Jason Arnold (he/him) began his advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community during his college years when he since he snuck away from his hometown to drive an hour to visit Lodestar Books in Little 5 points, Birmingham, Al. He started his activism in 1991 working at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS crisis first as a volunteer and later volunteer coordinator for ASK, Inc. (AIDS Support through Knowledge) where he remained for the duration of his undergraduate degree completed in 1996.
While in college he began working part time as a school for special needs children which would later transition in a leadership overseeing the residential program where he also worked as an advocate for clients on a state level. He has worked in the Multifamily Industry for more than 25 years, in various roles as a team leader, corporate trainer, and mentor, preparing the next generation of leaders. During his career, he has served on the boards of various statewide and regional multifamily organizations. He currently serves on his employers Inclusivity and Diversity committee.
Jason is an LGBTQIA historian and writer working with various organizations to preserve Atlanta’s rich LGBTQ history, and celebrate queer men who identify with the Bear community via his work with Bear World Magazine, where he is a contributor. In 2022, he became involved with PFLAG Atlanta after the loss of his husband in 2020 to Acute Myeloid Leukemia, after his own year- long battle with nasopharyngeal cancer. While at PFLAG Atlanta, he has served as the co-Chair of community Outreach and Engagement, with Ann Vitale, from whom he succeeded as President in 2023. Together, they have spoken (virtually and in person) to people around North America and the world on topics such as Trans ally ship, the business and social cases for support via and data to show the significance the LGBTQ+ community plays in everyday life everywhere.
His role as a public speaker with PFLAG, lead to his becoming a member of the Academia Society in 2025 after presenting during their Founders Day event. As a member, he serves as Parliamentarian along with co-chairing community engagement, a great passion of his. Jason is dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, and will soon begin a new project working the Women and Gender collections at Georgia State by securing the stories of every day LGBTQ+ Atlantans for their archives. He is a staunch supporter of animals, including his own pack of three and is a lover of all things in nature, hiking, plant, book, and automotive related.