Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, and as the nation suffers the effects of President Trump's administration, thousands of activists, artists/entertainers, civil rights and social justice leaders will gather for the 109th NAACP Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, July 14 to 18. The five-day convention will include continuing legal education seminars, federal legislative and public policy workshops, youth workshops, civic engagement workshops, the signature NAACP Experience, and more.
The LGBTQ town hall, entitled The State of LGBTQ People of Color in America, will take place on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at 2:30 pm CT at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Moderated by Shijuade Kadree, JD/MPH, Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, the town hall will explore effective strategies for LGBTQ activism; representation in media; and the voting power of the LGBTQ community. Panelists will include:
Marsha R. Bonner, Diversity, Inclusion & Equality Empowerment Speaker & Founder, H.U.G.S. Movement
Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., President/ CEO of the Center for Black Equity and Chair, DNC LGBT Caucus
David J. Johns, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition
Kierra Johnson, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force
Rev. Irene Monroe, Theologian and Huffington Post Blogger
Angelica Ross, Actress & Founder of TransTech Social Enterprises
Amiyah Scott, Social Media Influencer, Model & Actress
Convention participants, grassroots leaders and sponsors will also gather for an LGBTQ networking reception, where they will hear from NAACP leaders about the current work centered around the LGBTQ community. Leaders will also discussissues including gendered racism, targeted violence and the lack of comprehensive, quality, inequitable and culturally sensitive healthcare.
The events will ensure that the LGBTQ voice is captured as the NAACP continues to advocate for civil and human rights.
Other convention highlights will include the40thanniversary ofNAACP ACT-SO ( Academic, Cultural, Technical and Scientific Olympics ) final competition former San Francisco Mayor, the Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr. will receive the prestigious Spingarn Medal, plus a health pavilion, retail expo, veterans' luncheon and a diversity career fair. More information about the 2018 NAACP National Convention, including a detailed schedule of events may be found by visiting naacpconvention.org .
