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