Ally: Julie Schanke Lyford

Julie Schanke Lyford will be a familiar name to longtime Lavender readers — she received a Lavender Magazine Community Award in 2014 for her work in advocating for marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people.

Lyford shared her story of growing up with two fathers to advocate for the passage of the Freedom to Marry Act. She also collaborated with Lavender to create the Wedding Tent at the Twin Cities Pride Festival, where couples could get married on the spot.

Lyford’s public advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community hasn’t slowed down since. She authored the children’s book “Katy Has Two Grampas,” providing a positive example of LGBTQ+ family life at a time when books with LGBTQ+ representation are being removed from some school libraries.

Her new book, “Adi’s Animal Adventures,” teaches young readers not only about animals but also about what acceptance of queer youth at school looks like.

“I am thrilled to be awarded the Lavender Magazine Community Pride Ally Award. Growing up with gay dads, I’ve been an ally since I can remember, but the real work began while fighting for the Freedom to Marry Act,” Lyford says. “For me, the most important part of being an activist is raising a family of allies. My children, who grew up making handmade signs and protesting at the capitol, are part of the next generation of folks using their voices where they are most needed. This award is for my dads, my kids, and for everyone who doesn’t feel heard.”

The example set by Lyford for how to be an ally and advocate, even when faced with adversity, will inspire not only her own children but every child who reads her books and all the people the young allies she helps cultivate interact with.