Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandon Wolf. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brandon, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
In the early hours of June 12, 2016, I was doing the most normal thing: enjoying a drink with my best friends. We had been to Pulse Nightclub so many times before that I could have navigated it with my eyes closed. And everything about that night was as normal as ever. We went to the same bartender we always went to. Ordered the same drinks as always. Stood in our usual spot on the patio opining on life. But, just after 2a, that normal was shattered in a brutal act of violence when a gunman charged through the front doors and opened fire, killing 49 and injuring 53 others.
Six days after the shooting, we had a funeral service for my best friend, Drew. He was the social glue in our community, bringing people together from across groups that might never have been friends otherwise. And when he was stolen from us, I worried deeply that we would lose his power of connection. So, standing next to his casket at the front of the church, I made a promise: to never stop fighting for a world that he would be proud of.
That promise, and the jarring reminder of the necessity of our fight against militarized hatred that preceded it, put into sharp focus my purpose. Now, everyday is guided by that promise. For a world not just that Drew would be proud of — but that all of us can be proud of.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a storyteller, survivor, and happy warrior for a better future. I currently serve as the Press Secretary for Equality Florida, the state’s LGBTQ civil rights organization. In that role, I ensure that our community is equipped to share their stories and that anytime we are a topic of conversation, our voices are at the table. I am also the Vice President and a cofounder of The Dru Project, an LGBTQ youth-serving organization launched in honor of Drew that empowers LGBTQ student groups and provides higher education funding to emerging leaders.
You can most often catch me in media, whether it is taking on opponents to equality on MSNBC or penning thoughts on where we go from here in Newsweek, speaking truth to the most powerful. In 2019, I became the first Pulse survivor to testify before Congress, joining the late Congressman John Lewis and others to shine a light on extremist hate groups, and had the chance to testify again in 2022 on rising anti-LGBTQ violence in America. I now serve on the Florida Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, working to inform the Commission on impacts of current civil rights law.
On July 1, my debut memoir A Place For Us was released and instantly became an Amazon bestseller! It’s a story of being Black and queer in America. It’s a tale of love and loss. Joy and grief. Pain and forgiveness. I hope you’ll give it a read. My only rule is this: if you do, you have to tell me what you thought.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Authenticity. In the age of social media, where everything feels just a bit performative, people crave authenticity. It cuts through the noise and speaks to people’s hearts. People need you to be at your most honest — and they can smell it when you’re performing. Being relentlessly authentic will unlock doors for you that you couldn’t have imagined.
Resolve. There are endless things pulling on us at all times. And it can often feel easier to acquiesce to the things others demand of us and give ourselves over to how they might perceive us. But there is simply nothing more powerful than an unshakeable set of values and a solid resolve. Stand for something. And you’ll attract others who want to stand with you.
Courageous curiosity. It’s human nature to fear making mistakes. Rejection doesn’t feel good. Perceived failure can be paralyzing. But at the moments of greatest opportunity, I have blazed the path forward by daring to be courageously curious. I’ve asked questions, no matter how silly I thought they might sound. I have challenged myself to hear new perspectives and learn new skills. I’ve shed the fear of making a mistake and tried new things. Playing it safe and being guided by fear won’t change the world. Be courageously curious.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I have been lucky to have a number of powerful mentors over the years. But none have helped me unlock the power of my own potential than Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith. One of my favorite things she has said to me is this: when you’re able to tap into the fullness of who you are and marry that with subject matter expertise, your message is unstoppable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brandonwolf.us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonjwolf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bjoewolf1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonjwolf/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bjoewolf
Image Credits
Chris Williams Amanda Dennison
