Jennifer Chrisler

Executive Director, Family Equality Council
Movement: GLBT Family Rights

“Parents’ love and concern for their children is a universal language understood by all people regardless of their background, beliefs, or demographics.” This fact is the driving force behind the family equality movement led by Jennifer Chrisler, a lesbian parent of twin boys. Jennifer is fighting for the recognition of all families, especially those lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender  parents. There are currently eight million children being raised by LGBT parents in the United States. Jennifer believes we need to define “family” by the commitment of the participants to love, support, care, and provide stability for one another. In her opinion, this is a simple change. Her movement has experienced several success stories, including an invitation from First Lady Laura Bush to have LGBT families participate in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll for the first time, the defeat of a bill in Arizona that would have the state prioritize the placement of foster care children with married heterosexual couples, and the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts. In the next few years, Jennifer will focus on training LGBT-headed families to speak out on their own behalf and build a coalition with other leaders from non-LGBT groups fighting for the well-being of children.

Jennifer is the executive director of Family Pride in Washington, DC. She has appeared on ABC’s World News Tonight and Good Morning America, CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC. She served as a presenter at numerous conferences including Walt Disney World Resorts Diversity Summit, Johnson & Johnson Diversity Day, and Rosie O’Donnell Family Vacations Conferences. She was the keynote speaker for the Out & Equal Conference and the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas. Jennifer has also worked as a lecturer at George Washington School of Political Management. She earned a BA in education from Smith College. 

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