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PROGRAM

Monday
January 24, 2011
8:30 pm to 9:30 pm EST

> Click to listen or download the audio

PANEL #1: GETTING EQUALITY THROUGH THE COURTS

What cases are in the courts that could significantly impact our equality?

Panelists

• Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
• Matt Coles, Director, Center for Equality, ACLU
• Christopher Dusseault, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher 
• Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Lee Swislow, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders 

Question Moderators

• William Adams, Dean, Western State University College of Law
• Kevin Naff, Editor, Washington Blade

> Click to listen or download the audio

After HRC appended the "T" in 2004 and the bruising battle over an inclusive ENDA in 2007, are we again forgetting trans and gender-non conforming concerns?

Panelists

• Stephen Glassman, Chairperson, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
• Diego Sanchez, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA)
• Melissa Sklarz, New York City transactivist
• Meghan Stabler, Board of Directors, Human Rights Campaign

Question Moderators

• Dana Beyer, retired surgeon, Board Member, National Center for Transgender Equality
• Lisa Turner, Political Strategist, The Turner Group

Monday                         February 7, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EST 

> Click to listen or download the audio

PANEL #3: WHY HIV CRIMINALIZATION MATTERS

Do current policies still discriminate against HIV? In which ways the law still discriminates against HIV?

Panelists

• Edwin J. Bernard, Editor of HIV and the Criminal Law (NAM, 2010) and Criminal HIV Transmission
• Catherine Hanssens, Executive Director and founder, Center for HIV Law and Policy 
• Vanessa Johnson, JD, Executive VP, National Association of People with AIDS
• Sean Strub, Senior advisor, Center for HIV Law & Policy's Positive Justice Project, founder of POZ Magazine

Question Moderators

• Todd A. Heywood, Reporter, Michigan Messenger
• Lynda Waddington, Senior Writer, The Iowa Independent

Monday
February 14, 2011
Noon to 1 pm EST 

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Panel #4: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DON'T ASK DON'T TELL REPEAL

The Pentagon has made a good faith effort to plan for implementation of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell but they haven't set a deadline for training and certification. They've also been upfront about what they are NOT going to do: suspend discharges during the perhaps year-long process nor include a non-discrimination policy, nor confer family benefits on married gay servicemembers. So even when the outrageous law is finally repealed and fully implemented, gays can still die for their country as unequal, second class citizens. Learn about the unfinished work ahead and how we ended up with a law that is a skeleton of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

Panelists

Question Moderators 

• Capt. Tom Carpenter, Esq. Donor. Board Member, SLDN
• Karen Ocamb, News Editor, Frontiers In LA. Editor, LGBT POV

Wednesday
February 16, 2011
Noon to 1 pm EST

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PANEL #5: NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA: NEW PATHWAYS FOR LGBTQ EQUALITY?

Technology is redefining how we communicate, work together, and learn.
What is new, not so new and about to change in the LGBTQ fight for civil rights?
Who is thinking bigger? Who is acting differently?

Panelists

• Andre Banks, Co-Founder, AllOut
• Brian Elliot, Founder, FriendFactor
• Peter Hopkins, President & Co-Founder, Big Think
• JD Smith, Co-Founder, OutServe 
• Spectra Speaks,  Founder, QWOC+ Boston

Question Moderators

• Adam Bink, Director of Online Programs, Courage Campaign
• Chris Geidner, Senior Political Writer, Metro Weekly 

Sunday
February 20, 2011
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EST

PANEL #6: WINNING MORE STATES IN 2011 AND WINNING MARRIAGE NATIONWIDE

Where can we win the freedom to marry this year?  
Where must we defend? What other gains can we hope for this year?
What is the bold strategy to win marriage nationwide?

Panelists

• Frank Ferri, State Representative, Rhode Island
• Ross D. Levi, Esq., Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda
• Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director, Equality Maryland
• Marc Solomon,  National Campaign Director, Freedom to Marry
• Thomas Wheatley,  Organizing Director, Basic Rights Oregon  

Question Moderators

Tuesday
February 22, 2011
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm EST

PANEL #7: ACTING DIFFERENTLY: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, DIRECT ACTION, AND MORE

From a few clandestine organizers that started the Mattachine Society in 1950 to HRC with almost 200,000 Facebook Fans in 2010, our numbers are growing, but to what use?  From chaining yourself to a fence, to camping outside a campaign office, to disrupting rush hour at Grand Central Station, direct action is on the rise in the movement towards equality.  What happened last year, what impact did it have, and what’s next?

