Gail, I love you and your work to death and I don't want to diminish the awesome work you've done, but maybe you could mention something about how the White House asked a heterosexual, able-bodied person to speak about LGBTQ and PWD representation?

No, believe me, that has never left my thoughts. I know how easy it is for ‘allies’ to take over the conversation.

My understanding is that there are several speakers, I am just one of a bunch, and I believe I am there in my capacity as someone who is in a medium that is just starting to acknowledge the need for diversity. The people who invited me are PWD and LGBTQ themselves and they are aware that I am not speaking as an authority on those topics, but as someone in the increasingly influential world of genre media.

If I felt that I was expected to speak FOR or OVER lgbtq or PWD groups, I would have to decline. My understanding is that that is not the case.

But I am hyper-aware of what you are saying, and will do my best to not make it about anything but the topic at hand. I hope that makes sense?