09:00):
taking a few minutes to come onthe show and first of all, give
us an overview as to how thisorganization came about in the work that you
do. Absolutely, thank you forhaving me. Happy pride to you and
everyone. GLAD was created in nineteeneighty five, originally as a response to
the negative and inaccurate headlines that we'recoming out of New York City during the
(09:20):
AIDS and HIV crisis. So,you know, flash forward to now we
are the world's largest LGBT to mediaadvocacy organization, and so what that means
is that we're working with media,working with media and through media to make
sure that our storylines for the LGBTcommunity are included, that they're done well,
(09:41):
that we have representation from all partsof the community because listen, we
know how much that what people see, what they read, what they listen
to is so instrumental and shaping acceptance. And also for people like myself,
it's also critical for ourselves to seeourselves represented and in really great ways,
and so that's what we do everysingle day. Um, you know,
(10:01):
we are all about just making surethat media and it's many, many of
porns that we have in twenty twentythree are including us, that they are
including us in the right way,and we're you know, just really a
part of the process. Let meask you a really basic question in case
some of those listening aren't aware ofthis. What does LGBTQ stand for?
(10:22):
Yeah? Absolutely, And I thinkyou know, it's important to note that,
you know, you know, also, you know, with LGBTQ,
like, the word queer obviously isa word that we in the community are
we like, we use it obviously. I know some people remember, you
know, at time when it waskind of not you know, a favorable
word. So the queer community ofLGBTQ, humunity, um, we you
(10:43):
know, we use all of that. And and I think it's important,
you know, with l you know, gbt Q, um that we you
know, the word queer is justreally encompassing of all different parts of the
community. So I think that thatactually is a really great thing for people
to remember this side month. Imean, obviously LGBTQ for those who don't
know a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans queer questioning, there's lots of
(11:07):
ways of being inclusive. You know, people like to use a lot of
different letters, but I think thatyou know, LGBTQ, you know,
with queer really just encompasses all ofus in a in a really you know,
nice way. So June is PrideMonth. First of all, how
did that designation come about for theLGBTQ community And what types of awareness are
(11:33):
you trying to raise? What's themission behind Pride? Yeah, you know,
it's funny, you know, thinkingabout where we are in twenty twenty
three, Pride it feels more urgentand important endeavor. You know it was.
It was started as a protest,ride as a protest, and I
think it's you know, important toremember right now with what's happening in so
many different states across the United States, which are putting forth legislation, some
(11:58):
measures that really can and limits rightfor lgbc's people and right for youth,
especially especially if you're a trans kid. In certain states it's can be really
really difficult. And so, youknow, Pride, I think it is
important to remember to be all ofthose things as it began as a protest.
But I also think, you know, it's important to really celebrate each
(12:20):
other during this month. And Ialways say Pride's a great opportunity to go
back open the queer history book andlearn about all of the people that did
the work before us to get usto this point. Even though it's insane
to think in twenty twenty three howso much has reversed. But I think
there is so much opportunity, youknow, for kids out there, for
people up there during five months toget themselves familiar with some of the trailblazers
(12:43):
who paved the way that helped getus where we are. And you know,
there's gonna be new trailblazers and newpeople that are you know, gonna
be fighting a fight with us nowand you know, hopefully getting us back
on craft because I said, itdoes feel really insane at times for us.
So yeah, Pride, it's agood moment to not back down the
(13:03):
evocal ally and to you know,learn about everything that you can if we
take a step back and take athirty thousand foot view, look at how
the LGBTQ community is accepted in thiscountry. Now, where do you think
we're at? How much progress havewe made? You know, we've done
a lot of studies a glad andI think for the most part is the
(13:24):
finding show that a lot of peopleare okay, you know, a tecting
of gay end there. You know, they've been Will and Gracey, they've
watched Ellen. They're finding you knowwith lesbians. But we're finding is when
we have our trans family and ournon binary family members, and it's just
(13:46):
there's a lot of that's where thingsget a little tricky. And so we're
that glad putting so much emphasis intoreally correcting allows them the information that's out
there and to actually you know,showing these people and telling their stories in
a way that I think really isimpactful. And I think that that's really
where we're seeing the myths. Youknow, that's kind of where acceptance is
(14:11):
fall it's falling right now. Andso we you know, you look at
a movement overall in a more likegeneral way like this is where we are
in the movement. So with transand non binary people, we're doing everything
we can to support them and touplift them and just to kind of see
that, you know, raise theirlevels of acceptance because we know there's unfortunately
so many sense of acts of violence. It happens to trans people, to
(14:35):
non violarized people, and I thinkyou know, that's what we need.
