FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, New York, NY. – The Daily Beast, in collaboration with the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and eight other international human rights organizations, will host an unprecedented gathering of leading LGBT activists from around the world.  Entitled “Quorum: Global LGBT Voices,” the event will take place at the New York Public Library on Wednesday, December 10, designated Human Rights Day by the United Nations.

The live-journalism event will feature LGBT activists from the Global South and East telling compelling stories about their struggles and successes.  To reach a wide audience, the event will generate a series of video talks, interviews, and presentations to be released online beginning in January, 2015, and continuing throughout the year.

The event is cosponsored by the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, American Jewish World Service, All Out, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), International LGBT Association Europe (ILGA-Europe), 76Crimes.com, and Muslims for Progressive Values.

Quorum features a who’s-who of LGBT activists and artists from around the world. J. Bob Alotta, Astraea’s ED will be sharing 20 years of expertise on international LGBTQI  funding. Astraea is also proud to have two grantee partners included among the list of activists and artists: Jabu Pereira of Iranti-Org in South Africa and Kenita Placide of United and Strong in St. Lucia will present along with Adebisi Alimi (Nigeria), Anastasia Smirnova (Russia), Maurice Tomlinson (Jamaica), Meena Seshu (India), Alice Nkom (Cameroon), Nisha Ayub (Malaysia), Kenita Placide (St. Lucia), Parvez Sharma (A Jihad for Love), Xiaogang Wei (China), and Jabu Pereira (South Africa), as well as several activists whose names are being withheld for security reasons.

“Americans often find themselves outraged at human rights abuses overseas,” said Jay Michaelson, a columnist for the Daily Beast and one of the coordinators of the event.  “This is an opportunity for us to listen to those on the front lines.”

“LGBTQI movements globally are vibrant, diverse and resilient,” says Sarah Gunther, Program Director at the Astraea Foundation. “They have tremendous expertise. It is critical that allies take their lead from LGBTQI activists on the ground, particularly when global dynamics are so complex.”

Launched in 2008, The Daily Beast provides a smart, up-to-the-minute, speedy read of what is happening in politics, entertainment, world affairs, fashion, business, culture and more.  The Daily Beast is based in New York and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI).

The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice is the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S. and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.

Event Information.

Astraea Contact: Bridget de Gersigny: [email protected]

Live Blogging at  https://quorum.thedailybeast.com/ (live from December 10th 2014)

Event: Quorum is an invitation-only event, taking place 10am-6pm on Wednesday, December 10, at the New York Public Library. Press passes are available by contacting Isabelle Weisman, isabelle.weisman@iac