You are a Global Lecturer on LGBTQ+ Civil Rights, Equity, and Diversity & Inclusion in the Chicago area. What does the role involve? And what prepared you in your personal and professional background for this role?

 I have a busy life not only as a role model and mentor, but sharing my program through storytelling on many life experiences I have been through, all mixed with current events, LGBTQ+ history and how we as a community will move forward in this challenging world forward and together. My interest in LGBTQ+ rights began in college when I first joined a gay group on campus. It was a year later that I began speaking with my boyfriend at the residence halls and classrooms with other members of the group. It wasn’t until years later when I became an educator that I was inspired by the need to use my background and passion to do my part to make the world better for not only the LGBTQ+ communities, but our allies. My work is a labour of love and my legacy.

 You say that is important to be a role model in the LGBTQ+ community. Why role models are so important and what can they bring not just to LGBTQ+ people but also to the wider community?

 We all need someone to be there for us and set an example not only as a queer person, but as a good human. The world seems to have gone a bit upside down and role models and people have paved the way for our community is important. It’s a wonderful feeling for everyone to know that someone has your back, and is using their power, resources and privilege to help out marginalised communities.

 Anti-Gay Bullying is still prevalent in many schools. How should we cope with this?

It takes more than just schools adopting policies against hate and bulling, but actually facilitating behavioral change that everyone from administrators, educators, support staff and parents is on board with every single day. Programs, lectures and events that have anti-bullying programs and where other students can be mentors to other students and being ally role models.

 In terms of LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance, it can be argued that we have made great progress, at least in certain countries but certainly not all. What else needs to be done? And what more can people do to effect these changes?

Yes, we have made some great changes, but I feel at times it feels like we are going forward, but getting knocked back by a few steps. Humans have a hard time with change in general. We need to educate more to our students on LGBTQ+ History. Many schools are not sharing our history, we have been written out of many history books with many not knowing our less that glamorous past of hate to our LGBTQ+ communities and the challenges we have struggled through, along with many successes. We need to work on health care, safety and better understanding on the transgender and non-binary community. We need laws passed for the LGBTQ+ community to have equality rights in housing, employment, health care and much more.

 How important are allies to the LGBTQ+ community?

Our allies are our co-conspirators, collaborators, accomplices and a sense of kinship based on action. Our straight allies are amazing and often make some incredible change within our country. They authentic ally gives up power, resources or position to help us and above all, make a commitment to change and inclusion. An ally listens to the stories, experiences and oppression of marginalised groups.

 What is a typical day in the life of Greg Baird? Or is there a typical day in your life?

A typical day begins with coffee, news and checking emails from my followers, friends and agency. I post positive quotes on social media in the morning along with LGBTQ+ news. Depending on the day, I may have to travel for a lecture program, or it could be a virtual program. I like to walk and exercise to break up my day as well. I also have a side business called Gregger’s Seasoning in which I sell some awesome food seasoning that I make. It’s really delicious and no added chemicals. I generally make dinner or cook for others and wind down my day reading or watching something on the television.

 In either personal or professional terms what has been your proudest achievement?

Meeting and inspiring so many people that it is such a blessed and joyful feeling. I have been inspired by many people in my working and travels. A young red-haired girl at a lecture turned my life around decades ago telling she came to my lecture as a last resort as she was going to kill herself.  She was inspired by my lecture and survived. She came to a lecture a year later to say thank you for saving her life. I will never forget her.

What’s next for Greg Baird?

I need to sit down and write my biography. I am going to write my book as if each chapter is a story from my life. I’d love to have my life be made into a movie. I also want to keep doing my small short documentary films. I have already done a film on the hate crime murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard and The Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida in 2016.