UMC
Walter Hall
Free and open to the public, Ohio University’s LGBT Center will host a gala dinner to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month in the Walter Hall Rotunda and via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The event will feature educational information, entertainment, participation opportunities, speakers, a pasta buffet, and countless opportunities for friendship and networking. The LGBT Center is especially pleased to present special alumni speaker Chris Frederick, who received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences in 2005.
Frederick is the 2023 recipient of the Housing and Residence Life Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award. He will share remarks about how his past involvement in the Ohio University Student Senate, Department of Residence Life and the LGBTQ+ community helped him become the leader and advocate he is today, before a moderated discussion with the opportunity for questions and comments from event participants.
Since attending Ohio University, Frederick has worked in purpose-driven LGBTQIA+ non-profit work and event management for over 18 years. He is currently the Director of Special Events at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. amfAR is the oldest non-profit organization dedicated to AIDS research. It has awarded more than US$800 million to researchers searching for a cure for HIV/AIDS. He currently manages a portfolio of seven major fundraising galas around the world that generate approximately $30 million annually for the cause.
Previously, Frederick was the Executive Director of NYC Pride, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces annual LGBTQIA+ Pride events in New York City. Under Frederick’s leadership, NYC Pride more than quadrupled its annual operating budget to $12 million and raised more than $15 million for the organization. Frederick created a number of new events as part of NYC Pride and was responsible for booking major artists such as Ariana Grande, Madonna, Cher, Kylie Minogue, Lizzo, Demi Lovato and others. In June, NYC Pride’s list of events increased from 5 in 2010 to a record 25+ in 2019. More than 5 million people attended NYC Pride events in 2019, making it the largest LGBTQ event in history.
In addition to NYC Pride, Frederick has worked in marketing, sales and events for Out/The Advocate magazines and was the Managing Director of an LGBTQIA+ business consulting group called Out Leadership. Throughout his long career, he has been quoted in major publications such as The New York Times, Financial Times, NBC News, Forbes, CNN, Huffington Post and others. He is originally from Findlay, Ohio, graduated from Ohio University in 2005, and lives in Brooklyn with his husband, Jeff.
To access the event remotely via Microsoft Teams, for more information about LGBT History Month and additional resources, email lgbt@ohio.edu.