We are incredibly excited to welcome Michael Frey to the Art & Soul Innovations Board of Directors. He will serve our board as our new Secretary. Please join us in welcoming Michael to Art & Soul!
Michael Frey currently works for a financial company on the west side of Madison and is a member of their LGBT Employee Resource Group within the company. He is very appreciative of the positive atmosphere Proud Theater has provided to his two children: Mikael who is now attending college, and Cassandra who is in her last year in Proud Theater. As an expression of thanks, he wants to give back to the organization that has meant so much to his children.
Mike didn’t see himself being an ally of the LGBT community growing up in a conservative suburb of Milwaukee. He remembers one of the worst things to be accused of back in High School was being gay. One of his best friends came out as gay and lost some of friends because of it. He could never understand people’s fears of the LGBT community. Times certainly have changed and he believes things are going in the right direction. When he gets opportunities, he speaks openly to his conservative friends to understand their thoughts and positions on the LGBT community and why they feel the way they do. His thought is to be open to discussion and to try and not be critical of people who have different views, but instead to be open to understanding of why people think the way they do. The fight for equality and nondiscrimination is not done, but he sees promise in the younger generations going forward.
We are always looking for people to join our work of empowering LGBTQ+ leaders throughout Wisconsin. If you are interested in joining our board, read more about our current board or contact us.