Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carys Mullins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Carys, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

Many people have heard the term “Greenwashing”, a technique Corporate America uses to mislead consumers into thinking its services or products are more environmentally friendly (“green”) than they truly are. Similarly, Corporate America has a bad habit of “Pinkwashing,” especially during PRIDE month and other LGBTQ-centric celebrations or days of remembrance. Pinkwashing occurs when a company uses LGBTQ+ languages, talent, or causes to uplift its brand, service, or product without making any real impact or caring about the community.

A corporate PRIDE campaign is often a way to make quick cash, cash the community never sees, or worse, cash used to actively harm LGBTQ+ people. On a less nefarious note, some companies may not even realize they’re engaging in Pinkwashing. They may think, “It’s PRIDE Month. We support equality, so let’s put a rainbow on our merch!”. Does this do any real harm? Not unless the design is a fashion crime. Does it help the communities facing the inequalities the company claims to want to dismantle? No. Not if 100% of the profits from the rainbow shirts only support the company itself.

What Corporate America gets wrong in the activism space is its ignorance of what truly helps LGBTQIA+ people. We want companies to show their support in meaningful and impactful ways. The LGBTQIA+ community doesn’t need any more rainbow-printed sweatshop t-shirts. We need college scholarships, corporate pressure on the government to pass inclusive workplace laws, sponsorships to LGBTQ-serving nonprofits and NGOs, and direct investment into the community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Originally, I founded Advocates for LGBTQ Equality as an intern at SPARK, a nonprofit that cultivates human potential and resiliency through education, mentorship, and programming. A part of the internship was to start a project around an issue you were passionate about. As a survivor of anorexia and depression and as an LGBTQ+ person who has faced hatred that impacted my mental health, I chose to create a blog centered on LGBTQ+ mental health disparities and inequalities.

The blog expanded into a podcast and youth program at Humanity Rising, a nonprofit empowering youth to make a difference in the world. My vision was to include policy and economic advocacy in addition to mental health equality in the business’ scope of work. This meant leaning into the political space, a realm Humanity Rising was unable to explore as vastly due to its nonprofit status and core mission. So, while I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed working with Humanity Rising, I left to transform the Advocates for LGBTQ Equality into what it is today: An independent business that utilizes advocacy campaigns, education, and the distribution of resources to inspire communities, foster inclusion, and promote equality for all people.

Around that same time, I started working at Equality Florida as a Communications Fellow, supporting equality initiatives through media. I also produced and directed a documentary on the experiences of trans+ youth in Illinois, Florida, and Texas which premiered at the Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started my business, I was focused on mental health equality and equity for LGBTQ+ people. I was motivated by my personal experiences and shocked by the lack of LGBTQ-informed care in the mental health space. As I wrote about topics for my blog such as the prevalence of PTSD in LGBTQ+ people, I shared a core message: being LGBTQIA+ does not cause mental health challenges. The reason LGBTQ+ people face these disparities is because of the bullying, family abandonment, and harsh societal treatment they face.

I wrote countless blogs on various mental health topics with this message before I had to step away and swallow a hard pill. Access to LGBTQ-safe and affirming treatment is necessary. Harm reduction and trauma-informed care for LGBTQ+ people are necessary. Awareness of LGBTQ+ mental health disparities is necessary. But…we’re all just playing wack-a-mole without directly taking action against the ‘Why?”. Why do LGBTQ+ people face more mental health struggles on average? Why do they need additional support to thrive? And what can I do as a business to rip out the roots of this issue?

The answers? Address the economic disadvantages that LGBTQ+ face, which strain their mental health – such as workplace discrimination leading to higher unemployment. Inform them about resources, such as funds and inclusive workplaces, to help them overcome economic disadvantages. Address the laws and policies that fuel high levels of hate and discrimination, feeding into increased rates of depression and suicide. Offer educational resources on policy and ways to take action for pro-equality politics.

Stop playing wack-a-mole and start to dismantle the machine. That was the pivot my business had to make.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I’ve never claimed to be a finance guru. I’ve never pitched to an investor or invested myself. As an LLC and as an LGBTQ-centric business in a world where corporations are increasingly wary of supporting equality, most grants are out of reach. For an unknown reason – even to my therapist – I am fearful of debt, including loans. It’s one of the reasons I never got my bachelor’s degree. So, how do I pay for all the costs of starting and running my business?

The honest answer – and I think an answer we all need to get more comfortable with saying and hearing – is late nights and two other jobs. I work hard so I can work hard for my passion. Don’t get me wrong – I adore my other jobs, which is a privilege to say. I work part-time at Equality Florida and as a freelance social media manager. At EQFL, I get to hone my skills as an activist, build connections, and work alongside fellow leaders. My social media marketing work keeps me tapped into data, trends, and techniques that support my business. And of course, both jobs are why I could start and run my business without loans or investments. I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://advocatesforlgbtqequality.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advocateslgbtq/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carys-mullins/