MSNBC Launches Digital Documentary Series in Recognition of LGBT Pride Month

Today MSNBC announced an original documentary series to run on msnbc.com. In honor of LGBT Pride month, "Fearless: How 10 LGBT Activists Made It Better" will feature ten individuals who were trailblazers in the 20thCentury LGBT movement throughout Los Angeles. The series is in collaboration with ONE Archives Foundation and the It Gets Better Project. It debuts today at www.msnbc.com/fearless.

The mini documentaries will run on msnbc.com once a week for the next ten weeks. The premiere episode features retired schoolteacher Dr. Virginia Uribe, who founded the first dropout prevention program for LGBT high school students. The following weeks include documentaries on the pioneering Rev. Troy Perry, who began the pro-LGBT Metropolitan Community Church in 1968; and Carolyn Weathers, an outspoken activist in the early gay liberation movement and an instrumental figure in the founding of the Alcohol Center for Women.

This collaboration brings together MSNBC; the ONE Archives Foundation, who is the community-partner of the largest repository of LGBT historical materials in the world; and the It Gets Better Project, an Emmy Award-winning media organization with a substantial worldwide presence on Youtube and social media. "The path of LGBT history in this country is the ultimate 'it gets better' story," said Brett Peters, Director of Communications of the It Gets Better Project. "When youth learn about the remarkable achievements and victories of their LGBT pioneers, they are given a powerful tool that validates their LGBT identity and emboldens them to live authentic lives."

"The It Gets Better Project has a demonstrated ability to reach and ignite a young audience via television and digital media," said Chris Freeman, Board Member of the ONE Archives Foundation. "Combining this powerful platform with ONE's extensive historical resources, and the resources of MSNBC, is an ultimate dream team. We will now be able to bring the remarkable stories of our LGBT pioneers to life in a way that is relevant and impactful to today's audience."

"These videos document an incredibly important part of this country's history," said Richard Wolffe, Vice President and Executive Editor of msnbc.com. "These documentaries offer first-hand insight into some of the LGBT movement's most crucial activists - pioneers who are not necessarily household names, but whose stories need to be told."

ABOUT THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT

Founded in 2010 by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, the It Gets Better Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses all forms of media and engagement to reach LGBT youth worldwide in order to provide critical support and hope that life indeed gets better. Through the organization's messages of hope, international resources and guidance, collaboration and mouthpiece in the media, the It Gets Better Project strives to continuously make life better for LGBT youth. To date, more than 50,000 inspirational videos have been uploaded in support of It Gets Better and the LGBT community, including support from President Obama and 500,000 others who have actively taken the pledge to spread It Gets Better's messages of hope and speak up against intolerance. The Project has expanded its support of LGBT youth on both a national and global scale, serving as a resource on policy and legal matters. The It Gets Better Project is resolute in its mission to make the lives of LGBT youth, simply put, better. Connect with the It Gets Better Project: @ItGetsBetter, Facebook.com/ItGetsBetterProject, YouTube.com/ItGetsBetterProject.

ABOUT THE ONE ARCHIVES FOUNDATION

The ONE Archives Foundation is the independent, community-partner of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries, the largest repository of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) materials in the world. Founded in 1952 as ONE Inc., the publisher of ONE Magazine, the ONE Archives Foundation is the oldest active LGBTQ organization in the United States. In 2010, the ONE Archives Foundation deposited its vast collection of LGBTQ historical materials with the USC Libraries. Today, the organization is dedicated to promoting this important resource through diverse activities including educational initiatives, fundraising, and range of public programs. More information can be found at www.onearchives.org.

ABOUT MSNBC:
MSNBC is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines through commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 96 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers a full schedule of live news coverage, progressive voices, award-winning documentary programming - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. MSNBC also delivers breaking news and information across a variety of platforms includingwww.msnbc.com and MSNBC on Sirius XM radio. The MSNBC App for iPhone, iPad and iTouch also provide a customizable user experience with live streaming, clips of select MSNBC programming, and additional show content. MSNBC is part of the NBCUniversal News Group, a division of NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast Corporation.

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