April 2024
Outright International Monthly Newsletter
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In this month's newsletter, we're bringing stories spotlighting lesbian activists and philanthropists, announcements of three new Board members, AND our fabulous Outspoken honoree for Celebration of Courage. We also have the latest legal developments from countries around the world rounded up in our latest Rights in Retrograde piece.
Read the full newsletter and get involved in our work. Share it with your community, which might be interested in joining the fight for human rights for LGBTIQ people across the globe. Together, we can create a more significant impact!
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As a lesbian-founded organization, we're always celebrating the work lesbian activists have done to progress the LGBTIQ movements over the years. This Lesbian Visibility Week and every day, we reiterate: Lesbian Rights Are Human Rights!
Enjoy this story from an LBQ Connect participant, GIRLxGIRL founder Patricia Duangcham as she shares her journey to becoming an advocate for queer women in Thailand!
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For the first time in its 78-year history, the United Nations Security Council received a full briefing in a regular session on security issues impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in a conflict setting. Marcela Sánchez's message to the Security Council came as part of her intervention in the Council's consideration of the Colombian transition to peace after its 52-year internal conflict.
"Every attack against an LGBTQ person, every human rights defender killed, and every murder left uninvestigated sends the message that our lives are dispensable..."
Read our reflection on this landmark briefing and Sánchez's recommendations here.
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Our Board of Directors recently welcomed three new members who bring different experiences and values to our Board.
Lysanne "GoddessEye" Charles (she/her) is an Artist, Activist, Academic, and Educator working from, in, and with marginalized communities and spaces in the Caribbean.
Darrel Cummings (he/him) has worked in leadership positions at nonprofit organizations for more than 40 years, including serving as Deputy Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force. Before retiring in July of 2022, Darrel held the position of Chief of Staff at the Los Angeles LGBT Center for 25 years.
Lenny Emson (he/him) is a Ukrainian-born LGBTIQ human rights activist with over 20 years of experience in human rights and is currently an international human rights defender.
They're all eager to bring more visibility to LGBTIQ issues and amplify Outright's work. Lysanne expressed her excitement about joining the Board, saying, "Being an Outright Board member allows me to continue to contribute my knowledge in service of LGBTIQ people and communities, not only in my region, the Caribbean but across the globe. In these times of unprecedented challenges and crises, it is important that we work with an intentional, intersectional approach to confronting and overcoming them."
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Queer people’s human rights are under attack—but against a landscape of exclusion and inequality, we continue to make progress. “Rights in Retrograde,” a new series to be published every Mercury retrograde, will assess legal developments that impact lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTIQ) people.
Read updates from Dominica, Uganda, Japan, Thailand, and Alabama and see in what direction rights for LGBTIQ people are headed.
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We’re so excited to honor renowned actor, singer, and activist Billy Porter for his exceptional contributions to the awareness and equality of LGBTIQ people globally.
Billy Porter has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, earning accolades and acclaim for his remarkable talent and dedication to social causes. Porter's impact extends beyond the stage and screen as he continues to use his platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights and promote inclusivity and acceptance.
Celebration of Courage will take place in New York City on Monday, June 3, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET. Purchase your sponsorship, table, or tickets today! Celebration of Courage is Outright’s annual awards and gala which celebrates achievements and elevates activists and our allies, leading the charge for equal rights for LGBTIQ people worldwide. To see what we have in store for you, check out our Celebration of Courage 2023 photos.
Billy's Photo credit: Meredith Truax
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Our latest Outright Proud Podcast episode features the cofounders of LesbianGlobal, Kathy Levinson and Naomi Fine. Director of Leadership Giving Katie Hultquist spoke to them about LBQ philanthropy, their work, and why giving globally is important.
The Outright Proud Podcast is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Music! More podcast mini-series on elections and LBQ-focused topics are coming soon, so don't forget to listen and subscribe.
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Our Story
Learn more about our story, brand pillars and historical timeline.
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Insights
Please go to our Insights page for announcements and perspectives, including commentaries and thought leadership articles.
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Events
We offer our donors and supporters the opportunity to attend virtual, in-person, and hybrid gatherings. Check out our events page for updates.
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Media Room
Explore our press releases, media kit, and other helpful resources.
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