John Perkins | Gulf Coast Equality

John Perkins

Board Member

Festival Chair

Social Media

Pronouns: he/him/his

John Perkins has spent his entire life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently resides in Waveland. He holds the position of Festival Chair and manages social media for Gulf Coast Equality. John became an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community after experiencing bullying in school for being gay. He is determined to help eliminate such discrimination so that no other child has to endure similar treatment.

In 2013, he co-founded The Rainbow Center, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights on the coast. The Rainbow Center aimed to foster change and provide support in South Mississippi. From 2014 to 2022, he was the producer of the Facebook page CAYA - "Come As You Are," which served as a platform for news and information related to LGBTQ+ issues, promoting diversity. Additionally, from 2015 to 2024, he held the role of Social Media Director for The Mississippi Stonewall Democrats, a political organization focused on LGBTQ+ rights.

John is a founding member of Gulf Coast Equality, having served as the organization's president from 2017 to 2018. Under his leadership, the organization evolved from a concept into a significant advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, outreach, and support in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, a development he takes great pride in. Furthermore, he acted as board secretary from 2019 to 2024.

Since its inception in 2017, John has been the Festival Chair for the Gulf Coast Equality Festival. This annual event aims to promote equality and diversity for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Together with his committee members, he has successfully organized events each year, and he aspires for the festivals to continue growing in size and impact in the future.

John has amazing organizational and planning skills. He's always ready to help out with any Gulf Coast Equality events and pitch in for community initiatives. John has taken part in activities with The Campaign for Southern Equality, Mississippi Rising Coalition, HRC of Mississippi, and the ACLU of Mississippi. Over the years, he has been a key player in organizing and taking part in many significant events for the LGBTQ+ community in Mississippi, which include the following:

2013 We Do Campaign for Marriage Equality - Hattiesburg
2014 We Do Campaign for Marriage Equality - Jackson
2014 Bay St Louis LGBTQ+ City Resolution
2014 Waveland LGBTQ+ City Resolution
2014 National Gay Blood Drive - Gulfport
2014 Steven Palazzo Marriage Equality Protest - Gulfport
2014 SB2681 Religious Freedom Bill Rally - Jackson
2014 We Are Rally Mississippi Religious Freedom Bill - Jackson
2016 Pulse Candlelight Vigil - Biloxi
2016 HB-1523 Rally Religious Freedom Bill - Gulfport
2016 HB-1523 Rally Religious Freedom Bill - Jackson
2016 No Hate in Our State Rally - Bay St Louis
2022 Club Q Candlelight Vigil - Biloxi