LGBTQ Creating Change Conference: State of the Movement, Inspiration from Queer Minneapolis Leaders, and More ​

Details

Out-FM show aired on Tues., January 27, 2026

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This week, Out-FM presents hot excerpts from the recent "Creating Change" conference, attended by 2000 people in Washington, DC from Jan. 21-25. This is a longstanding annual event sponsored by the National LGBTQ Task Force (the Task Force). Organizers say a majority of attendees were people of color and another majority were trans. A large percentage were young. According to the Task Force, the event aimed "to bolster [participants'] organizing and strategy skills through hundreds of workshops, sessions, and day-long, identity-based institutes prepared to strengthen the LGBTQ+ movement. 'There is a palpable call for courage in DC...where we will continue to blueprint our liberation at a time when our very existence is being legislated out of classrooms, clinics, and courtrooms,' said Fernando Lopez, director of Creating Change. 'Our convening is our rebellion, our refuge, and our rallying cry.'​"
 
Inspiration from Queer Minneapolis Leaders
Beth Zemsky (l) and Andrea Jenkins(r)
 
We will play short presentations by Andrea Jenkins, the Black trans former president of Minneapolis City Council, and Beth Zemsky, longtime Minnesota queer advocate and former Task Force board chair. They provided an update on the struggle against ICE and the situation on the ground.
 
State of the Movement Report
 
 
We play portions of the annual State of the Movement address by Task Force President Kierra Johnson, grounding attendees in both the challenges and possibilities facing LGBTQ+ communities. She emphasized that much of the vicious right-wing backlash against queer -- especially trans -- communities results from the many victories that our movements have won in recent years.
 
Palestine as a Queer Issue for Asian-Pacific Islander People
 
 
Out-FM producer Pauline Park will summarize her presentation on why Palestine is a queer API issue, presented at the Asian American pre-conference institute. She will also offer observations on this annual conference's evolution from hostility to a welcoming platform for voices opposing Israeli genocide of Palestinian people.
 
More information on the National LGBTQ Task Force is here. 

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Out-FM is a weekly progressive, intersectional queer show by and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, non-binary, gender non-conforming, intersex, queer, and questioning communities. Our program originates from listener-sponsored, noncommercial WBAI/Pacifica Radio in New York, 99.5 FM and wbai.org. Our programs are archived at outfm.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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