OutRight Action International and the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality (PGLE) invite you to commemorate #PrideWithAPurpose.

The critical societal challenges of injustice, oppression, discrimination, and inequality are the defining issues of our time, present long before the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has simply exposed and reinforced the systems that sustain and exacerbate them. As a result of the pandemic, society is at the threshold of a major change in how we view, define, and prioritize equity and inclusion of vulnerable populations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people. As history reminds us, the LGBTIQ movement emerged out of struggle and resilience. LGBT Pride is both a resistance to oppression and the promotion of self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and visibility. This discussion will uncover challenges and resilience strategies of multisectoral actors working in challenging geographies. Experts from civil society, the corporate sector and multilateral institutions will define pressing LGBTIQ public policy issues from different vantages and speak to the long-term strategies required to achieve change.  

OPENING REMARKS: Kathy Teo, Founder and CEO, Xpointo Media; Board Director, OutRight Action International

MODERATOR: Luzerne V. McAllister II, Director, Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion, PepsiCo 

PANELISTS:

Clare Lery, Associate General Counsel, Procter & Gamble
Michael Karimian, Senior Manager - Human Rights, Microsoft
Kenita M. Placide, Co-Founder/Executive Director, Eastern Caribbean Alliance Diversity and Equality (ECADE) 
Melisande Schifter, Project Lead, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, World Economic Forum
Michael van Gelderen, Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)