Who We Are
A Movement of Action. A Force for Change.
VIVID is a bold, unapologetic movement dedicated to LGBTQIA+ political mobilization, crisis protection, and holding power accountable. We do not operate like traditional nonprofits that focus solely on awareness—we are an action-based force dedicated to real, measurable change. Our mission is clear: train and empower young LGBTQIA+ leaders to run for office, organize voter registration drives, build real-time protection networks for those in danger, and expose corporations, schools, and institutions that fail our community. We are here to defend, mobilize, and enforce progress.
A Movement Forged in Action
VIVID didn’t appear overnight—it was built through defiance, resilience, and the refusal to accept injustice. What started as a grassroots response to attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights evolved into something stronger: a movement that doesn’t just resist but enforces change.
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The fight didn’t start with us, but we are here to push it forward—louder, bolder, and more relentless than ever.
Our Origin
From We March We Rise to VIVID
VIVID was born from We March, We Rise, a grassroots movement formed in response to the relentless wave of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and sentiment spreading across the United States. We saw our rights being debated, legislated against, and stripped away—not just by lawmakers, but by corporations and institutions complicit in our erasure.
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We realized awareness alone wasn’t enough.
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We realized “waiting for change” meant losing ground.
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We realized we had to push back—not just march but mobilize.
That’s why we rebranded as VIVID—a more aggressive, more unapologetic, and more action-driven nonprofit organization. We are not here to be polite, to ask nicely, or to settle for half-measures. We are here to demand, to organize, and to win.
What Sets VIVID Apart?
Beyond Advocacy.
Beyond Awareness.
We Take Action.
We are not a passive organization. We do not exist to "raise awareness"—we exist to create action. We are not here to just advocate for rights—we are here to enforce them.
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Unlike traditional LGBTQIA+ nonprofits, we do not rely on slow-moving policies and legislative delays to determine our strategy. Instead, we focus on immediate action, strategic mobilization, and direct community support. Our work includes:
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Training LGBTQIA+ leaders to run for office and fight for our rights in government.
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Organizing rapid-response crisis teams to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals facing danger.
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Investigating and exposing corporations, schools, and institutions that fail our community.
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Building an LGBTQIA+ legal and protest defense network to push back against criminalization.
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Funding and supporting local activists to create change in their communities.​
VIVID is built on the belief that change is not given—it is taken. We refuse to wait for politicians to grant us rights. We are mobilizing, we are organizing, and we are creating the future we deserve.
The Leaders Behind the Movement
VIVID is powered by those who refuse to accept the status quo—activists, strategists, and organizers dedicated to protecting and advancing LGBTQIA+ rights. We don’t just lead—we take action.
Our leadership is built on experience, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to mobilization, crisis intervention, and accountability. Meet the people driving VIVID forward.
President & Co-Founder
Joe Matthews is a relentless LGBTQIA+ advocate, author, lyricist, and IT professional based in Northern Virginia, originally from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Coming out at a young age, he was thrown headfirst into the fight for equality and has never backed down. He has spent decades refusing to be silent, challenging systemic oppression, and making it clear that LGBTQIA+ rights are not up for debate.
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His activism is deeply rooted in action—Joe has been present at some of the most defining moments in LGBTQIA+ history, including the National Equality March (2009), the Climate March (2017), the Defense of Marriage Act Supreme Court arguments, Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court arguments, and the 2020 AIDS Quilt Display. He has always believed that change doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from showing up, speaking out, and demanding it.
Joe co-founded VIVID with Josh Goodrich and Evan Richter because he was done watching LGBTQIA+ youth be left behind. While some organizations focus on awareness, VIVID is built for action—mobilizing communities, demanding accountability, and creating real, tangible protection for LGBTQIA+ people under attack. Joe is the unapologetic force behind that mission—pushing boundaries, refusing to compromise, and often being the one Josh has to rein in when his fire burns too hot.
At the core of it all, Joe fights because he believes in a future where no LGBTQIA+ kid has to fight alone. And no matter how intense things get, he knows his biggest supporter is always by his side—his dog Eva, who might just end up stealing the show at the march.
Vice President & Co-Founder
Josh Goodrich is a proud member of Washington, DC’s LGBTQIA+ community—one who has witnessed its challenges, setbacks, and triumphs firsthand. But watching was never enough. Now, he stands at the forefront of the fight, working to defend and strengthen the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.
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Believing that answers come only to those who ask and progress only to those who act, Josh co-founded VIVID alongside Joe Matthews and Evan Richter. VIVID isn’t just an organization—it’s a movement. A force built to mobilize communities, demand accountability, and create real, lasting protections for LGBTQIA+ people under attack.
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At VIVID, Josh channels Joe’s passion into action. Together, they are forging a future where equality isn’t up for debate—where LGBTQIA+ rights are not just defended but unshakably protected. Because for them, standing still was never an option.