The 22nd annual gathering of the Leadership Conference is here, who’s ready? Shortly, Equality Federation and Fairness Campaign will co-host over 200+ LGBTQ state and national movement leaders in Louisville, KY [press release]. Attendees will strategize, mobilize and connect on critical movement conversations on issues like: racial justice, HIV, conversion therapy and nondiscrimination. Many have already touched down, and we look forward to welcoming everyone at tonight’s Welcome Reception.

Here’s five ways you can participate this week:

1. Join the conversation online via #EqFed19.
2. Follow us on Instagram and tweet us at @EqualityFed.
3. Engage attending organizations via our Twitter list.
4. Attending? The official Leadership Conference app has been updated to feature speaker social handles.
5. This live blog! Our live blog will host daily round-ups each evening.

DAY 1 – Thursday, July 18, 2019

Welcome Reception photos, have a look!

Ending the Epidemic: How LGBTQ Organizations Can Fight HIV –

1) Ian Palmquist shared about Equality Federation’s work to bring HIV and LGBTQ advocacy groups together, including our partnership with Fairness Campaign to strengthen the coalition here to defeat proposed criminalization efforts.

2) Paul Kawata (NMAC) and Alex Vance (AIDS United) educated Fed members about national efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Paul concluded by issuing a call-to-action to Federation members to participate in local CDC End the Epidemic planning processes this fall.

Plenary Lunch: A reflection on the past, present, and future of our movement: Mara Keisling, Executive Director of National Center for Transgender Equality, Paul Kawata, Executive Director of NMAC, both movement leaders for many decades spoke with Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation, about their reflections on where we have come from, the state of the movement today, and the direction of the movement.

Takeaway 1 | There’s much positive growth in the movement to honor

Mara mentioned that in entering the movement 20 years ago, transgender people’s voices were not at the table. How much this has changed in 20 years is amazing! In 2004, presidential candidates didn’t want to be seen with transgender supporters. Now, 15 years later, we’ve taken major strides. How we did it – all queer people have had the same struggle, but for a long time, there wasn’t a “gay” policy issue that wasn’t also a trans policy issue, even marriage.

Takeaway 2 | Injustices we faced 30 years ago are being experienced once again.

The movement has a long storied past. and many folks began their fight for justice to combat their own experiences. Paul became an advocate because his partner was sick, his generation also lived through the holocaust – he shared about a dinner experience where all servers wore yellow rubber globes to serve them.  “I feel blessed to have lived through it but also sad because there are so many people who should be in this room.” Saying, “It is not an easy life to fight for justice. It is not an easy life to change the world. It is not an easy life to say my voice matters.” His Parents were interred in the camps in WWII and now history is repeating itself. “If there is ever a moment we need people to stand up for each other, this is that moment.”

Takeaway 3 | “We are in a moment where we can end the HIV epidemic in America.”

Paul pointed out that white gay men left the HIV fight after they found treatment, and moved their efforts toward marriage toward marriage equality. Sharing a few critical HIV stats – and especially within the black gay community, he points to how out the HIV fight is not over. The majority of people living with HIV are gay men, the majority of gay men with HIV are African-American, African-American gay men with HIV are under 30, and finally 1/2 of black gay men will get HIV before they die. Years of stigma and oppression has obstructed access to tools like PrEP. And, these tools requires access to health care to work.

“This fall, we will begin building plans in 57 jurisdictions. These plans need the support of local elected to be fully implemented. The Federation is uniquely qualified to get that support. You can end the epidemic today if you can get your elected officials on board.” Paul asked us to stand with him, and we did, committing to that work.

Paul’s call to action was “I came to this meeting to say it is time to come back, to end this epidemic, to do it together.”

Takeaway 4 | The fight for trans access to healthcare has pivoted immensely.

Mara noted two turning points for trans access to healthcare 1) 2001-2002 was a turning point for the trans policy and advocacy, and 2) 2007 was turning point in the fight to keep trans people in ENDA. “The thing that has worn me down the most has always been fighting with friends. We lost that moment but we were fighting for the long run.”

Takeaway 5 |  In the upcoming election, we have a major fight ahead.

Mara shared her thoughts on missed opportunities, saying “I want us moving forward to not miss opportunities, like the one Paul has asked us to join. I want us to not miss the opportunity to get Trump out of office.” The single most important thing for trans people in the next year is beating Donald Trump. If we decide that purity politics is more important than politics we will lose.

We are the people with no power who stood up to the HIV epidemic. We were the trans people who grew up in the 60s and 70s. We can do this if we do this together and if we are smart and strategic.