We need more representation in media.We need more people to meet these people
and to understand that they're just likethe rest of us. I'm Ryan Gorman,
joined by Anthony Alan Ramos, vicepresident of Communications and Talent for GLAD.
We talked about what LGBTQ means andstands for a few minutes ago.
(14:56):
Non binary. It's another one thatcan be confusing for some Can you step
us through what that means? Yeah, for someone that is non binary,
they often will use they them pronounsand they feel, you know, either
not fully connected with you know,male or female genders. So they're somewhere
(15:18):
in the middle, they're somewhere inbetween, and they feel possibly connected to
both genders, both masculine book feminineside of themselves. And I think that
it's something that people have, youknow, had just kind of process which
I can understand. The you know, the pronouns are so important that I
(15:39):
understand when something new comes up peopleat a hard time with it. But
you know, there's a lot ofpeople out there that you know, just
feel like a little bit not allone or the other. And so that's
really what that means. And youknow, we're doing a lot of work
with media to have more representation ofnon binary people. I think the aga
(16:00):
Kate Dylan in Billions that was youknow, one of the earlier, you
know, representations of someone who wasnon binarian television, and so we need
more of that, I think,just to kind of get people to better
understand what being known by areas sothey don't want to be defined specifically one
way or the other. Yeah,they do. They feel very much as
(16:22):
like of their own. They don'tidentify fully with you know, being male
or female. It's a little bitmore of this tont of you know,
being connected potentially to both sides andto not labeling themselves as you know,
someone who is, you know,male or female. Another question that often
comes up during these discussions. Canyou explain the difference between gender and sexuality
(16:47):
as it relates to the LGBTQ community. Yes, um, I think one
of the best ways that we havesaid this and one of my co workers
said this, and I think it'sreally important to it, and it kind
of gets that gender is who yougo to bed as and sexuality is who
(17:07):
you go to bed with. Actuallymakes it really easy to understand. Another
issue I wanted to ask you about. I've seen a lot of research on
LGBTQ youth in this country and morespecifically some of the mental health challenges that
they face. Can you talk aboutthose challenges and this problem that we are
(17:30):
dealing with. Yeah, I thinkone of the most important things to realize
is that, you know, whenit comes to transuse, you know,
there's so many places across the companythat make it next to impossible for them
to live the way that they feeland to express themselves. And I think
(17:51):
with you specifically, you know,we are really doing a lot of work
with social media and the major companyto yeah, people to understand that the
hate it's online for trans people andtrans kids, for the lack of you
know, protection putting forward for transuse on social media is really detrimental to
(18:18):
the mental health of so many ofthese kids. And I think you know
about the way I think you knowyou have to remember is that when you
allow someone to be as they areand to express themselves, the opportunity for
them to live happy and full andsuccessful lives is so much greater. And
so that's what I think is reallyimportant to remember here and some of the
(18:41):
organizations that I've taught to in thepast. One of the things that has
come up to is that, youknow, for some of these younger people,
they're going through all of this andthey don't necessarily have a support system
at home. How big of anissue can that be. I think it's
the biggessue and you know, itsince fortunate because I think you know,
for kids, especially if they don'thave you know, the approval of their
(19:03):
parents or their sibling, it canbe really isolating and sad. And I
think, um, one of thethings that we talked about often is chosen
family and which is really a conceptof you know, your family is who
you choose and you know, whetheryou were born into it or you are
you know, blood related. There'sa lot of people out there that we're
(19:23):
loving, support you for who youare. And I think you know that
is you know, a positive partof social media. I think a lot
of kids and you can find peoplelike that, you know, who are
like themselves and feels connected. Um. And so yeah, you know,
a chosen family member could be afriend, that could be a teacher.
