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Diversity & Inclusion Speaker's Bureau

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Ash Beckham
Activist & Presenter

Ash Beckham is a bold, dynamic presenter who speaks about empathy, respect and the power of having real conversations.

Online videos of her TEDx talks “Coming Out of Your Closet” and “Owning Your Duality” and her Boulder Ignite speech “I am SO GAY” have gone viral with more than 10 million YouTube views. Significantly, her message has also become a topic of global discussion. Ash reaches millions every day as her inspiring speeches are experienced in classrooms, boardrooms and auditoriums around the world.

With an arresting blend of urgency and humor, Ash takes on topics like the crippling experience of being trapped in a closet, the difference between tolerance and acceptance, and the need to remove the word “gay” as a pejorative from our lexicon. With wildly funny and poignant stories, and a tough, yet deeply compassionate stance, Ash tells us how to take off the armor and be our authentic selves.

She tells us how to get REAL.

Ash declares to her audiences “Hard is Hard. There is no Harder. There is only Hard.”
She gives us permission to relate to each other as direct, authentic, unapologetic human beings. Rather than serving up candy-coated optimism, her stories offer listeners something more tangible. She elevates her audience beyond empathy into the realm of personal discovery, and challenges every listener to take personal responsibility for creating a much bigger societal shift.

Ultimately, Ash advocates for FREEDOM. Freedom to give voice to your truth, freedom to love without limits, freedom to be the person you were intended to be.

Discussion Topics

  • Leadership
  • Diversity
  • Inclusion

Capabilities

  • Keynote
  • Workshops
  • Emcee
  • Facilitator

"Having Ash Beckham present to two audiences in Portland, Oregon was exciting, inspiring, and entertaining. The dialogue has continued months following her thought-provoking, engaging and relatable presentation."

Debbie Caselton, Chair
Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP)

 

"This is the second year we brought Ash to campus and she did not disappoint. She has a natural ability to connect with the audience and is able to talk about difficult topics with ease."

Michele Jenkins, Associate Director
Radford University