Rainbow Luncheon


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Rainbow Luncheon 2012

Watch President Mohler-Faria's remarks
http://youtu.be/FnisrryJeCA

"One More River To Cross: Black & Gay in America.” by Keith Boykin 

 

Keith is the editor of The Daily Voice online news site, a CNBC contributor, a BET TV host and a New York Times best-selling author of three books.  Educated at Dartmouth and Harvard, Keith attended law school with President Barack Obama and served in the White House as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton. Watch Keith’s powerful address to the U.S. State Department:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L32ZGPSOPV8&feature=player_embedded.


Rainbow Luncheon 2011

 

 "Bullied" by Jamie Nabozny.

Bringing a personal face to the tragedy of anti-GLBT violence, Jamie is the subject of the recently released and widely acclaimed film, Bullied, produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Jamie discussed the bullying he endured in high school and the legal battle he ultimately won against the school district that looked the other way while he was harassed and assaulted. Jamie's keynote challenged the roots of anti-GLBT violence and offered ideas on how to take a stand against such violence.

Rainbow Luncheon 2010
"Transgender Issues and Activism" by Gunner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition.

Mr. Gunner Scott, Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, a recent graduate of St. Olaf College, and Aden Michaud, a student at Simmons College studying English shared their personal stories of what life as a transgender individual is like for them, discussed some of the salient issues facing the transgender community, addressed lesser known identities within the transgender community such as genderqueer, and offered ideas about how allies can support this disenfranchised group.

Rainbow Luncheon 2009
The Honorable E. Denise Simmons, then Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was the keynote speaker for the Rainbow Luncheon 2009. Mayor Simmons received a standing ovation following her inspirational speech. She spoke of being a lifelong advocate for social justice and shared personal stories of challenges she has experienced and overcame as a lesbian woman of color.

Rainbow Luncheon 2008


The Pride Center sincerely appreciates the support of Dr. Bradfield, Dean of the School of Education and Allied Studies, who enthusiastically agreed to cosponsor this event.		 "School Pride: In the Classroom with Children of LGBT Parents" by speakers from GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network).

This keynote addressed issues concerning same-gender parents and their children. The focus was on the needs of children with same-gender parents, how to accurately represent and include such families in curricula and activities, and ways to dialogue with same-gender couples as well as respond to parents who oppose recognizing GLBT families in school or child service settings.

Rainbow Luncheon 2007

"Out at Work" featured a diverse panel of professionals who are out of the closet as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender at work, and who shared their personal stories regarding their decision to be out at work.

Although they represented a wide array of occupational fields, they shared the common experience of needing to work in a safe and accepting environment. Several of the panelists had unfortunately faced discrimination or harassment at work due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Most of the participants emphasized the importance for them of living and working in a geographic region and/or organizational climate that celebrates rather than oppresses diversity. They agreed that coming out of the closet is an intensely personal decision that oftentimes (albeit if unintentionally) has political consequences, and that each person needs to weigh the potential costs and benefits against their own values and priorities when deciding whether to come out at work.

 

Last Modified: June 20, 2012