Adrian Shanker Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: LVLGBT-007

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The files include correspondence, speeches, appointments, and publicity, including Adrian Shanker's activism regarding gender neutral housing at Muhlenberg College.

Dates

2004

Creator

Shanker, Adrian, 1987- (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research; access by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Property of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center. Copyright is owned by the creators of these materials. Fair use as a matter of copyright law governs the reproduction of these materials. Contact Trexler Library archives staff for additional information.

Biographical / Historical

Adrian Shanker, Muhlenberg Class of 2009, is a leader in LGBT health advocacy with a decade-long history of working for LGBT legal, social, and health equity. Prior to founding Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Adrian served as President of Equality Pennsylvania from 2011-2013 during a time of unprecedented organizational growth. Adrian is an accomplished organizer, having led numerous successful campaigns to advance LGBT rights in municipalities across Pennsylvania, including non-discrimination protections, relationship recognition ordinances, and laws to protect LGBT youth from conversion therapy. A specialist in LGBT health policy, Adrian has developed leading-edge campaigns to advance health equity for LGBT Pennsylvanians, through policy, behavioral, and clinical changes. Adrian is co-author of "Queer and Quitting: Addressing Tobacco Use as an LGBTQ Issue" a chapter in The Routledge Handbook for LGBTQIA Administration and Policy (Taylor & Francis, 2018)

In addition to his leadership at The Center, Governor Tom Wolf appointed Adrian as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. He also serves on the Advisory Board for Pennsylvania Department of Health's Office of Health Equity, as a member of ACLU of Pennsylvania's Board of Directors, and the Board of the Non-Profit & Business Partners Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy & Practice from The Columbian College of Arts & Sciences at The George Washington University and he earned his B.A., cum laude, in Political Science and Religion Studies at Muhlenberg College. Adrian is a member of Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and Society for Public Health Educators.

He has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Bar Association of Lehigh County's 'Liberty Bell Award', the City of Allentown's 'Human Relations Award', Anne Frank Center USA's 'Spirit of Anne Frank Award', and GLSEN Hudson Valley's 'Leadership Award'. Lehigh Valley Business named him to their inaugural '40 Under 40' in 2013 and he was named 'Person of the Year' by Philadelphia Gay News in 2012 for his success advancing LGBT equality in municipalities across the state. In 2013, Adrian was one of six LGBT speakers at the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington: The National Action to Realize the Dream.

In March 2022, Shanker left the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center to serve as Executive Director of the Spahr Center in Marin County, California.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Overview

The collection includes correspondence, speeches, awards, publicity, programs, agendas, and a Cease Fire PA rainbow bracelet worn by Shanker after the Pulse Orlando shooting.