Nearly 400 Activists Gather to Strengthen Transgender Civil Rights, Equality Movement in Califoria

CONTACT: Masen Davis, Transgender Law Center
PHONE: 415-738-6168 EMAIL: masen [at] transgenderlawcenter.org

CONTACT: Shumway Marshall, Equality California Institute
PHONE: (310) 933-7535 EMAIL: shumway [at] eqca.org

Nearly 400 Activists Gather to Strengthen Transgender Civil Rights, Equality Movement in California

Third Annual California Transgender Leadership Summit Takes Place March 14-16 at UC-Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO – About 400 transgender community leaders and activists from across the state will gather at UC-Berkeley this week to help strengthen efforts to secure equal civil rights for transgender Californians.

The 3rd Annual Transgender Leadership Summit, organized by the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and presented by Equality California Institute (EQCAI), takes place March 14-16 at the university’s Gender Equity Resource Center.

“This year’s event will be the largest ever, with about 400 participants, 26 workshops, and four plenary sessions,” said TLC Executive Director Masen Davis. “The Summit’s 2008 theme, ‘Trans Grows Up: Change from the Inside Out,’ reflects the steady progress and growth the statewide movement for transgender equality has experienced in the past few years,” Davis said. “Summit organizers chose this theme to reflect the increased visibility of transgender youth, the growing number of transgender elders, and the need to adopt multiple strategies – both inside and outside of the community – to ensure civil rights and equality for all transgender people.”

Nearly 30 presenters, including well-known leaders from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, will take part in the three-day summit. In focused plenary sessions, experts will evaluate the transgender civil rights movement’s successes, challenges and opportunities for future progress. The skills-building workshops are organized by themes, including personal and community empowerment, leadership development, policy building and advocacy, campaign organizing and media relations.

“The Summit gives seasoned activists, allies and new members of the transgender community the chance to elevate the movement, outline key issues and identify and train future leaders,” said EQCAI Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Now more than ever it is critical for the community to closely align its efforts and resources to end discrimination against transgender people. EQCAI is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this important summit.”

Sponsors of the 2008 California Transgender Leadership Summit include Presenting Sponsor EQCAI, Northrop Grumman, Asia SF, GLOSS, UC-Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center, Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights and San Francisco LGBT Community Center.

What:
2008 California Transgender Leadership Summit
“Trans Grown Up: Changes from the Inside Out”

When:
Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16

Where:
University of California, Berkeley
Gender Equity Resource Center
202 Cesar Chavez Student Center, MC 2440
Berkeley, CA 94720-2440

More Information:
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/summit2008.html

Equality California Institute informs lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies, and connects communities working for justice and civil rights. http://www.eqca.org

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities through direct legal services, education, community organizing, and policy and media advocacy. http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org