Resources
Pride X Design: Conversations with AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliances
AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliances across the nation come together in conversation discussing topics surrounding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and share lessons learned on beginning LGBTQIA+ Alliances, how other Alliances are engaging the growing local community in queer | LGBTQIA+ architecture, engineering, and construction professionals, as well as looking at a broader approach to connectivity as a national organization.
ABOUT PRIDE X DESIGN:
The Pride X Design is a guest blog that is hosted by the AIA DC Equity by WIELD Stories space. The blog is a platform to share not only what's on our minds, but more importantly, what our community is thinking, feeling, and dreaming. The content only becomes richer with each new diverse perspective that contributes. While individuals in our organization will post from time to time, we invite others to also author their own opinions, big ideas, and personal testimonies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Explore how other AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliances were founded and currently engaging as a local component committee
- Discuss how they are engaging with local components in bringing visibility to LGBTQIA+ design/architecture professionals
- Identify tangible steps to increasing inclusion and belonging within the workplace and the profession
- Use frameworks and lessons learned from the three AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliances in establishing programming and committees at their own AIA components and applying it to other celebrations, cultures, and other diversity groups.
PANELISTS:
Beau Frail, AIA, (he/him) is an architect, artist and poet. Beau is passionate about social impact design and advancing justice, equity and inclusion, including within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Lucas Goldbach, AIA specializes in residential architecture, office design, and interior architecture Lucas and his business partner lead a team of architects and designers at En Masse. Their firm’s ethos is about creating communities and teams around projects. He believes that every detail is important and that the design process is as important as the final result. Lucas is the current co-chair of the AIA Chicago LGBTQIA+ Alliance, the first of its kind within the organization.
Tim Petersen (he/him) is an Architect at Chioco Design in Austin, TX. Tim has been a long-time volunteer with the LGBTQIA+ Alliance at AIA Austin and is currently serving as the 2023 Co-Chair with Robbie Anderson.
Larry Paschall, AIA is CEO and Top Dog of Spotted Dog Architecture, a Dallas based firm that specializes in residential architecture with a focus on home additions and renovations. An architect, entrepreneur, and noted speaker, Mr. Paschall is also a fervent advocate for his industry and the communities in which he both lives and serves and is currently pursuing advocacy opportunities within the architecture and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. A respected and inspirational speaker, Mr. Paschall has shared his experience and respective industry acumen at state, regional, and national conferences for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), speaking on such topics as alternative marketing for architecture; architects as industry advocates; and LGBT visibility within architecture. In addition to his design and advocacy efforts, Mr. Paschall is author of The Big Gay Architect Blog and co-host of The Architecture Geeks Podcast. He can be found on Twitter and Instagram at BigGayArchitect and SpottedDogArch.
MODERATORS:
Main Moderator, South Region Breakout Moderator: Sarah Nelson-Woynicz, AIA (she/her) is a Project Architect at HKS, Inc in Atlanta, GA. Following the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in 2023, Sarah founded Pride by Design – a digital blog focused on bringing visibility to the stories and experiences of LGBTQIA+ designers and architecture professionals. Sarah is currently serving as the AIA Young Architects Forum Advisory Committee, Community Director.
North Region Breakout Moderator: Lisa Ulibarri is a planner at Page and the chair of the Dallas AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliance. They started their professional career in healthcare design in 2019 and has been actively involved in the Dallas AIA LGBTQIA+ Alliance since the start of 2022. In addition to healthcare planning, Lisa has written a research paper focusing on complex trauma and currently writes one about a prototype trans health center. They hope that their passion for healthcare can uplift queer focused design to better serve their community.
Miss the panel discussion? Watch the video here.