BOSTON, Mass. — The Lesbians of Color Symposium Collective (LOCSC), Inc. presents the 2nd Annual Lesbians of Color Symposium (LOCS). Co-hosted by Harvard Law School (HLS) Lambda, the conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at HLS, located at 1545 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, MA.
The event welcomes lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LBTQ) women of color and their allies for a day of empowerment to celebrate and acknowledge the presence of women of color in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. A series of workshops focused on health/wellness, gender expression, activism, and other topics relevant to attendees will be facilitated by regionally and nationally recognized advocates of equality.
Ann Canas, a New England Emmy Award winner, is the event’s keynote speaker. She is a freelance media journalist and copywriter. Her professional communications credentials are creative and diverse, and have included on camera, writing and producing work (as Ann Butler) at CBS Sports, ABC News, Post-Newsweek and Westinghouse Broadcasting.
This year’s symposium will feature a social justice and advocacy 101 workshop facilitated by Mandy Carter, an internationally known-American lesbian social justice activist with a 45-year history of social, racial and LGBT justice organizing since 1968. The National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) Bayard Rustin 2013 Commemoration Project – 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom will link political advocacy to a broader context, while participants will also be treated to a sneak preview of the short film FadED – inspired by the experiences of GO Bouyer, a young “stud” lesbian woman of color (WOC) that encapsulates the intensity of issues of gender identity, homelessness, drugs and relationship complexity in Boston’s WOC lesbian scene.
In its first year, LOCS was able to connect and unite more than100 LBTQ women of color and allies from across New England, New York and Maryland/Washington DC areas for a day of networking, advocacy and empowerment.
“Embracing the beautiful diversity that exists within our community–through frank conversations, honesty and healing–is essential for empowering and uniting women of color, particularly for ones in New England who can feel so isolated from each other The Inaugural Lesbians of Color Symposium provides a platform to discuss and address the disparities within our communities as well as building and maintaining Sisterhood. By the end of the conference, you’ll know that you’re a part of a larger family that will support you long after the day has ended,” stated Dr. Kim Parker, Cambridge Ridge and Latin, a participant of the 2012 inaugural Lesbians of Color Symposium.
To view videos of the 2012 LOCS please visit www.facebook.com/LOCScollective
For more information, a complete list of workshops and to register for the 2nd Annual Lesbians of Color Symposium, please visit locs2013.eventbrite.com/# .For questions or comments, contact shaunya@gmail.com or 617.888.3617.
The Lesbians of Color Symposium Collective (LOCSC), Inc is a non-profit organization founded in 2012, dedicated to the service and support of the lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer identified women of color and our allies. More specifically, we provide community and cultivate resources through advocacy, education, programming and networking.
[From a News Release]
