Human Rights

Advancing LGBT Rights

Events

21 November 2012

Out for Change: The Future of LGBT Rights

On November 28, 2012, the Ford Foundation brought together LGBT leaders and allies, artists, journalists, technologists, policymakers and funders to explore the next opportunities for progress for the LGBT movement, how social justice can be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to engage broad communities in securing rights for LGBT people.

About the Event

Click below on any title to expand all and get a full description, speaker info and video from the event

Highlights from Out for Change

A day with LGBT rights-focused social change makers. See Rea Carey, Carvens Lissaint, Kate Kendell, Kenji Yoshino, James Schamus and many others. Learn more about our LGBT initiative at http://www.fordfoundation.org/issues/human-rights/advancing-lgbt-rights
Perspectives from Across the Country

Securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is the civil and human rights cause of our generation. The foundation presents some unique perspectives from the LGBT community. Individuals, couples and families from across the United States share their stories of struggle, inclusion and hope.
Welcome

Ford Foundation President Luis Ubiñas; Maya Harris, vice president of Democracy, Rights and Justice; and Surina Khan, director of the foundation's Advancing LGBT Rights initiative welcome attendees to the Nov. 28 event.
Session 1 The Road to Equity: Where Do We Need to Go?
The opening session of Out for change focuses on the challenges and opportunities the LGBT movement faces and what advancements can be made. Moderated by Laura Flanders, panelists include Rea Carey, Geoffrey Winder, Chai Feldblum and Richard Socarides.
- Laura Flanders (Moderator) Host, The Laura Flanders Show
- Rea Carey Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
- Chai Feldblum Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Geoffrey Winder Senior Manager of Racial and Economic Justice, Programs, Gay-Straight Alliance Network
- Richard Socarides Attorney and Commentator
Special Performance by Carvens Lissaint and Ceez Liive
Spoken word poets Carvens Lissaint and Ceez Liive present "Switch" about gender, race and sexuality.,
- Carvens Lissaint Spoken Word Poet
- Cees Liive Spoken Word Poet
Session 2 Who’s In, Who’s Out: Building Alliances to Grow the Base
A conversation about how the LGBT movement can be integrated into a broader social justice movement is moderated by Jonathan Capehart. Panelists include Reverend Delman L. Coates, Jorge Gutierrez, Kate Kendell, Ai-jen Poo and Neera Tanden.
- Jonathan Capehart (Moderator) Journalist, Washington Post
- Reverend Delman Coates Pastor, Mount Ennon Baptist Church
- Kate Kendell Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
- Jorge Gutierrez Project Coordinator, Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project
- Ai-Jen Poo Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance
- Neera Tanden President, Center for American Progress
Lunch Discussion A Conversation with Dustin Lance Black and Kenji Yoshino
When his screenplay for “Milk” won an Academy Award in 2009, Dustin Lance Black promised LGBT youth that they would soon have equal rights on a federal level. This year, Black’s play “8,” based on the Federal Proposition 8 trial, is breaking online viewership records while hundreds of original productions are put on across the country. At this lunchtime session Black and NYU Law Professor Kenji Yoshino discuss opportunities for advancing LGBT rights and supporting and inspiring a younger generation to lead the drive for social change.
- Dustin Lance Black Screenwriter, Producer and Director
- Kenji Yoshino Professor, New York University School of Law
Session 3 The Culture Curve: Is Culture Ahead of Us or Behind Us?
B. Ruby Rich moderates a panel discussion on shifting public perceptions and building broad-based support for LGBT rights—with Nekisa Cooper, Sasha Constanza-Chock, James Schamus, Amy Ray and John Waters.
- B. Ruby Rich (Moderator) Film Critic and Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Nekisa Cooper Film Producer, “Pariah”
- Sasha Costanza-Chock Assistant Professor, MIT Comparative Media Studies
- Amy Ray Musician
- James Schamus CEO, Focus Features
- John Waters Filmmaker
Special Performance by BETTY
The Emmy award-winning pop rock band close Out for Change with passion, song, and a message of tolerance.
- BETTY New York City-Based Alternative Rock Band

Blog

Resources

Follow the conversation on Twitter with #outforchange
Read about our Advancing LGBT Rights initiative
Learn about the event’s live bloggers:
- Sonal Bains Digital Strategist, Out for Change lead blogger, @sonalbee
- Joseph Huff-Hannon Writer, Producer, Campaigner, @JoeHuffHannon
- Malika Zouhali-Worrall Malika Zouhali-Worrall, “Call Me Kuchu” Co-director/Producer, @callmekuchu