This Man Is On The Road To Tell The Story Of One Queer Person In Every State

In 2014, Cole Ledford’s story went viral when he was punched in face by a stranger after kissing his boyfriend on a sidewalk.

Now, Ledford is traveling the country and using the platform he developed after the attack to help elevate and amplify the stories of other queer people on a national level ― one from each of the 48 continental United States.

“This virality gave me a sizable following on social media and an ability to have my story and voice heard; I wanted to give the same to others so every child growing up with any LGBTQ+ identity can know they are not alone,” Ledford told The Huffington Post. “50 States of Gay came as the culmination of a desire to share stories and amplify the voices of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The interviews that Ledford recorded are currently being organized into a full-length documentary, the profits of which will be donated to help queer youth. Ledford believes the project is crucial to telling the stories of a diverse group of queer people whose experiences are shaped by the regions of the country that they live in.

“This project is so important because it is giving a platform to those who have stories and experiences of their identity that can make a difference to others struggling with their own identity or self worth,” Ledford continued. “’50 States of Gay’ is also inspiring viewers to become activists in their own right by seeing the incredible things people of all backgrounds and identities are doing.”

Check out some of the interviews from “50 States of Gay” above and head here to see more from Ledford.