In conjunction with PRIDE Month in Celebrating LGBTQIA+
Meet Meredith Campbell
and this is #HerStory.
Queer feminist icon Lily Tomlin said,
“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”
This quote has fueled much of my advocacy, activism, and social justice work. I have always had a desire to make the world a better place and am proud of the impact I have been able to make in Toledo.
While I’ve lived in Toledo for over 2 decades, it took some time for me to find my place in the LGBTQIA+ advocacy space. As a young perfectionist who grew up in a small town, the thought of me not being straight wasn’t even something that occurred to me until I was in my twenties. Once I was able to accept myself, I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore in the fight for equality; I needed to be part of the solution.
For me, the solution was becoming involved with Equality Toledo, the Northwest Ohio LGBTQIA+ Business Alliance, and the City of Toledo’s Social Justice Committee. Through those organizations, I have been able to work in the efforts to eliminate discrimination of all kinds in our community. I have loved seeing the progress made and believe we are headed in the right direction.
The Welcome in My Backyard or WIMBY campaign is one of my favorite new initiatives to create a more inclusive and welcoming Toledo and Lucas County, and I encourage everyone to sign the WIMBY pledge!
Even with the work I have been able to do, there are still times when I struggle with confidence, perfectionism, and finding my voice. When that happens, I try to remember what an amazing mentor once told me; “Meredith, you’re not allowed to say you’re not empowered anymore.” That sentence has given me the courage to speak up and out more, even when I am afraid to do so. What could you do if you felt empowered?