Date: Thu, 29 Oct 98 18:49:26 -0500 From: NGLTF Subject: NGLTF Creating Change Update *********************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Tracey Conaty, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager tconaty@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 *********************************************** LARGEST ANNUAL POLITICAL CONFERENCE OF GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY WILL CONVENE IN PITTSURGH WASHINGTON, DC---October 29, 1998--- Creating Change, the largest annual political conference of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) policy makers, leaders, activists, and organizers will convene in Pittsburgh from November from 11 -15. Nearly 2000 people will gather to discuss and debate some of the most pressing issues facing GLBT people, including a discussion of the 105th Congress and an evaluation of the 1998 elections (including state initiative battles in Alaska and Hawaii). Also, Wyoming activists and friends of Matthew Shepard will participate in the official launching of Equality Begins at Home. Equality Begins at Home, which will take place March 21 - 27, is the first-ever coordinated series of actions for GLBT equality in each state and territory. The following is a sampling of Creating Change events: PLENARY SESSIONS "What is the Movement Doing to My Politics?" addresses the political beliefs, principles and ethics that define and drive the GLBT movement's work looks at the process by which its priorities evolve. Speakers include presidential appointee Virginia Apuzzo, Richard Burns of the New York City Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center, Sydney Levy of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Yale University political science professor Cathy Cohen, and special guest Linda Chavez-Thompson of the AFL-CIO (Thursday night). "Many Dreamers, One Dream: Justice for All" will address the current state of alliances between the GLBT movement and other movements. Featured speakers are National Organization for Women president Patricia Ireland and the Honorable Byron Rushing of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (Friday morning). "Why Must They Erase Our Art?" is a look at the erasure of GLBT lives from art and culture and a discussion of the resistance to representations of minority sexualities and genders. Speakers are Gary Schwartz of the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression, Luis Alfaro of the Latino Theatre Initiative at the Mark Taper Forum, writer and activist Sarah Schulman, writer and comedian Kate Clinton, and Graciela Sanchez of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center (Saturday morning). "Family: An Act of Faith And Politics" explores the relationship between our community family of friends, comrades, and colleagues and the families we are creating with partners and children. Speakers are Harold Kooden, author and national coordinator of Psychologists for Social Action; Unity Fellowship Movement president Dr. Marjorie Hill; Felicia Park Rogers, director of Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere; and Elias Farajaje-Jones, Starr King School for the Ministry Professor of Cultural Studies (Sunday brunch). MEETINGS, AND OTHER CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Equality Begins at Home Kick Off is a press conference and rally to launch the first-ever coordinated series of marches, rallies, and demonstrations for GLBT equality in state capitals and territories (week of March 21 - 27, 1999 ). Wyoming activists and friends of Matthew Shepard will be on hand as special guests (Friday morning). "Elections 1998: Where Do We Go From Here?" is an evaluation of the 1998 elections by some of our movement's leading experts on electoral and political issues (Saturday morning). Emergency Campus Strategy Meeting has been added to address the hostile climate and outbreak of hate crimes against GLBT students. Participants will include students, campus organizers, anti-violence projects, campus centers, and regional campus conference organizers (Friday and Saturday afternoon). "The 105th Congress-What Happened, What Didn't and Why?" is a report on what we won and lost in the most recent session of Congress and what we can expect in the next session (Saturday afternoon). "Beyond Immutability" is a community forum to address the impact of using genetic or immutability arguments (we can't help it - we're born this way) to secure GLBT rights (Friday night). Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Statewide Organizations will convene for a semi-annual meeting to discuss statewide organizing. This meeting is limited to Federation representatives (Thursday all day). Directors of GLBT Campus Resource Centers, GLOBE (federal employees), and safe school advocates will each hold daylong meetings. These meetings may be limited to members or representatives of the organizations gathering (Thursday all day). Networking Sessions for activists of color, Jewish activists, labor activists, American Indian/Native American/Alaskan Native activists, Pennsylvania activists, community of faith organizers, youth activists, and more (throughout the conference). "Equality Begins at Home: Action Begins with You!" is a chance to meet with EBAH steering committee members and national coordinator Paula Ettelbrick to learn more about the first-ever week of coordinated actions in state and territorial capitals - slated for the week of March 21 -27, 1999. Organizing materials will be distributed (Friday afternoon). Public Conversation with Barbara Smith and Joo-Hyun Kang is a discussion about politics, culture and social movements. Smith is a veteran lesbian feminist organizer, activist, writer, and editor. Kang is executive director of the Audre Lorde Project in Brooklyn (Friday afternoon). "Coors Money, Our Politics" is a discussion of the political implications of accepting funding from organizations or corporations linked to the right wing (Saturday afternoon). "Intergenerational Dialogue" where old, young, and in-between can cross the generation divide (Saturday afternoon). "Men's Body Images" is a discussion for men about their bodies and their images of them (Saturday afternoon). CULTURAL AND SPECIAL EVENTS Special NGLTF Reception at the fabulous Andy Warhol Museum for all Leadership Council members (Friday night). Book Signings by noted writers and activists Barbara Smith, Sarah Schulman, Michael Bronski, and Suzanne Pharr and comedian Kate Clinton (Friday and Saturday). "Queerly Visible" is a retrospective of the photography of longtime activist and artist Joan E. Biren. Biren will be on hand to discuss her work (Friday afternoon). "License to Kill", the noted documentary by Arthur Dong on gay bashers and gay bashing will be screened (Saturday afternoon). Meet the Funders Reception is an opportunity to meet some of the movement's most important grant-making foundations. The reception is hosted by the Gill Foundation, the Working Group on Funding Lesbian/Gay Issues, the Funding Exchange, the National Network of Grantmakers, Astraea Lesbian Action Fund, Uncommon Legacy, and Pittsburgh's own Lambda Foundation (Saturday night). "Triangle Fest of Humor and Music" featuring the comedy of Karen Williams and Steve Moore and live music by Cross Current, Bitch and Animal, and the Amazing Gospel Circus of Love (Saturday night). Workshops, Workshops, and more Workshops There will be hundreds of skills building, organizing, and issue-oriented workshop (the number of workshops on each topic is in parenthesis): Aging/Ageism (4); AIDS/HIV and Health (6); Anti-Violence (6); Campus (11); Domestic Partnership (3); Elections/Campaigns (5); Families (5); Fighting the Right (4); Fundraising (17); International (2); Leadership (2); Legislative (9); Marriage (3); Media (7); Movement Building (14); Organizational Development (8); Organizing (14); People of Color (5); Political Questions (7); Public Schools (6); Queer Feminist (4); Sexual Politics (9); Speaker's Bureau/Public Speaking (4); Spirituality/Faith (7); Statewide Organizing (3); Survivin'/Thrivin' (3); Technology (7); Transgender (6); Workplace (5); Youth (10). For registration information, visit http://www.ngltf.org/cc98. -30- _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . 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