Stepping up for the LGBTIQ Youth Leaders Conference

22 January 2015

Leading LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) youth advocates from New Zealand and the Pacific will come together at the NXT15 Youth Leaders Conference in February to empower the rights of rainbow youth.

The conference is being co-hosted by Auckland Pride Festival Inc and the US Embassy and is themed Strength in Numbers. Over three days, LGBTIQ youth will combine forces to strengthen governance and leadership skills at a grassroots level, and work together to build networks between support and advocacy groups in urban and rural areas in New Zealand and in the South Pacific.

The conference is being held February 19-21 in Auckland and will culminate with delegates marching in the Pride Parade.

Speakers and panelists at the conference include high profile American gay rights advocate David Kilmnick, Academy Awards-nominated filmmaker Welby Ings, and RainbowYOUTH advocates Duncan Mathews and Aych McArdle.

Keynote speaker David Kilmnick, who has campaigned for rainbow communities for more than 25 years and founded three support centers in the United States, said he was honoured to be speaking at such a “prestigious gathering of LGBTIQ youth leaders”.

“LGBTIQ youth lives depend on and need strong organisations and support all across the globe.

“By sharing best practices and strategies we can accomplish this and make sure the great resiliency, talent and strength of our LGBTIQ youth shines from progressive communities to the most conservative ones,” Dr Kilmnick says.

This is the second year the Auckland Pride Festival Inc and the US Embassy have partnered for the LGBTIQ conference.

Last year’s conference, NXT14, was a finalist at the Gold Standard Awards for Diplomatic Engagement at the PublicAffairs Asia awards ceremony in Singapore.

The conference itinerary includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, themed breakout sessions and networking events.

NXT15 is aimed at 18-25 year olds, but registrations from people outside this range will also be considered. Registrations close February 9, and are available for download at: http://www.aucklandpridefestival.org.nz/nxt15-lgbtiq-youth-leaders-conference/

ENDS

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