Jacob Tobia

Jacob Tobia (born August 7, 1991) is an American LGBTQ rights activist, feminist writer, and co-producer and host for the MSNBC television series Queer 2.0. 2Early life and education Tobia's grandparents were Syrians who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s. They spoke Arabic, "the language that I do not speak but wish I could." Tobia was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated in 2010 from Raleigh Charter High School, where they were president of the Gay Straight Alliance and active in student government. They went on to graduate summa cum laude from Duke University with a degree in Human Rights Advocacy. While a student at Duke, Tobia served as the vice president of equity and outreach for Duke Student Government, was co-president of Blue Devils United, and president of Duke Students for Gender Neutrality. 2Career and activism Tobia is a Point Foundation Scholar, Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a recipient of the Campus Pride National Voice and Action Award. Tobia's writing has been featured on MSNBC, MTV, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, Jezebel and other media outlets. Tobia has also served on conference panels and spoken at Harvard University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and various LGBTQ conferences across the United States. Tobia worked for the United Nations Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice before starting a career in television. In September 2013, Tobia raised over $10,000 for the Ali Forney Center running across the Brooklyn Bridge in five-inch heel