Mayor Bob Foster along with Councilmember Robert Garcia have announced that the country’s largest annual gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) leaders will be held in Long Beach this year. “LGBT Leaders 2012: The 28th International LGBT Leadership Conference,” will take place at the Renaissance Hotel and surrounding venues in Downtown Long Beach from November 29 to December 2.
Openly LGBT elected and appointed officials from around the world attend the annual gathering, including members of congress, state legislators, city councilmembers, commissioners, presidential appointees, and judges. The conference also draws the leadership of national and state LGBT non-profit organizations, as well as media and business professionals.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute, which produces the annual conference, is the nation’s leading organization that identifies, trains and supports openly LGBT public officials. The Victory Institute is one of the most influential LGBT organizations in the United States, as its annual convention is considered extremely important to the political progress of the LGBT community (and can be a boon to the local economy). Leading up to the conference, the Victory Institute will also host a non-partisan candidate & campaign training for interested future LGBT candidates for office.
Attendees experience three days of training, skills building, networking, and discussion of key issues facing out leaders and their communities. Recent host cities have included San Francisco, Houston and Washington D.C., among others.
For more information, visit the Victory Institute website at www.victoryinstitute.org, or contact the office of Councilmember Robert Garcia at 562-570-6919.