In the past two decades, Equality Forum has grown from a regional exploration of LGBT issues to an international one — and will next week bridge the gap among LGBT communities in Philadelphia and throughout the globe.
The 20th annual Equality Forum will feature 25 panel discussions plus social and cultural endeavors from May 3-6.
The event began as PrideFest Philadelphia in 1993 and included panel discussions and workshops presented by 15 agencies. The following year, the number of involved groups doubled and has continued to climb each successive year, with the festival expanding to include national organizations and an extended schedule.
It became a week-long event in 1999 and embraced the national LGBT community with a new name — PrideFest America. International topics were later introduced and, in 2003, it was rebranded as Equality Forum to reflect its international breadth.
“The first year, 15 local organizations came together for the first time for a weekend of programming, and now today we’re the largest and premiere international LGBT civil-rights summit,” said founder and executive director Malcolm Lazin.
Since taking on an international audience, the event selects one nation each year to profile, with the 20th-anniversary forum focusing on Israel.
About 15 Israeli individuals involved with LGBT-rights issues will make the trip to Philadelphia to participate in discussions and other Equality Forum events.
Michael Oren, Israel ambassador to the U.S., will be keynote speaker for the annual International Equality Dinner May 5.
The dinner will be held this year at the American Museum of Jewish History, whereas previous dinners were hosted by the National Constitution Center. Lazin said organizers were exploring new venues to give the dinner a different look and alleviate costs, and the museum was especially attractive considering this year’s topic.
Out MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts will emcee the dinner, and Equality Forum will present its International Role Model Award to openly lesbian Houston mayor Annise Parker and its International Business Leadership Award to NBCUniversal.
National and international LGBT figures will also sit on many of the panels throughout the event.
Gay Tel Aviv City Councilmember Yaniv Weizman will join with other Israeli and local activists to lead the discussion on LGBT progress in the Middle East, from 8:30-9:45 p.m. May 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St.
DoubleTree will also host Thursday’s national panels on religion, transgender and racial issues, which will bring together experts from Philadelphia and other areas of the country. The National Constitution Center will serve as the venue for the national legal and politics panels, at 4 and 5:30 p.m., respectively, May 4. The legal discussion will include participation from top staffers at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Lambda Legal and Williams Institute, who will provide their views on the LGBT legal landscape.
The politics discussion will feature panelists Andrew Tobias, the treasurer and highest-ranking out member of the Democratic National Committee, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Chuck Wolfe and Log Cabin Republicans executive director Clarke Cooper.
Flyers scout Patrick Burke, founder of a national LGBT outreach campaign, will join with out athletes from across the nation for a sports panel from 1-2:15 p.m. May 5 at DoubleTree. The national military panel will be held at the same time and location, with participation from several out servicemembers — marking the first time they could participate openly on account of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
At 2:30 p.m. at DoubleTree, panels will address same-sex marriage and youth issues, the latter of which will be moderated by Katie Miller, a Yale University student who resigned from West Point due to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and will feature panelists Chris Armstrong, who brought a suit against Michigan’s attorney general for anti-gay harassment, and Zach Wahls, who earned fame for his speech before the Iowa legislature about his same-sex parents.
Saturday will feature panels and programs at University of the Arts.
“This event is singularly unique,” Lazin said. “We bring together the best and the brightest for all of our issues. Whatever issues people are interested in, there’s a unique opportunity to hear from the leaders on those issues right here in Philadelphia.”
All Equality Forum discussions are free.
Throughout the week Equality Forum will present its 13th annual LGBT art exhibit, which this year will feature the work of Israeli photographer David Adika at the Open Lens Gallery of the Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St.
Another big draw of Equality Forum is the annual SundayOUT! celebration at Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties, which will run from noon-7 p.m. May 6.
Free shuttles will leave for the festival every 10 minutes from Zipcar, 218 S. 12th St. in the Gayborhood. The event will feature an array of performers and entertainment, including Israeli pop star Shorty, Israeli deejays and national recording artist Neon Hitch, among several others.
The event is $10 or $5 for students.
Equality Forum will feature six additional official parties throughout the four-day span.
For more information and a full list of events, visit www.equalityforum.com.