At 27, Andrew Gelwicks already has made a name for himself as a celebrity fashion stylist. His portfolio includes Catherine O’Hara of Schitt’s Creek sitcom fame, actor Michael Douglas, Tommy Dorfman from the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, model and actress Barbie Ferreira and the cast of Queer Eye, among others.
Now he is making the circuit talking about his debut book, The Queer Advantage: Conversations with LGBTQ+ Leaders on the Power of Identity.
This compilation of interviews with some of the world’s most successful leaders in their fields, from tennis player Billie Jean King and film director Lee Daniels to former politician Barney Frank and comedian Margaret Cho, explores how their queer identities positively impacted their careers and lives. Published by Hachette, it was named on the “most anticipated books of fall 2020” by TIME.
Combining his love of fashion and writing through these two pursuits was a natural fit for Gelwicks.
“I’d always really been interested in fashion and the world between fashion and entertainment,” he said. “I also love writing.”
While attending Butler University, the Ohio native spent each summer in New York in a variety of internships, including for Hearst Magazines, one of the largest publishers of magazine media across all platforms.
After graduating, Gelwicks worked at GQ as a fashion assistant and later at Teen Vogue, where he did celebrity booking. This opened doors for him to launch his own celebrity styling business, leading to the concept he explores in his book.
“I always wanted to get back into writing as a hobby and a side passion,” Gelwicks said. “When I started thinking about the concept of the queer advantage and what that meant to me, someone who grew up queer in the Midwest, it was really interesting.”
Working with celebrities and their teams, Gelwicks created a project where he was able to share the inspiring stories of these accomplished leaders in a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.
“I think for so much of the conversation around being queer or being different in general is negative,” Gelwicks said. “We hear a lot of stories of trauma and the hardships. These are extremely valid and important stories. But I also think we need to hear the full story, which also includes the positive you really don’t hear about — and about how being queer positively impacted these people’s careers and their lives.”
Gelwicks is bringing this message to the next meeting of PFLAGGP at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in a free, live virtual event. PFLAGGP is the Grosse Pointe chapter of PFLAG, a national organization supporting LGBTQ+ people.
Gelwicks hopes to reach young people struggling with their identities as well as their parents.
“Any parent who is not queer, there’s a learning curve,” he said. “They have not experienced it. Parents want to really help their kids. This is giving parents hope as well who may not be as familiar or understanding or really trying to grapple with or wrap their heads around what the future could look like for their children. Being able to read these very intimate stories about people they may see in magazines or on the red carpet — or they may not have heard of but who are leading companies — they realize: that could be their child.
“This is a wonderful and positive world their kid is entering into,” Gelwicks added. “It is 100 percent a message of hope to children and also to parents and family members as well.”
Maurya Kay, president of PFLAGGP, urges teens, parents, friends and allies to join the presentation and a post-show question-and-answer session.
“Andrew has crafted a very successful career out of what was his passion,” she said, adding his book “is a celebration and a wonderful, positive outlook on embracing one’s authentic identity and how that leads to success.”
She agrees his message of hope is an important one for parents of adolescents whose identities don’t match traditional norms or expectations.
“I want parents to know that whatever their feelings are, positive or negative, what they get from PFLAG is acceptance,” she said.
Gelwicks has been profiled in Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, People, Harper’s Bazaar and WWD, among others, and was featured on the OUT100 in 2020. He lives in New York City. Find out more at andrewgelwicks.com.
The Queer Advantage is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target, among other booksellers. Five signed copies will be raffled off during the presentation.
To register, go to PFLAGAndrewGelwicks.eventbrite.com.
PFLAGGP meetings provide a safe and confidential space for parents, family members and allies who want to share their authentic thoughts and feelings about the experience of having an LGBTQ loved one, LGBTQ individuals who are seeking a supportive community, and community members who are called to action to help with support, education and advocacy for LGBTQ individuals. For more information, email pflaggp@gmail.com.
“The 1619 Project” Education Network
The Pulitzer Center has announced a new initiative: The 1619 Project Education Network, inviting educators, administrators, content specialists, and curriculum supervisors for K-12 schools and school districts to apply for the inaugural cohort of The 1619 Project Education Network.
As part of this paid, virtual program, a cohort of 40 education professionals will receive grants of $5,000 each to support the exploration of key questions of racial justice and other pressing issues in a community that also includes award-winning journalists and the Pulitzer Center education team.
Applications are due Monday, March 15.
Cohort participants will receive:
A $5,000 grant to support curriculum development and other costs ($2,500 after the network orientation on April 10, and $2,500 upon receipt of grant deliverables).
Access to professional development workshops led by journalists, scholars, and Center staff.
Access to a virtual portal that shares curriculum, showcases student work, and provides methods for participants to network and collaborate.
Click here for more information on eligibility and requirements or apply here.