Who you gonna call? Phobe-busters! Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, and while we practice the day’s message 24 / 7 / 365, we can’t say the same about everyone. Which is why GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis (she / her) is working to suck up all the anti-queer ghouls and goblins haunting our Twitter feeds.

Here, we asked the advocate how she’s paving a path to a more inclusive future, how on-screen representation affects IRL legislation, and how we can be supportive allies.

Tell us about your job.
I ensure that the LGBTQ community is represented in an accurate and fair way. At GLAAD, we go to where the power centers are—like this next week, I’ll be at the World Economic Forum to meet with heads of state and CEOs to make sure issues facing the LGBTQ community are on their agenda. Whether it’s Hollywood or Silicon Valley, we’re there to ensure we’re represented as a community.

How does increased representation in media affect the actual life experiences of LGBTQ people?
It’s a double-edged sword. If we look specifically at trans and gender-nonconforming representation, it’s at its highest levels ever. Then you overlay what’s happening at the state level—which is nearing 250 anti-LGBTQ bills. As visibility grows, so does pushback. It gets to a point, though, where our storytelling tips the scales. Right now, we’re at a place where the misinformation and disinformation are taking hold. But we are fighting back by flooding the airwaves with stories of trans and gender-nonconforming people to show what we have in common—not to build fear.

How else is GLAAD responding to this wave of anti-LGBTQ bills?
We’re working very hard behind the scenes on the Equality Act. It’s a piece of comprehensive legislation sitting in the Senate that builds in protections for the LGBTQ community. With the potential unraveling of Roe V. Wade, the decisions on marriage equality and employment safety for the LGBTQ community all hang on the sidelines. There are 9 justices standing between us and our rights, and 6 of them are happy to walk us right back into the closet. We talk about intersectionality, and this is a case in point right here.

How can we be strong allies during this time?
In the next few months, it is important for our allies to participate, especially if you live in a state with a Republican senator. Call that senator and tell them you support the Equality Act. Tell them you need this for your family and friends. Then when you go to the polls in November, make sure you’re voting for pro-equality candidates. Also, when we walk out of rooms, our allies are still there when people might speak their “truth” and say, “Yeah, I don’t really understand trans people,” or, “It’s fine as long as it’s not in my face.” They might not say that to us where we can help educate them. And quite honestly, it’s exhausting educating all the time, so please step in and help.