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4th Annual Meeting of a Federation of Activist Groups Approves 5-Year Plan for Strengthening & Diversifying |
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Compiled By GayToday
New Orleans, Louisiana--Leaders of statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organizations from 39 states and the District of Columbia converged here last week for the fourth annual meeting of the Federation of Statewide LGBT Advocacy Organizations.
The meeting was hosted by the Office of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Campus Life at Tulane University, the Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Caucus (LAGPAC), and the Louisiana Electorate of Gays and Lesbians (LEGAL). The meeting was coordinated by Federation members and the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force. The Federation's approval of a five-year strategic plan designed to strengthen and diversify GLBT advocacy groups in every state marked a pivotal point in the development of the statewide movement. As part of the strategic plan, representatives of the Federation will negotiate a primary partnership with NGLTF, which will help implement Federation projects. The Federation is a network of autonomous state/territory organizations committed to working with each other and with national and local groups to strengthen statewide LGBT advocacy organizing and to secure full civil rights in every U.S. state and territory. "We're excited about the prospects the strategic plan holds for moving statewide organizations forward," said Nadine Smith, Federation Co-Chair and Executive Director for Equality Florida. "Since the Federation's inception in 1996, statewide LGBT organizations have grown and changed and, consequently, their needs have changed. This strategic plan will effectively address the challenges ahead for the next decade of state LGBT advocacy work." The four-day meeting also included training sessions, legislative briefings, and Federation business. Training sessions included:
Since the launch of the Federation at the 1996 Creating Change Conference-the annual activist's conference organized by NGLTF-many new statewide groups have been formed and become more effective legislative advocates in their states. Over the past four years, an increasing number of state legislatures have considered and advanced more favorable GLBT bills, and more state groups have hired full-time staff. NGLTF has provided staffing and financial resources to support the Federation's work. "Success at the state and local level is essential in our movement for social justice," said NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo, who attended the New Orleans gathering. "NGLTF is very proud to support the work of the Federation as we move forward together on our common goals." Future meetings of the Federation include the Creating Change conference in Atlanta in November and the next annual meeting next summer. |