It could be you know, someonethat you just happened to meet who wants
(19:45):
to be you know, a reallygood support to you. So I think
that's really important to remember, youknow, Pride months and beyond as well.
I'm Ryan Gorman with Anthony Allen Ramos, vice president of Communications and Talent
at GLAD. Earlier you mentioned theviolence that many transgender individuals in this country
have faced. Can you talk moreabout that, because this is another area
(20:07):
where the numbers are staggering. Yeah, I mean, especially for trans women
of color, there is an alarmingamount of violence and attacks that happen.
And listen, I think that somuch of this goes back to just this
misinformation and lack of representation for peoplewho are trans and trans women of color
(20:30):
in the media. I think about, you know, if we were able
to turn on or you know,you can go to the movies and see
a trans woman in a leading rolein a romantic comedy, like what that
means to so many people? AndI think, you know, also the
answer your question, so much isof this violence and hate is is rooted
in this idea like a toxic masculinitywhere if anything you know, is a
(20:52):
bit challenging of someone's masculinity or youknow, presenting in a feminine way,
you know, people have such acan have such a strong, you know,
terrible reaction, and so we're doingeverything began to you know, to
make people aware of what's happening whenit comes to these attacks and violence,
but also to just showing and getrepresentations with people so they can fully understand
(21:14):
people in a better way and hopefullythese stats eventually go down. You mentioned
something else that I thought was reallyinteresting that I want to come back to.
Social media can often be viewed ina very negative way, and there's
a lot of reasons for that,but for this particular community, the LGBTQ
community in this country, when youhave individuals who maybe don't feel accepted or
(21:37):
have the support in their close socialcircle that they need, social media and
the connections that can be made canbe very helpful. Yeah, and I
think, you know, thinking aboutsocial media, but also's like there's been
such a one of the lanes ofmedia that has been a growing priority for
Glass has been this kind of gainingaspects where inclusion really has increased. When
(22:03):
I think that, you know,if you think about a lot of these
us out there, they are meetingpeople like themselves, you know, in
the metaphors virtually on law and onsocial media, and you know, being
able to commagine too, you know, if they don't have someone at home
who is you know, understanding oryou know wanting to or you know,
it can be easy to be ayoung kid at home, a young queer
(22:26):
kid at home, and to feellike you're the only person like yourself out
there. And so if you thinkabout the possibility of you know, social
media providing a space to you know, connect young people and hopefully they can
you know, be kind to eachother and support each other and then to
also just feel a little more umconfident to be themselves, I think that
(22:48):
that's a really powerful thing. Youknow, social media as a trinpy space
to navigate, especially to be ayoung person. But you know, there
are good things and I think youknow, if people can use it in
that way to find community and supportfor each other other, than you know,
that's really what it should be,not for pearing people down and writing
comments that are you know, nothelpful and anonymous and all of that.
Going back to the issue of acceptance, how much does that vary depending on
(23:14):
the generation that we're talking about.You know, it can be subscrising.
I mean, it's it's you know, I don't never. I mean,
I think, you know, it'seasy to say, like you know,
grand on Grandpa and Middle America arenot going to understand. But you know,
there are there are like a lotthere's different things, and you know,
there's been also some alarming stats aboutmillennials, um finding certain parts of
(23:38):
the community less you're being less accepting, and so I don't really know what
to say beyond I mean, Ido know that, like there are a
lot of interesting the circumstances where I'vebeen pleasantly surprised where people you know,
of a certain age, like yousaid, of different generations have been wonderful
and really wanting to get to knowthey're they're queer family member or friends.
