Fission Strategy is proud to announce Jose Antonio Vargas and the Define American campaign catalyzed by his story have been named in The Most Heroic Gawker Characters of 2011.

Vargas garnered explosive worldwide attention for his June 22 New York Times Magazine essay, "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant," giving insight into his life after entering the U.S. at the age of 12 and providing a backdrop for the discussion on immigration policy that would the foundation of the Define American project.

According to Gawker’s Maureen O'Connor, Vargas’ story is “extraordinary precisely because it is so ordinary—shared by millions of undocumented immigrants living and working within our borders—but rare discussed in the first person in public.” With Define American, new voices can participate in the conversation surrounding immigration policy, showing support from citizens and non-citizens alike for greater inclusion of undocumented immigrants.

Other heroic characters on Gawker’s list include high school children that challenged Michele Bachmann and her views on the LGBT community, Gennette Cordova, the woman who was the recipient of lewd photos from Congressman Weiner, and Aaron Jamison, a man who suffered terminal colon cancer and was forced to resort to selling ad space for his future cremation urn. The list also featured Kathy Vitzthum, who graduated from Iowa State University after 19 years, Alec Baldwin, Barney Frank, deejay PAZ, and an unnamed CBS Interactive Manager.

Fission is proud to work with Jose and Define American and appreciate Gawker’s support!

Read the full article here.