Vital Votes: Defending LGBTQI+ Rights in an Era of Democratic Erosion

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Young Hall Auditorium (113)

Whitney Pfeifer convocation

Whitney Pfeifer will examine LGBTQI+ rights globally and demonstrate ways that Outright International is seeking to empower queer citizens around the world. The speaker will bring a comparative global perspective to the issue of LGBTQI+ rights promotion around the world and will help Centre students better understand how to think about minority rights and political systems outside of the US context.

APPROVED CONVOCATION

Democracy and human rights are under assault across the globe. What does this backsliding mean for LGBTQI+ communities around the world facing abuse, the loss of rights, or even criminalization? Whitney Pfeifer will discuss her work with Outright International, an international organization seeking to advance LGBTQI+ rights around the world. She will examine how democratic erosion determines what strategies should be employed, how communities can advance their goals in restrictive or hostile environments, and how to navigate the complexities of Westerners seeking to advance the rights of groups in non-Western societies.


About the Speaker

Whitney Pfeifer is Outright International’s Program Manager for the Global LGBTQI+ Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment (GLIDE) Initiative. Before joining Outright, Whitney spent four years at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on the Citizen Participation and Inclusion Team guiding NDI’s work with persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBTQI+ communities. This included shaping NDI’s global inclusion strategies, conducting training for staff, and leading NDI’s learning on best practices, challenges, and innovations regarding enhancing the political participation of communities experiencing marginalization.

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Norton Center for the Arts

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Norton Center for the Arts