About Gwynn Lanning
My name’s Gwynn Lanning and I’m a musician, composer, Suicide prevention advocate, and LGBTQ rights activist. I’ve been composing music for ten years and view it as both a profession and a kind of personal/communal therapy. Over the years, I’ve played at LGBTQ community events, senior citizens homes, and local shops. My goal as a composer and activist is to spread messages via music, encouraging people to feel and talk about their personal struggles in an open and safe environment.
Suicide prevention became a priority to me after the loss of my friend, Benji, in 2015. The shock his death sent me into caused me to seek counseling for my own depression and find resources to help people who were struggling with suicidal ideation. I took part in creating and organizing a three-year event called Listen to Your Art, which specialized in aiding people with Suicidal ideation and donated over $20,000 to the Trevor Project. My friend and schoolmate, Callay Boire-Shedd, who shared the experience with Benji, became involved with the S-word and offered me the opportunity to share my story with this organization. I am proud to have come this far in my music, knowledge, and voice. I hope to continue working with the S-word and other organizations to help better our national and global community.
