LGBTQ Rights Historian; Founder of OUTWORDS & Author of "The Book of Pride"

Palm Springs, CA, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Mason Funk Biography

Mason Funk was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Stanford University with a BA in English in 1980. Over the next decade, Funk learned the art of writing while teaching high school English, coaching soccer, and working a wide variety of odd jobs, from picking apples to birthing sheep. He lived for seven years in Lisbon, Portugal, where he started writing for film and television. Returning to Los Angeles at 35, Funk began an award-winning career in nonfiction TV and film, writing and producing programs and documentaries on topics ranging from social issues to sports to science, and earning two Emmy nominations.

In 2014, Funk recognized that the individuals who launched the modern-day LGBTQ+ civil rights movement in the 1960s and '70s – one of the most remarkable social change movements in U.S. history – were becoming elders. It was imperative that their life stories, wisdom, and practical strategies for social change be recorded, preserved, and shared while they were still alive. Fueled by this vision, Funk founded The Outwords Archive (OUTWORDS) in 2016. To date, OUTWORDS has captured nearly 400 interviews with LGBTQ+ pioneers and elders in 47 states. In June 2019, OUTWORDS’ first interview anthology, entitled "The Book of Pride," was published by HarperCollins.

A dynamic speaker and storyteller, Funk has shared stories from OUTWORDS with a wide variety of audiences, including Google, Disney, Microsoft, AARP, the UK Ministry of Justice, and many others.

Funk and his husband, psychotherapist Jay Edwards, divide their time between the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/23/2025.

Mason Funk Speaking Topics

  • "We Changed the World": LGBTQ Elders Look Back

    Since time immemorial, humanity has honored its elders as sources of wisdom, perspective, and grace. Today in America, we’re living in the presence of a unique throng of elders: the people who, over the past 50+ years ago, built the movement to lead lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people out of the shadows and intro mainstream society.

    The path was steep – and this ragtag assembly of dreamers, visionaries and strategists had no roadmap. They only knew (or dared to believe) they didn’t have to live in the shadows any longer. And they succeeded. Today, LGBTQ people are welcomed in our families, workplaces, schools and churches.

    The question is: how did they do it?

    The answers are found inside a groundbreaking oral history project called OUTWORDS, which over the past decade has interviewed nearly 400 LGBTQ elders all across America. Join founder Mason Funk as he shares spellbinding written and video excerpts from OUTWORDS, teasing out the essential human qualities that built a remarkably successful social change movement – and which are relevant to each one of us today on our daily personal and professional journeys.

  • The Path of Progress: Milestones in a Groundbreaking Social Change Movement

    In mid-20th century America, straight was great. Everything else was unthinkable, unspeakable, perverse. If someone had said, “In 2025, openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people will be getting married, running major companies, attending PTA meetings, serving in the military, and even running for President,” no one would have believed it. Yet it’s true.

    This radical reversal represents one of the most remarkable social change stories in history. The question is, how did the modern-day LGBTQ community arise?

    The answers are found inside a groundbreaking oral history project called OUTWORDS, which has interviewed nearly 400 LGBTQ trailblazers and activists all across America. Join founder Mason Funk as he shares spellbinding written and video excerpts from OUTWORDS, weaving a rich tapestry of human courage and determination, and answering questions like:

    • Where, when and how did the modern-day LGBTQ movement start?
    • What qualities did the early leaders exhibit?
    • What setbacks and victories did they experience along the way?
    • How do LGBTQ elders see this current moment in American history?

Read More +

Mason Funk Videos

Mason Funk - OUTWORDS

Mason Funk - OUTWORDS

A heartfelt message from OUTWORDS founder Mason Funk.

  • How do I book Mason Funk to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Mason Funk

    Speaking fees for Mason Funk, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mason Funk are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mason Funk, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mason Funk speak about?

    Mason Funk is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Civil Rights, History, LGBTQ, Social Activism, Storytelling
  • Where does Mason Funk travel from?

    Mason Funk generally travels from Palm Springs, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Mason Funk for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mason Funk for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Mason Funk or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Mason Funk is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as "We Changed the World": LGBTQ Elders Look Back , The Path of Progress: Milestones in a Groundbreaking Social Change Movement, Life as an Open Door: Cultivating the Practice of Curiosity and Honest Questions, Authentic Answers: Understanding the Experiences of Transgender People. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mason Funk for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Mason Funk generally travels from Palm Springs, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Meagan O'Nan, Darian Aaron, Jeffrey Marsh, Lillian Faderman and Jodie Patterson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mason Funk for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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