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Photo courtesy ProjectQAtlanta.com
TERENCE MCPHAUL
He sees himself playing five roles in our community—advocate, innovator, liaison, educator, and collaborator—and Terence McPhaul combines those in his duties as executive director and CEO of YouthPride. His goals? To build the LGBT youth center into the most recognizable brand with the highest quality services in the LGBT community.
How would you define your role in Atlanta’s LGBT community?
In a word “involved” but let me explain further. My role has been advocate, innovator, liaison, educator, and collaborator. Connecting the optimal blend of people, causes, and organizations is a big part of this. It has been important for me to maintain focus on the identifying the bigger picture, as well as strategizing for the community’s comprehensive future development. I enjoy helping people to understand the collective power of diversity, commonalities, and cultural competence. Then using this wisdom to think smarter, and become better.
What do you forecast for Atlanta’s LGBT community in the next 5 to 10 years?
The community with be more cohesive. As we all start to focus on cultural competence within and outside of the LGBTQQ community, and learn more about one another, prejudice and discrimination will gradually dissipate. Barriers between isolated pockets of the LGBTQQ community based on race, culture, class, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, education, and money will vanish. The LGBTQQ community, as well as others, will incrementally come to the understanding that there is more to the personality of an LGBTQQ person than their sexual orientation and identification. As this melding of the community happens, there will be a heightened understanding of the power of LGBTQQ economics to impart positive action for the LGBTQQ community. Politicians will be more likely to sit down with us, and stand up for us beyond the photo opportunity whether in Atlanta, or Washington. Some Fortune 500s, and other companies, will grow more inclined to invest equitably in LGBTQQ community based programming. Finally, while the LGBTQQ community has had many big issues with which to contend, including but not limited to the politics of DOMA and DADT, as well as the HIV/AIDS prevalence among gay males, I feel that the community will become more appropriately conscious of, and active in, the strategic and preventative measures that can protect LGBTQQ youth (our future leaders) from social, emotional, and physical extinction.
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.
Ten years ago, my older brother was murdered. He was a good guy. A happy-go-lucky type who would give you the shirt off his back. Often, he did just that. His generosity knew no bounds. My brother had no known enemies. In fact, even if he had a disagreement with someone he was the first to extend an olive branch. So many people loved him and he never liked to see another person not having a good time. Everyone he came in contact with appeared to love him. In spite of this, he was viciously killed; most likely unsuspecting what was about to happen to him. This experience taught me to live life abundantly, deliberately, humbly, vigilantly, and cautiously.
How has being LGBT shaped your outlook on life?
I feel that being part of the LGBT community has made me stronger, smarter, more resilient and compassionate.
Tell us a little more about yourself. What are your hobbies? What are your goals?
Many people do not know that while I am trained as a Mental Health Therapist, I am a Chemist as well. Writing is fun to me. Learning to me is as important as breathing. The idea of having more knowledge and being willing to share it to improve the lifespace of someone else is both exhilarating and empowering. I love great restaurants, parties, museums and art galleries. The Bill Lowe Gallery is amazing! Spending time with my friends and family having a good laugh is absolutely essential. I enjoy international travel; this too is an education. Right now, my nearly exclusive goal is working to build YouthPride (a safe, supportive development center for LGBTQQ youth) into the best known brand in the LGBTQQ community, while providing the highest quality, culturally competent services. Brand recognition means that youth, parents, and allies can reach out to vital resources which will prevent youth suicides, promote good health, and build the responsible leaders that our community needs.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one book you would want with you?
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama.
