Out Leadership, the oldest and largest coalition of global companies working to advance LGBTQ+ equality in the world, has announced the launch of its first-ever global month-long Pride celebration events. The Proudly Resilient event comprises 70+ speakers and 45+ events throughout the month of June. It promises leading discussions with diverse LGBTQ+ pioneers, thought leaders, CEOs and business leaders/advocates from around the world.
Commenting on the launch, Out Leadership Founder & CEO Todd Sears stated: “This year, the 50th anniversary of the first Pride parade and celebrations, should have been another historic year following Stonewall 50. Instead, hundreds of Pride events around the world were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so many of the non-profits who Out Leadership has supported the past 10 years are in dire straits. Through Proudly Resilient, Out Leadership is leveraging the global platform and convening power we’ve built around the world to help our community come together – virtually – to celebrate our resilience and rich history, protect the progress we’ve made, and most importantly to educate and inspire leaders to continue the global fight towards full equality.”
PROUDLY RESILIENT & FREE FOR ALL
For the first time in its 10-year history, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride events, Out Leadership is offering access to Proudly Resilient completely free of charge. Normally, access to Out Leadership events in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia is by invitation-only for leaders and clients of their 82 member firms.
“We knew Pride this year was going to be different. But we had no idea just how different it would be, particularly following 2019,” commented Out Leadership’s Chris Frederick, Managing Director of Global Events and former Executive Director of New York Pride, who organised the history-making WorldPride/Stonewall 50 events in New York City in 2019. “Creating Proudly Resilient, a unique month-long series of events gave us an opportunity to work with our deep bench of CEOs, leaders and advocates as well as with non-profit and community partners to support and amplify their work at this unprecedented and challenging time. We look forward to having LGBTQ+ community and our allies join us in these diverse conversations of the opportunities and challenges we face in our workplaces and communities, and how we can work together to continue to advance LGBTQ+ equality.”
LGBTQ+ PIONEERS
The event promises leading equality discussions with LGBTQ+ pioneers and thought-leaders including: Jason Collins, Former NBA Player, Nancy Lieberman, Former WNBA Player. Billy Bean, Former MLB Player, Greg Louganis, Olympian & LGBT Activist, Jerry Mitchell, Award-Winning Broadway Choreographer/Producer, Rev. Stan J. Sloan, Executive Director, Family Equality Center, Amit Paley, CEO, The Trevor Project, Rob Smith, Founder, The Phluid Project, Peter Staley, Co-Founder, The PrEP4All Collaboration, David Mixner, Civil Rights Activist and Author, Jim Obergefell, Civil Rights Activist, Plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, Rufus Gifford, Former Ambassador to Denmark, Hedda Lettuce, Drag Artist, Kate Kendall, former Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida, Marti Cummings, Drag Artist, Jocelyn Samuels, Executive Director, Williams Institute, Dawn Hough, Director, ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, Australia, Tamara Adrián, Lawmaker in the National Assembly of Venezuela, Anna Brown, CEO Equality Australia, Evan Wolfson, Founder, Freedom to Marry, and Alberto de Belaunde, Member of Parliament, Peru.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
Several global non-profit organisations have partnered with Out Leadership to support and create this year’s virtual event to make it truly global. In the United States these include: Lambda Legal, Ali Forney Center (Harlem NYC), Start Out, Out & Equal, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Freedom for All Americans Education Fund, Gender and Family Project, Trevor Project, Family Equality Council, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, PFLAG and the NYC LGBT Center The Williams Institute, Athlete Ally, GMHC (End Aids, Live Life). Organisations taking part in Europe include Stonewall UK and Human Dignity Trust. Community Business and Being LGBTI in Asia are also supporting the event this year, as well as Pride in Diversity from Australia.
“This is no time to slow down. In the face of crisis and uncertainty, we won’t stop highlighting the innovation, compassion, and resilience inherent in the global LGBTQ+ equality movement,” added Sears. “I hope you join us this June, and that our programming inspires you to join global movement Out Leadership has created. We welcome any organisations who wish to support our work and this platform to join us, as well as encourage any organisation who wishes to include their Pride events in the platform to reach out.”
Check out the full speaker line-up and schedule here.
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