This is the time to grab some breakfast, sign-in, and network.

As the new Executive Director of the LGBTQ Institute, Tim’m West will welcome everyone, clarifying our purpose and setting the tone for our time together, as well as introducing our Platinum Sponsor, Delta Airlines.

Meet one of the cherished members of our DEI team who’ll also introduce our first panel of the day.

Advocate, Athlete, and Global Ambassador Amazin LeThi will lead this panel exploring LGBTQ inclusion in sports. While we acknowledge the visibility of Pride nights at sporting events, rainbow paraphernalia, and the efforts to create safe spaces, in 2023, 21 states have passed bans on transgender athletes, with a number of others states having proposed bans. What does authentic and accountable inclusion look like in sports? What responsibility do sports organizations have to move the needle on LGBTQ rights? Join us as we think about the call to action to become game-changers for LGBTQ Belonging.

The panel will be moderated by Amazin LeThi, and include

Alexis Roe, Director of DEI at the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena

Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality

DeRetta Rhodes, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Chief Culture Officer at the Atlanta Braves

Erin McCormick, General Manager, Gwinnett Stripers

Mikel Thomas, Innovation & Global Fintech Partnerships, Inclusive Client Partnership at Visa

Join LGBTQ Institute Board members and the Center’s DEI team members in a guided conversation about today’s topics

2023 has been quite a year for institutions working to deepen their support for LGBTQ+ communities amid the current culture wars and a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ policies and laws being proposed and passed, especially in the U.S. South.

Disney. Target. Starbucks. Anheuser-Busch. We have many examples of the consequences of trying to navigate these admittedly stormy waters. What lessons have we learned from this year?

Join us in a dynamic conversation with corporate leaders and DEI experts who work in the corporate space about what commitment to LGBTQ-inclusion should and shouldn’t look like.

The conversation will be led by Gabrielle Claiborne, Co-founder and CEO of Transformation Journeys Worldwide. Joining her panel will be:

• Calvin Pegus, BRG-DEI Experiences Manager at Ulta Beauty

• Cassandra Burton, Consumer Insights Manager at AARP

• Jenna Ortiz, Founder and Principal Consultant, Dynamic Transformations

• Todd Ellis, Principal MidSouth Hub Advisory Market Leader at KPMG Management Consultant

• Dewayne R. Queen, President, EQUAL Business Resource Group, Delta Airlines

Enjoy lunch and a continued dialogue about the panels of the day guided by the Institute’s Board members and the Center’s DEI team.

Hear from Phil Polk, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experiences Leader Director at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Closing Keynote by Chris Lugo, Executive Director, OUT Georgia Business Alliance

As we end the forum, please enjoy some lunch and take the opportunity to visit the various exhibits here at The Center!