Michelle Zacarias, is described as “an award-winning journalist currently based out of Oakland.”
Michelle is passionate about covering anti-racism movements, queer identities, education, and abolition. She has previously written for Teen Vogue, The Triibe, Latina Mag, People’s World, and more. In 2018 Michelle was awarded the Saul Miller Excellence in Journalism Award for her contributions to the field. In 2019, she was awarded 3rd place ‘Best Profile’ ILCA Media Journalism Award.
She has also been inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
Michelle Zacarias is a queer, disabled, Latina organizer from the west side of Chicago. For over a decade she has facilitated social justice, anti-oppression, and LGBTIA+ movement work.
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Alongside three trans, queer, activists, Michelle was able to organize the largest trans-led march in Chicago to date – leading over a thousand marchers to occupy the streets of downtown. Later that same year, Michelle helped orchestrate the execution of the Chicago Pride Parade shutdown. The direct action aimed to bring awareness to the systemic murder of transgender women and also to honor the leadership of black and brown queer people in the creation of Pride.
For the last five years, Michelle has also been a prevalent voice in LGBT media. She has covered a range of important issues: from the epidemic of violence plaguing trans communities to highlighting discriminatory employment laws against LGBT individuals.
Yup, Michelle is clearly a great advocate for the LGBT community.
Wait, what?
The Palestinian resistance movement (sometimes referred to as “Hamas”) put out a video that surprisingly* was not played on any of the major news broadcasting networks. I watched the full 18-minute video (available in English) in its entirety, here are the main takeaways: https://t.co/R6iJnxjJj1
— Michelle Zacarias (@ZacariasM) October 20, 2023
I challenge Michelle to go to Gaza and try to get a front seat at one of the Hamas press conferences. Perhaps even ask them a question about how they feel about LBTQ people like her. if she survives that, I will personally hand her an award!
Did I mention Michelle is also an Adjunct Professor at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism?
According to Stephanie, who brought this to my attention, “students say they’ve been targeted with inappropriate questions about their identities, are uncomfortable wearing Magen David to class, and even skip to avoid the professor and her anti-Israeli sticker-laden laptop.”
Please join me in expressing your concerns to Gordon Stables, the Director of the Journalism School ([email protected]), as well as Carol Folt, the President of USC ([email protected]).
