Free and open to the public, the Ohio University LGBT Center invites you to meet online via Microsoft Teams or in-person in Walter Hall Rotunda for a LGBTQIA+ History Month Kick-off Celebration featuring educational information, entertainment, involvement opportunities, speakers, and countless friendship and connection opportunities. See below for details about this event’s special alumni guest speaker, Chris Frederick. Pasta-bar dinner will be on hand for in-person attendees. Please feel free to attend as much as the program as you are able and direct Teams access and other inquiries to doherty @ohio.edu .

Special guest alumni speaker, Chris Frederick, is the recipient of the 2023 Housing and Residence Life Distinguished Alumni Award. Frederick earned a B.A. in Political Science Pre-Law from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University. Chris will speak to provide brief remarks on how his past involvement in Ohio University's Student Senate, Department of Residence Life, and LGBTQ+ community helped shape him into the leader and advocate he is today. Chris’ remarks will be followed by a moderated discussion with opportunities for questions and comments from event attendees.

Since his days at Ohio University, Chris has enjoyed an 18+ year career in purpose-driven LGBTQIA+ non-profit work and event production. He is currently the Director of Special Events at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. amfAR is the longest-running AIDS research non-profit organization that has granted over $800 million to researchers on their quest to find a cure for HIV / AIDS. He currently manages a portfolio of seven major fundraising galas around the globe that bring in roughly $30 million annually for the cause.

Previously, Chris was the Executive Director of NYC Pride, the 501(c)3 non-profit organization behind New York City’s annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Events. Under Chris’ leadership NYC Pride more than quadrupled its annual operating budget to $12 million and raised over $15 million dollars for the organization. Chris established a number of new events within the NYC Pride roster and was responsible for booking major artists to perform such as Ariana Grande, Madonna, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Lizzo, Demi Lovato, and more. NYC Pride grew its roster of events in June from 5 in 2010 to a record 25+ in 2019. More than 5 million people attended NYC Pride’s events in 2019 making it the largest LGBTQ event in history.

Outside of NYC Pride, Chris worked in Marketing, Sales, and Events for Out / The Advocate magazines and as Managing Director of a LGBTQIA+ business consultancy group named Out Leadership. Throughout his long career,  he has been quoted in major outlets such as The New York Times, Financial Times, NBC News, Forbes, CNN, Huffington Post, and more. He hails from Findlay Ohio, is a class of 2005 graduate of Ohio University, and lives in Brooklyn with his husband Jeff.