(24:00):
I mean, I think about recentlyeven um, you know, my an
aunt of mine who told me aboutmeeting someone who was trans at the supermarket
the other day and just had areally great, you know conversation. And
I think that, you know,had she not been familiar with the work
that I'm doing every day, youknow, I just think, you know,
so it's like there's always that andI think that, um, you
(24:21):
know, I do think so alsothere there is hope with the youth eventually
as we always say, because thereare you know, we we found so
many times that you know, groupsof friends today that are younger, you
know, several of them identify asqueer or as a BPQ, and there
just doesn't seem to be that likesuch a distinction between them, and they
(24:42):
feel just you know, they wantto support each other no matter what,
and it doesn't it's not so muchof a topic anymore. For for the
young avoys. It seems like thebiggest issue at the moment where those who
are part of the community and thosewho aren't are having a tough time understanding
each other is with the transgend endercommunity. Can you help us understand that
(25:03):
group a bit better? I alwayssay, you know, to put yourself
in someone else's shoes for a momentand realize, like if you were born
and completely felt like you were inthe wrong body, and how difficult that
would be. And so when peoplestart reacting or having questions, I just
you know, try and make peoplebecause I mean, if if that were
(25:26):
my case, it would be horribleto feel like you were trapped and couldn't
be who you actually were. Andso that's how you know, I mean,
basically, you know, it's justI mean I was born a man,
I identify as a man, butif I you know, if I
internally felt, you know, asa different gender, it would be really
(25:48):
difficult to be, you know,in this body. And so that's what
I have to people just need tounderstand that, like, it would be
really difficult to not to not beable to be and to live your life
as you saw it and as youfeel. We talked earlier about the violence
that some in the LGBTQ community haveexperienced. What about discrimination, how has
(26:08):
that progressed in recent years, andwhat is that experience like for those who
identify as LGBTQ. Yeah, Imean I think it's I would say it
just it feels it just feels sointeresting to be employment for an egree in
having this happen, because I eventhink about ten years ago, things felt
(26:30):
so much different, and it's youknow, it felt like we had gotten
past a lot of these discriminations andthese apps of um this hage when it
comes to people that are LGBTQ,and so I think there's just you know,
it's has been such a chaotic time. But you know, I mean
that's what happens though people through history. I mean, you know, there's
going to be these moments and itcan be so easy to get overwhelmed and
(26:52):
it just like check out and belike, you know, it doesn't evolve,
it doesn't effect, but it does. You know it doesn't. You
can't like get lack cluster about it. You can't get discouraged. I mean,
I think it's a time we haveto just show and not all of
things, to learn about everything,because it's like, you know, especially
for people like I live in LosAngeles. I mean I could just sit
here and you know, live mylife and be happy, but it's like
(27:14):
I have made it a priority tojust learn about like what's going on in
Texas, what's going on in Florida, was doing in Tennessee, because I
think it's so important that we actuallyrealize. I think there is still this
kind of idea like that people arelike, oh, you know, people
are sustening up, gay people now, everything fun and obviously we know not
the case, and so people needto wake up and just like look around
(27:36):
and actually what's happening in different countriesare different states all over the country and
obviously all over the world too.And final question for you for those who
want to learn more about the workyou do, who want to support your
organization, Where can they go forall of that and what resources do you
have available for everyone? Absolutely,I mean you can always do to glab
(27:57):
dot org a dot or that's ourwebsite. All of the latest will be
there, and of course on socialglaad on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and
beyond. But I think, um, it's you know, just be as
vocal and be you can just listenand understand what's happening. And I think,
(28:18):
you know, just remember that.Um it's it's a it's an important
time for us to I mean,I think there's so much opportunities you think
about. There's such a good chancethat you know someone with a part of
the community or you have a familymember, and I think, you know,
we have to just step up andsupport them. And I think,
um, Pride Lence is a greattime to remember that. But obviously we're
(28:38):
glad and for so many buzz Prideas three hundred and sixty five days a
year and uh, you know itdoesn't just end on at the end of
June. So but uh but yeah, I mean, you know, and
I know we talked about some heavystaff, but there is hope, and
I do think that things are theyhave to get better, and I think
that, you know, we justalign and have people in the fight with
(29:02):
us, we can get there.We can get back there again. Anthony
Allen Ramos, Vice president of Communicationsand Talent for GLAD. You can learn
more again at glaad dot org.That's glad dot org. Anthony, thank
you so much for the time.Really appreciate you coming on the show.
Absolutely, Thank you so much.Have a good one, all right,
and that'll do it for this editionof iHeartRadio Communities. As we wrap things
(29:26):
up, I want to offer abig thanks to all of our guests and
of course to all of you forlistening. If you want to hear previous
episodes of this show, we're onyour iHeartRadio app. Just search for iHeart
Radio Communities. I'm your host,Ryan Gorman. We'll talk to you again
real soon.
Host
Manny Munoz
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