JUSTIN ZIEGLER
He made his mark on the LGBT community in his 10-year stint with AID Atlanta. Last year, Justin Ziegler put that skill set to the test by becoming president of Atlanta Executive Network, and the organization has thrived under his leadership.
Ziegler continues to be involved in all aspects of our community, enjoying the interaction with people new and familiar. He’ll continue that work for some time to come.
How would you define your role in Atlanta’s LGBT community?
I would like to think of myself as a voice for those whose voices are not always heard. I bring attention and resources to causes that support and advance our community.
What do you forecast for Atlanta’s LGBT community in the next 5 to 10 years?
I think that challenges within the community such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, teen suicide, legal issues and more will help to unite all aspects of the LGBT community and will help to make our voices heard clearer and with a further reach.
We learn from all our experiences, both good and bad. Tell us about a negative life experience you’ve had that you learned a valuable lesson from.
We all learn from experience if we approach life with an open mind. I like to think of all my experiences in life as positive if I learned something and moved forward as a human being. That said, every day of my life has the potential to be the best day of my life and coming to that understanding was a tremendous life lesson.
How has being LGBT shaped your outlook on life?
I am so proud to be out and gay. I came out when I was 16 years old and being true to myself and others has opened doors I never thought would be available. I never want to imagine a world where I have to hide who or what I am – and I will never be someone I’m not for any reason!
Tell us a little more about yourself. What are your hobbies? What are your goals?
I love spending time within my community as an activist, teaching and meeting new people. I enjoy stage theater, photography, cars, travel, home improvement and crazy nights out with the boys. My goal is to try something new, every day of my life.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one book you would want with you?
A MacBook—and a solar powered generator!
