Header Image

Wade Rakes ’02

he/him

Chair, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
Wade Rakes

Tiger, Learner, Advocate

At Princeton, Wade Rakes was actively involved in Undergraduate Student Government and Business Today. Since graduation, Wade has worked for an entertainment network, a governor and in the health care industry. He has volunteered consistently for Princeton. He is currently a class agent for 2002 and previously served as a regional association officer, member of the national Annual Giving Committee and member of the President’s Advisory Council. Since 2021, he has served as chair of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ+ officials at all levels of government. Rakes currently lives in Atlanta with his husband, Nick.

Events

Complex Connections: Navigating Intersectionality in the LGBTQ+ Community

Saturday, September 21

This session will explore the origins of the concept of intersectionality and explore personal insights into experiencing intersectionality in daily life. Attendees will gain an understanding of how intersectionality shapes their own lives and the lives of others within the LGBTQ+ community.

Opened by: Catherine Clune-Taylor, Assistant Professor, Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies


Events

Luncheon: Legal Protections and Advocacy for the LGBTQ+ Community

Saturday, September 21

This session on legal protections of and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community will provide vital context on current court rulings and policy developments impacting our community in areas such as healthcare, education and representation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the progress made in the past decade, the ongoing challenges and threats we face, and collective visions for a brighter future. Leave empowered with knowledge and insights to advocate for legal protections and equality for all members of the LGBTQ+ community at the local, state and national levels.

Introduced by: Chad Klaus, Vice President for University Services
Moderated by: Stephen Macedo *87, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the University Center for Human Values