Meet Our Scholars

J. Smith is a community college graduate and human rights activist from Pasadena, California, currently studying political science and film at Yale. In 2018, Smith sought to better educate those around him by partaking in his own social advocacy. Having worked with city government and been involved with various LGBTQ+ organizations, he seeks to ensure the well-being and livelihood of queer, gender-diverse youth everywhere. After speaking with journalists and state legislators nationwide about the struggles faced by young people, Smith has gone on to lobby for monumental bills like the Equality Act, intern for the United States Senate, and even model for queer-inclusive rap group Brockhampton. Moreover, as an advocate for the Human Rights Campaign, he not only aims to help others feel valid in their identities, but help them understand the importance of living their story and their truth.