Panelists

• J. Todd (Tif) Fernandez, JD, LLM. Civil rights activist. Organizer, Grand Central 'Homophobia Kills Die-In',  and the QUEER SOS
• Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition
• Robin McGehee, Director and Co-Founder, GetEQUAL
• Richard Noble, Civil Rights Activist, Connecting Rainbows Walk Across America
• Barbra (Babs) Casbar Siperstein,  Vice Chair, DNC Eastern Caucus 

Question Moderators

Tuesday
March 1, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EST

PANEL #8: BUILDING BRIDGES WITH CORPORATE AMERICA: BOTH WAYS, ONE WAY, OR NO WAY.

A panel to discuss how LGBT groups navigate their relationships with corporate America – especially in the wake of the landmark Citizens United decision. Who is thinking bigger and who is acting differently?

Panelists

• David Alexander, Director of Institutional Gifts, NGLTF
• Victoria Fulkerson, Vice President Corporate Relations and Supplier Diversity, National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Daryl Herrschaft, Director, HRC Workplace Project, Human Rights Campaign
• Jean–Marie Navetta, Director of Equality Partnerships and Communications, PFLAG 

Question Moderators

• Charlie Rounds, Principal, Forward Motion Travel 
• Bob Witeck, CEO and Founder, Witeck-Combs Communications

Friday
March 11, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EST

PANEL #9: WE WILL MAKE IT BETTER

The President and other leaders are telling LGBTQ youth that "It Gets Better." This is a laudable message. In this panel we discuss how we are going to "Make It Better" for them. 

Panelists

• Eliza Byard, Ph.D., Executive Director, GLSEN
• Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) 
• Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO)
• Charles Robbins, Executive Director/CEO, The Trevor Project 

Question Moderator

• Carolyn Laub, Founder and Executive Director,  GSA Network

Monday
March 14, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EDT

> Click to listen or download audio

PANEL #10: STATES OF EQUALITY - SOME ALMOST EQUAL, SOME VERY UNEQUAL

According to eQualityGiving's States Scorecard, five states have almost full LGBT equality for its citizens. Five other states offer basically no protections. And more than half of the states offer minimal protections.

In this panel we discuss what are the challenges and opportunities for a sample of states: two states that offer almost full equality for its citizens, as well as for one state in the middle and one state with almost no protections.

Panelists

• AJ Bockelman,  Executive Director, PROMO (Missouri)
• Carolyn S. Jenison, Executive Director, One Iowa
• Geoff Kors, Esq., Executive Director, Equality California
• Ian Palmquist, Executive Director, Equality North Carolina 

Question Moderators

• Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director, Equality Federation
• Rex Wockner, Freelance Journalist and Blogger

Wednesday
March 16, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EDT

PANEL #11: OPPORTUNITIES FOR LGBT EQUALITY IN THIS CONGRESS

Substantive and strategic perspectives for passing equality legislation in both chambers.

Panelists

• Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
• Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) 

Question Moderators

• Kerry Eleveld, Editor, EqualityMatters
• Kathy Levinson, Founder, Lesbian Equity Foundation

Sunday
March 20, 2011
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm EDT

> Click to listen or download audio

The larger narrative of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans is still a story about having to continuously negotiate societal fear, prejudice and stigma as we travel through the world. Ours is a story about hiding and covering to avoid rejection, about coming out and blending in to gain tolerance, and about the rare triumph of finding people who fully recognize, appreciate and embrace us as full human beings.

This panel will explore new academic research and activist strategies aimed at both understanding and eradicating anti-LGBT stigma. We will focus on the work of "culture change" and offer new ideas for how best to change hearts and minds so that we can finally move from rejection and tolerance to full acceptance for LGBT people.

Wednesday
March 23, 2011
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT

PANEL #13: GOD AND GAYS

An emotionally charged issue discussed by a religiously diverse panel of clergy, activists, and writers.

