Jordan Kramer
Auburn University
As a third-year student majoring in political science, Jordan has demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting the challenges faced in his community and beyond. He is an accomplished leader on campus, and he serves his fellow students as executive vice president of outreach for Auburn's Student Government Association. Jordan is also very active with the Alabama College Democrats, and he has strengthened his knowledge through internships with the U.S. House of Representatives and the Trevor Project. As a community organizer, Jordan has developed innovative and collaborative strategies for social reform. He founded the Affirming Birmingham Coalition, a group of 24 city leaders working together to end the practice of conversion therapy by Birmingham mental health professionals. Through the group's work, Birmingham stands to be the first city in the Deep South to ban the use of conversion therapy.
Personal Statement
In 2015, I heard President Obama speak about Bloody Sunday's fearless activists and their immeasurable impact on American history. He asked, "what greater form of patriotism is there than to believe that America is not yet finished...that each generation can look upon its imperfections and say we can do better?" This is my all-time favorite quote and the original catalyst in my pursuit of social advancement. Seminal strides of the LGBTQ community have yet to land in the Deep South; the American public may be watching RuPaul's Drag Race, but folks in Alabama are still trying to stomach Will & Grace. As a cisgender white guy, I have the unique privilege and responsibility of advocating for the more marginalized facets of the LGBTQ community, especially here in the Deep South.
