I want to scream, I want to shout…but I’ll just tell you a lovely little story that happened in my eight year old’s classroom. His whole 2nd grade class presented their nuclear families. Some chose to do a poster, painting, diorama, but the last three kids chose to do a song together – The verses were their own, unique to their family’s interests and the chorus was about them all. I knew the kids personally and their stories pretty well, but what struck me in the moment was how beautifully diverse they were sitting up there together and how just the three of them represented so much of the eclectic wonderful world we live in  –  one girl has two moms who are both deaf, one from LA and one from Kenya, one raised Christian, the other Muslim. The other girl was also multiracial and the boy was adopted by two dads, both immigrants. They’re so much more…but I wanted to point out some of the most striking that our society still struggles with so much…religion, disabilities, LGBTQ+, immigration, adoption, race, et al. I have been so fortunate throughout my life to be surrounded by all of the above. Again, I’m simplifying here with labels, but my father, sister and closest childhood friend are/were all disabled people, my other best friend was black, my brother and many friends are LGBTQ+…and having lived in LA for so long my world is continuously colored in a beautifully diverse humanity. These 3 kids represent the tip of the iceberg…the cherry on top! We’ve politicized everything of late. Everything. Or we’ve thrown religion at each other, or falsities, or power…But let’s not forget basic kindness, understanding, empathy, compassion, acceptance, inclusion, appreciation…and love. #lovewins #diversity #humanity #thebestofhumanity

A little about Brian:

Brian Donovan is an award winning speaker, performer and director. He has been a professional actor for over 30 years in film, television and radio. He has worked on-screen with such luminaries as Jim Belushi, Jim Carrey and Angelina Jolie. He has been the announcer for Disney and voices countless animated heroes; currently as Rock Lee from the juggernaut hit, Naruto. Presently, he can be seen in the indie films, Somebody’s Mother and Fame-ish. www.briandonovan.org

In addition, Brian is the director and producer of the critically acclaimed film, Kelly’s Hollywood (Prime Video www.kellyshollywood.com), and tours around the world advocating for disability rights and equality. Heis also the executive director of the LA Repertory Theater (www.larepertorytheater.org) since 1994, producing and directing more than 50 inner-city high school workshops and live shows.

Brian lives in Los Angeles with his family and dog, Cosmo.