My name is Adam Polaski, and I'm a writer, graphic designer, storyteller, digital strategiest, and content developer in New York.

I work at Freedom for All Americans, the national campaign to win LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination protections, following nearly four years with Freedom to Marry, the campaign that won marriage for same-sex couples nationwide, as the Deputy Digital Director. Through my work, I brand movements and drive social action to help us win.

I've designed for issue-focused political campaigns, political candidates, and small businesses, and I've written for publications, blogs, national organizations and state advocacy efforts.

Let's talk about how I can help your effort!

Web & Graphic Design Services

I provide graphic design services, website construction, and digital strategy consulting for a wide range of clients. Take a look at some examples of my work. And visit my full portfolio of graphic design work.

Website Design & Construction

I build online hubs, designing and adapting Tumblr, Wordpress and Weebly themes to fit your brand.

Social Graphics

I create branded graphics optimized for sharing on social media, driving people to your website or building your social engagement.

Print Materials

Whether it's a report, a poster, a door hanger, a bumper sticker, a T-shirt, or a letterhead, I design branded materials ready to be printed.

Mailings & Programs

I design beautiful, printed fundraising asks, candidate cards, or full booklets ready for mail distribution.

Logo Design

I create new brands and logos to showcase your style, tone and goals.

Web & Graphic Design Portfolio

Highlights and selected pieces from graphic design and web projects I've worked on. See my full design portfolio here.

Freedom to MarryMay 2012 - June 2016

I designed hundreds of social media share graphics, development documents, web pages, and other elements for the national campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples.

Freedom for All AmericansApril 2015 - Present

I launched and ran the day-to-day social brand for the national campaign to win comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans.

Campaign for Southern EqualityJuly 2015 - Present

To launch this marriage-specific campaign in Texas, I created dozens of social media graphics and content.

State Marriage CampaignsSeptember 2013 - July 2015

I provided essential social media design support for a half-dozen LGBT organizations, leveraging their established brands with compelling share graphics.

Jasmine for BuncombeOctober 2015 - March 2016

I worked with Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, a Buncombe County Commission candidate, on her logo, website, social graphics, and print materials.

LGBT in the South ConferenceJanuary 2016 - April 2016

I built the brand, designed the full 40-page program book, and developed all signage for this 500-person conference in North Carolina.

The Freedom to Marry, the DocumentaryJune 2016 - Present

I built the brand, designed the full 40-page program book, and developed all signage for this 500-person conference in North Carolina.

Lindsey for AshevilleJune 2015 - November 2015

I worked with Asheville City Council candidate Lindsey Simerly on her logo, website, and print materials.

Brazil & Burke LawSeptember 2015 - January 2016

I redesigned the website and recreated the logo for this Asheville, North Carolina-based law firm.

We Are the TigersMarch 2015 - November 2015

I created the website, several social media graphics, and several online and print advertisements for this world premiere musical in Los Angeles.

Writing Portfolio

"Winning the Freedom to Marry Nationwide: The Inside Story of a Transformative Campaign " Freedom to Marry, October 2015

I wrote this long-form, 12-chapter history of the fight to win marriage for same-sex couples for the final, "legacy" version of Freedom to Marry's website.

"Movement + Strategy + Campaign: The Freedom to Marry Winning Combination" Love Unites Us, June 2016

I co-wrote a chapter with Freedom to Marry founder Evan Wolfson for this anthology chronicling the history of the movement to win marriage for same-sex couples.

"Family Physician Faced Employment Discrimination After Coming Out" Freedom for All Americans, June 2016

For this profile I highlighted the employment discrimination that Dr. Bobbi Lancaster faced when she attempted to transition from male to female at work.

"With You Always: Letters to my Wife" Freedom to Marry, September 10, 2013

In this profile, I spoke with the first person in the country to legally bury their same-sex spouse in a military cemetery. The piece chronicles the couple's love through letters and vignettes of their many years together.

"A Smooching Story" Medium, July 27, 2016

A personal essay I read in front of 1,000 people at the "SummerScreen" event in McCarren Park, focused on high school romance.

"Remembering to Let Go" Hello Mr., Spring 2014

In my third essay for Hello Mr., I explored the challenges - and relief - that came with moving on from heartbreak and building a friendship with my ex.

"2016 Legislative Session In Review: How We Moved Forward and Pushed Back in Statehouses Nationwide" Freedom for All Americans, May 27, 2016

This blog post for Freedom for All Americans showcases my work compiling and structuring themes from the work to win LGBT non-discrimination. It features an interactive map that I compiled summarizing the legislative session.

"Same-Sex Couples Take a Stand Against Amendment 1 in North Carolina" Freedom to Marry, May 9, 2014

I traveled to Raleigh in May 2014 to cover the second anniversary of the passage of Amendment 1, and anti-gay constitutional amendment in NC. I took photos, edited audio, and wrote about a peaceful act of civil disobedience.

"Committing to Being Dead" The Good Men Project, June 1, 2011

Matt Thompson had given up any possibility of returning home from Iraq - but he returned safely. Now, over a year later, he still can't shake the urge to go back.

"Who You Gonna Call?" Medium, March 10, 2016

A humorous essay on dating in New York City and an attempt to address the "ghosting" epidemic.

"Son of Transgender Woman in Wisconsin Aims to Help Others Journey Toward Understanding" Freedom for All Americans, May 16, 2016

One of my best interviews for the campaign to win LGBT non-discrimination was with Robert, who spoke about his transgender parent, including how his faith helped him better understand the need to be supportive and accepting.

