Announcing Creating Change 2011 keynote speakers



The Task Force is proud to announce a diverse lineup of keynote speakers for our 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, Feb. 2-6, in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates will converge to strategize and organize for the critical year ahead.

  • On opening night, Thursday, Feb. 3, the Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson of the Metropolitan Community Church, and Bishop Yvette Flunder, founder of City of Refuge Community Church UCC, will give the kick-off plenary, “Practice Spirit, Do Justice: Hard Work for Our Common Good.”
  • On Friday, Feb. 4, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey presents the annual “State of the Movement” address, where she assesses opportunities for change, challenges that face our movement and gives voice to a call to action.
  • Saturday, Feb. 5, features a plenary address by internationally known poet and activist Chrystos on the topic of “Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Towards Collective Sovereignty,” dedicated to honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.
  • On Sunday, Feb. 6, the conference closes with a plenary brunch, “Minneapolis Loves You Better,” featuring hip-hop/pop/soul duo God-Des & She.

All plenary sessions will be emceed by comic and social commentator Kate Clinton.

In anticipation of this year’s conference, Sue Hyde, director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change says:

LGBT rights advocates from across the country will be gathering in Minneapolis to strategize and plan for 2011 and beyond. It’s a critical opportunity for our movement’s activists and allies to connect, get inspired and head home to keep creating change in their communities.

If you have yet to sign-up for the 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, the premier annual organizing and skills-building event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their allies, you can register online now.

More about the featured speakers and performers

Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator, Metropolitan Community Church
The Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson began her leadership and ministry with the Metropolitan Community Church in 1972 and has served many roles within the denomination ever since. An exciting thinker and theologian, Wilson said this at the 2009 Creating Change Conference:

Religion transforming culture is religion that values justice, peace and liberation. This religion creates coalition with secular groups and other religions for a larger, common good. It takes risks, it sides with the oppressed. It will cross class and racial boundaries.

Bishop Yvette Flunder, Founder of City of Refuge Community Church UCCBishop Yvette Flunder founded City of Refuge, a thriving inner-city congregation that celebrates the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ. Preaching a message of action, the church has experienced steady numerical and spiritual growth and has developed a robust HIV/AIDS ministry and support program.

Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
An annual and much-anticipated event at Creating Change, Rea Carey presents the annual State of the Movement address. Carey assesses opportunities for change, challenges that face our movement and gives voice to a call to action.

Chrystos is an internationally known poet and activist, especially concerning issues of Native and queer rights, prison injustice, violence against women and children, and Palestinian rights. She is the author of Not Vanishing, Dream On, In Her I Am, Fugitive Colors, Fire Power, and Wilder Reis (German translation) and a contributor to hundreds of anthologies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her lover, Sunny.

God-Des & She A hip-hop/pop/soul duo from the Midwest, God-Des & She play to packed venues all over the world and at Pride events all over the U.S. They rocked Showtime’s hit series “The L Word” with their cheeky tune “Lick It.” The pair held down the No. 1 spot on MTV LOGO with their song “Love You Better.” Their most recent and third album is Three, produced by Brian Hardgroove.

Mistress of Ceremonies Kate Clinton, the ever-funny and smart political commentator for the LGBT movement, returns to host each of the plenary programs at Creating Change. She writes, she vlogs, she blogs and she slogs shoulder to shoulder with activists and organizers, while moving us forward by keeping us laughing. In addition to performing comedy all across the U.S., she writes her award-winning blog, CommuniKate, and posts at the Bilerico Project, the Huffington Post, NYC Up and Out, and The Progressive.

For more information about the conference and to register, please visit http://www.CreatingChange.org/

For a taste of what you’ll experience at this year’s event, watch Kate Clinton’s video urging you to join us in Minneapolis, Minn.

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