Gay Today: World

Activists from 45 States Gather for Federation Meeting

Compiled By GayToday

Minneapolis—July 29--Representatives from a record-breaking 45 states and the District of Columbia began converging in Minneapolis Thursday for the mid-year meeting of the Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Political Organizations.

Participants are evaluating and discussing the future of Equality Begins at Home, a campaign that witnessed 350 rallies and other events last March in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

In addition, state leaders will look ahead to the year 2000 elections, focus on fundraising training and discuss how to strengthen grassroots organizing.

"The Federation gathering comes at an exciting and historic time in the GLBT movement for social justice," said New Jersey's Gina Reiss, co-chair of the Federation.

"As a result of the Federation's work, we witnessed more pro-GLBT bills filed in state legislatures this year than in the history of the GLBT movement. And as a whole, there were more legislative advances in 1999 than ever before. None of this happened by accident. We are finally beginning to see the proof of those special words, 'Equality Begins at Home.'"

Concurrent with the Federation meeting, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will sponsor its annual Youth Leadership Institute a comprehensive GLBT youth training program -- in Minneapolis.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
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Update: Largest Grassroots Mobilization in Gay History

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Equality Begins at Home

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YLI involves some 20 young activists between the ages of 16 to 22. All of the participants already have some experience in GLBT activism; each will be expected to give back to the community after they complete the five-day, skills-building program.

This year, the young activists had the opportunity to meet with Federation representatives from their home states. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how to bring people from different backgrounds together to build the GLBT movement on the local level.

"State groups are ground zero in our struggle for equality and justice and it is essential that we support them," said Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It is equally important that we both teach and listen to today¹s youth leaders."

"We are thrilled by the progress we've made in statewide organizing in the past year," said Illinois' Roger Leishman, co-chair of the Federation.

"Minneapolis this week will be the launching pad for even greater collaboration between state activists, youth leaders, NGLTF and other national organizations."