The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Pedro Julio Serrano, Communications Manager
(Office) 646.358.1479
pserrano@theTaskForce.org

More Than 2,000 LGBT Rights Advocates to Converge in Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 2-6, to Strategize and Organize

WASHINGTON

More than 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights
activists from all across the country will converge for the 23rd
National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change in Minneapolis,
Minn., Feb. 2-6. The conference will offer high level and sophisticated
training opportunities for the continued work in securing equality in
light of new challenges brought by the shift of power in Congress.

One of the highlights of the conference will be the Task Force
Academy for Leadership and Action, which will offer nearly 30 different
top-level training sessions, presented and led by top trainers in
political and social justice movements. It will offer trainings in a
wide range of political and organizational skills.

"At a critical time in the struggle for LGBT rights, activists from
all over the country will come together to continue to strengthen the
grassroots in light of the new challenges at the federal level with the
shift of power in Congress. We will continue to strategize and work
harder than ever with local partners in communities across the country
to secure equality," says Sue Hyde, Creating Change director.

As customary, Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey, a leading
voice in the national LGBT rights movement, will give the annual "State
of the Movement" address to the full assembly on Friday, Feb. 4 in which
she will present a vision for the year ahead in the struggle for LGBT
equality. The speech is an opportunity to take stock of the past year
and lay out a plan to move forward in the year ahead. It is one of the
most anticipated events of the Creating Change conference.

New this year will be a particular focus on faith issues. Practice
Spirit, Do Justice will take place in conjunction with the Creating
Change conference. Participants will learn the skills necessary to build
a pro-LGBT religious movement that sparks campaigns within religious
traditions and in secular society through multi-faith organizing. It
also builds the organizations, networks and relationships of the
movement.

Creating Change reflects the breadth and scope of diversity of the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and supporters of LGBT
rights. It is the largest organizing conference for LGBT rights
supporters in the United States. The conference also features more than
10 additional daylong institutes on Feb. 2-3, focusing on a variety of
topics and leadership-building sessions. These include anti-racism work,
LGBT youth, transgender rights, faith work and sexual liberation.

For more information about the conference and to register, please visit www.CreatingChange.org.

The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We are building a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we've made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That's why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you. Join us!