"From This Day Forward" Medium, March 2015

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments on the case that would ultimately bring the freedom to marry to same-sex couples nationwide, I wrote this in-depth feature on the plaintiffs, showing the long list of ways that marriage matters.

"Wouldn't It Be Nice?" Hello Mr., Fall 2013

This second essay for Hello Mr. takes a look at the "one who got away" with a healthy mix of humor and angst, imagining what life could have been like for us.

"Interview: GLAAD President Addresses Recent Controversies" The Bilerico Project, June 8, 2011

After being criticized by bloggers and a former board co-chair, GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios spoke with me about the organization's finances, recent endorsement of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, and their stance on net neutrality.

"LGBT University Apprentice in Florida Works to Strengthen Orlando Community" Freedom for All Americans, July 6, 2016

I ghost-wrote this message as an email for an Equality Florida employee who was on the ground in Orlando, Florida following the horrific June 2016 shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.

"The One I Hoped to Find" Freedom to Marry, January 2014

In the days following a federal judge's order declaring Utah's law banning marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional, I spoke with and profiled a great family from Salt Lake City on finally being able to say "I do."

"The Lez Get Real Saga" The Bilerico Project, June 14, 2011

A few days after "The Gay Girl from Damascus" was revealed to be a heterosexual man, the same proved to be true of "Paula Brooks," the longtime editor of lesbian blog Lez Get Real. I spoke with each of the key players in the story, including "Paula Brooks" himself.

"The King's Speech: A Stutterer's Reflection" The Good Men Project, December 28, 2010

Colin Firth's character and I have the same speech impediment: stuttering. I may not be a king, but this movie is my life.

"Sister of a Same-Sex Couple in Utah Speaks Out for Faith, Freedom and Family" Freedom to Marry, February 2014

One of my favorite profiles I've written for Freedom to Marry, this piece centers on Shana Elmer, whose brother is gay. Shana, a Mormon in Utah, takes time here to beautifully meditate on the intersection of her faith and her support for her brother.

"SlutWalk Ithaca: Reclaiming Our Bodies" Buzzsaw, November 9, 2011

Why SlutWalk is about more than just reclaiming a word

Staking a Claim Buzzsaw, February 20, 2012

A 15-minute documentary about youth involvement in local politics through the lens of Svante Myrick, a 24-year-old Cornell University graduate who became the youngest mayor in Ithaca's history.

"Nice to See You" Hello Mr., Spring 2013

"Because I wasn't supposed to be on a date in October. I was supposed to be going to dinner with you, and hanging out with your friends, and telling you how much I love you."

"The Big, Gay Elephant in the Room" Buzzsaw, October 17, 2010

How Republicans are rehabilitating their image by coming out for gay rights

"Mark Horvath: Shattering the Self-Made Man Myth" The Good Men Project, May 6, 2011

Mark Horvath, by pooling resources and drawing on thousands of social media addicts, is working to show how communities can effect change.

"The Girl Who Didn't Need Feminism" Medium, August 1, 2014

In this fictional piece, I wrote about the context for the infamous "women Who Don't Need Feminism" Tumblr, examining her motivations and imagining her reconsideration.

"DADT Repeal Risks Distraction from Anti-War Efforts" The Ithacan, October 12, 2011

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell debate puts my pro-LGBT and anti-war values at odds.

"Blurring the Lines of Military Masculinity" The Good Men Project's "Good Feed," March 8, 2011

Could the mere insinuation that the military isn't the end-all, be-all Mecca of masculinity shake the foundations of what it means to be a man? Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo addresses the question.

"The Broadband Internet Desert" Buzzsaw, April 6, 2011

Exploring the digital divide in rural and urban communities

"Taking a Stand for Marriage in Texas" Freedom to Marry, June 2014

This story takes a look at the lead plaintiffs in a case where a judge struck down the Texas marriage ban. The women recall falling in love and their fears on not being respected as a family.

"The Joy of Sox: Learning the Ins and Outs of Starting a Non-Profit" Generocity, July 7, 2011

Every good non-profit organization deserves a good genesis story. And The Joy of Sox, a new “start-up” non-profit based out of Wayne, sure has a good one.

"Love in the Time of Lymphoma" The Good Men Project, March 29, 2012

When Daniel Haack was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 22, he started using a different line at bars: “Hey, my name’s Daniel, and I have cancer.”

"Coming Out of the Cyber Closet" The Good Men Project, June 7, 2011

YouTube videos are just one way LGBT people are utilizing the Internet as an integral part of the coming-out process.

"Why a Gay Cupcake is Worth a Thousand Words" AlterNet, July 3, 2012

When we take the time to explain why marriage matters to our friends and family members we continue propelling the national conversation on marriage forward.

Awards & Societies

• National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association Award, "Excellence in Online Journalism," 2012 Third-place Award recognizing my independently-reported four-part series on Lez Get Real for The Bilerico Project, published June 2011.
• GLAAD Media Award nomination with The Bilerico Project, Outstanding Blog, 2012 The Bilerico Project was nominated for Outstanding Blog in January 2012, recognizing the blog's work in 2011, during which I served six months as Editorial Intern and then Associate Editor.
• Park Scholar Award, 2008-2012 Full merit-based scholarship to Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications, based on academic success, leadership skills, service commitment and passion for communications
• Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership, 2011 Ithaca College award recognizing students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment.
• Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honors Society, Inducted Fall 2009 The National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. Served as chapter secretary 2010-2012.