A fabulous Creating Change 2011 wraps – see you next year in Baltimore!

Today marks the final day of the 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. We hope to see everyone next year for Creating Change 2012 in Baltimore, Md. At the closing plenary brunch today, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) addressed the crowd, emphasizing that America is ready for equality. He encouraged the crowd to put action into activism, and to use the conference for renewal. Calling on everyone to remember that we create change, he stated, “Politicians don’t make change, people make change.”

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Kylar Broadus received the Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement for his work. Broadus, a professor, attorney and activist, is a committed and courageous voice for equality and justice. He has been on the board of directors of the Stonewall Democrats since 1998, and serves on the board of directors of the National Black Justice Coalition. He founded the Trans People of Color Coalition, the only national social justice organization serving transgender people of color.

Alyssa Veil accepted the Paul A. Anderson Award for Youth Leadership today. A high school senior in Blake Upper School, Alyssa delivered a senior speech titled The Ultimatum of GLBT Discrimination, where she shared her journey of coming out, talked about LGBT youth suicide and her own experience with suicide. Alyssa has flourished in school as a gifted hockey player, artist and student leader in the school’s Gay Straight Alliance.

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Bringing a festive end to Creating Change, hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-Des & She gave an inspiring, raucous performance.

See you next year in Baltimore Jan. 25-29, for Creating Change 2012! “It’ll be divine, Darling!” Be sure to Like our Facebook page to stay updated until then!