• Reverend Dr. C Welton Gaddy (Baptist), President, Interfaith Alliance
• Amber Khan (Muslim), Board Member, Muslim Advocates
• Rabbi Jack Moline (Conservative Jewish), Agudas Achim Congregation
• Sarah Posner, Author, God's Profits, Associate Editor, Religion Dispatches

Question Moderators 

• Ari Geller, Vice President, Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications
• Donna Red Wing, Executive Director, Grassroots Leadership 

Friday
March 25, 2011
Noon to 1:00 pm EDT

PANEL #14: HOW CAN DONORS ACCELERATE EQUALITY?

What are the current areas of focus for these donors? How do donors make choices between issues and organizations?  And how do they measure impact and evaluate success? How do they balance giving for political campaigns and non-profits?

Panelists

• Ron Ansin, Donor, Founder, Ronald M. Ansin Foundation
• Joanne Herman, Donor, Author, Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not
• Alix Ritchie, Donor, Founder, Provincetown Banner
• Paul Yandura, Donor Advisor, Cofounder, Scott+Yandura 

Question Moderators

• Leslie Payne, Senior Director, Arabella Philanthropic Advisors
• Steve Rothaus, Journalist, Miami Herald

Sunday
March 27, 2011
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT

> Click to listen or download audio 

PANEL #15: YOUR PASSION, YOUR VOICE

To give as many people as possible a voice for their passion, there will be no Q&A on this panel and we ask each panelist to limit his or her remarks to 3 minutes each.

Thursday
March 31, 2011
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm EDT

PANEL #16: THINKING BIGGER AND ACTING DIFFERENTLY

This is the final panel of eQualityThinking.

In this panel, we bring you three people who are Thinking Bigger and Acting Differently to advance LGBT equality in three very different ways.

Panelists

• Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO)
  A fearless Member of Congress who will use a DIFFERENT approach to BIG legislation for LGBT equality.
  Check his Fearless Campaign and add your ideas for an omnibus bill.  

• Peter Murray, President, Center for Progressive Leadership
  A person, whom you may have not heard of yet, who is creating a BIG organization with a DIFFERENT approach to LGBT issues like never seen before. 

• Lt. Dan Choi, West Point Graduate. Iraq War Veteran. Gay and Fired. Check his website
  A person who came out two years ago and went BIG time in a DIFFERENT way to help change the law. 

Questions Moderator 

• Chris Johnson, Political Reporter, The Washington Blade
  The political reporter of the oldest LGBT newspaper in the nation.

ORGANIZERS

eQualityThinking was created and is funded in full by Juan and Ken Ahonen-Jover. They are also the founders and funders of eQualityGiving and introduced the Blueprint for LGBT equality which includes the Omnibus Bill and the American Equality Bill (both written by Karen M. Doering, Esq.). They convened the Dallas Meeting in May 2009 which lead to the creation of The Dallas Principles and later ActOnPrinciples (webmastered by Donald Hitchcock).

The following people are organizers of the eQualityThinking convention because they contributed significantly by putting together a panel.

• Dana Beyer, retired surgeon, Board Member, National Center for Transgender Equality, former Board of Governors, Human Rights Campaign. Former VP, Equality Maryland.

• Eliza Byard, Ph.D., Executive Director, GLSEN

• Tom Carpenter, Esq., Captain USMC,1970-1982, Board Member, SLDN, Co-chair Forum on the Military Chaplaincy,  Co-chair Military Outreach Committee.

• J. Todd Fernandez, JD, LLM. Civil rights activist. Organizer, Grand Central 'Homophobia Kills Die-In',  and the QUEER SOS

• Geoff Kors, Esq., Executive Director, Equality California

• Bill Lyons, Wheelhouse Creative

• Timothy Patrick McCarthy, Ph.D., Lecturer and Director, Human Rights and Social Movements Program, Harvard Kennedy School

• Donna Red Wing, Executive Director, Grassroots Leadership

• Charlie Rounds, Principal, Forward Motion Travel

• Sean Strub, Senior advisor, Center for HIV Law & Policy's Positive Justice Project, founder of POZ Magazine

• Evan Wofson, Esq., Founder and President, Freedom to Marry. Author, Why Marriage Matters