Equality Texas sets conference

Equality Texas Foundation will present "State of the State: Public Policy Impact on LGBT Texans," a day-long conference addressing LGBT issues in Texas, on April 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Legislative Conference Center in the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin.

Advance registration is required. Register online at www.EqualityTexas.org.

The event is designed for activists, individuals and organizations from around the state who are interested in learning more about current public policy in the state, with a specific emphasis on how public policy affects LGBT Texans.

The conference will include opening and closing keynote speakers, nine panel discussions and a "best practices" plenary session. Each of the nine panel discussions will focus on a specific policy issue, aimed at comprehensively addressing and educating participants about the impact of those policies on LGBT individuals and on presenting approaches to policy that get positive results.

Panels topics include employee benefit policies, non-discrimination policies, foster care and adoption, transgender issues, safe school policies, faith issues, hate crimes policies and civic activism.

Equality Texas Foundation is seeking financial underwriting for the conference in order to make the event free for participants.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition February 22, 2008