On Nov. 3, the UCF community is invited to attend a public forum, “Local and Global Perspectives on LGBTQ+ Issues.” The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Representing local issues is Hannah Willard, the Public Policy Director for Equality Florida. In this role, her number one priority is to see the passage of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a statewide law that would provide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Floridians. She will provide an update on the state of affairs in the legislature related to LGBTQ issues, our path forward to statewide nondiscrimination protections, and the ways in which the Pulse massacre has set the stage for the full acceptance and protection of LGBTQ people in Florida.
Representing global issues is Michael Luongo, an author of 15 books including Gay Travels in the Muslim World, a writing lecturer at the University of Michigan and a freelance journalist. In 2013, he won journalist of the year for NLGJA, the LGBT journalists group, for his coverage of international LGBT issues. He has traveled to over 90 countries and all seven continents, with extensive work in conflict zones and the developing world. Audience members will learn about LGBT movements and trends in other countries, along with the back-and-forth impact movements in the United States have with those across the globe, including reactions to the Pulse massacre.
This event is hosted by the UCF Global Perspectives Office in partnership with UCF and Tampa Bay chapters of the United Nations Association and LGBTQ+ Services, which is housed in the Department of Social Justice and Advocacy of UCF’s Student Development and Enrollment Services.
For more information, please contact global@ucf.edu.