Labor and Employment Litigator Zekiah N. Wright
Zekiah N. Wright
In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood.
Zekiah N. Wright (They/Them) is a Labor and Employment Litigator in West Hollywood, California. As a Florida Native and queer youth who was raised in the South, Zekiah chose to relocate to Los Angeles to experience living fully and authentically as themself. Zekiah grew up in a religious environment that was oppressive towards LGBTQ identities. It was these experiences that led Zekiah to advocate for the rights of LGBTQ people throughout their entire life. In law school, Zekiah co-founded and served as the inaugural President of the Stonewall LGBTQ Student Bar Association, the school’s first LGBTQ Bar Association.
What are you best known for?
To my friends and those that know me, I am known for being thoughtful, kind, even-tempered, and contemplative. I think I am fun and funny, but I think my partner might side-eye the latter part. To the outside world, I am known for my advocacy and volunteerism in the LGBTQ+ community. Fighting for my community to be seen, heard, elevated, and to live prosperous lives, excites my soul. I started my law school’s first LGBTQ student bar association, mentored LGBTQ+ youth in a pilot program for Mentor’s Inc., do pro bono work in gender-marker and name-change clinics, started a law firm to serve predominantly LGBTQ+ clients, serve on the Board of Directors of an LGBTQ+ oriented nonprofit, ProjectQ, and I’m currently running for City Council in the Queerest City in the World, West Hollywood (okay, I don’t know if it is truly the queerest city, but I would love for it to be. #speakitintoexistence).
What is the first thing you worked on?
In high school, I ran for student government. I was so excited to make changes in my school and implement my ideas. My excitement was contagious and I even had my mom, who is not political at all, help me make campaign buttons to give away to my classmates. But, I didn’t win and that loss stuck with me until my late 20s. As background, my high school was predominantly white and in the South. There was the typical Southern-style racism, where people flew confederate flags from their trucks while blasting Nelly’s “Country Grammar”. I experienced that type of racism often, but I didn’t have words for it. While I don’t know if racism was the reason I didn’t win I know my race played a part in why I didn’t. The disappointment and fear of putting myself out there stayed with me. In college, I wanted to run for student government but because the demographics of my college were similar to my high school, I didn’t run. I remained active in advocacy groups and politics, but I didn’t run again until law school, where I ran for class president and won. It’s worth mentioning that I attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Law School, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University). For once, I felt confident that I would be judged based on my ideas and not discounted because of my race. To bring this full-circle, I am now running for City Council in a predominantly-white city. The difference between who I was and who I am now, is the internal reckoning with systemic racism. Now, I can look at a situation and say, “Oh yeah, I have seen that before, I know what that is.” I am also willing to put myself out there now because my voice is needed in the conversations happening in city hall. I’ll bring a fresh perspective to the issues facing West Hollywood residents and ensure our community’s voices are heard. My lived experiences shape the way I’ll govern, which will be in the interest of those untold stories and unheard voices. It will also be monumental, in that I’d be the first Black councilmember, first Non-Binary councilmember, and third Lesbian councilmember in the City’s 38 year history.
What are you working on that no one knows about yet?
While I hope people know and are excited that I am running for West Hollywood City Council, I am aware that “regular people” aka everyone except politicians and campaign staffers are not thinking about the November election yet. Of course, I use the term “regular people'' in jest, fully understanding that although I spend much of my energy and time campaigning, most people will not think about the election until the Fall. As part of my campaign, I am also working on connecting one-on-one and with small groups of people to have thoughtful conversations about their needs from their elected officials. I also have ideas about addressing homelessness, increasing affordable housing and renters’ rights, creating greater business sustainability, streamlining internal city processes, and so much more, that I hope to reveal in the coming months.