This week, HRC is hosting more than 30 global leaders for equality in Washington, D.C. for the third annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit. These leading global advocates for LGBTQ equality were selected from hundreds of applicants because of the creative, inspiring and impactful work they do to advance equality around the globe.

From April 9-12, the Global Innovators will take part in intense discussions with each other and HRC staff on innovative ways to advance LGBTQ equality. They will share ideas, best practices and unique approaches to effectively build movements and advocate for equality, whether that’s through family, community or across borders.

Since 2016, the Global Summit has brought together nearly 100 leaders from all corners of the globe who are advancing LGBTQ equality. The 2018 Global Innovators join HRC’s growing network of advocates and partners from nearly 70 countries.

Follow along here and on social media using #HRCGlobalSummit to learn more about what these leading advocates are doing with HRC.

Day 1: HRC welcomes the 2018 Global Innovators to Washington, D.C.

.@HRC is proud to welcome our 2018 class of Global Innovators to Washington, D.C. today. ����️‍��https://t.co/5HimsCUd7a

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 10, 2018

Mary Beth Maxwell: “These were difficult years for us”. Appreciate mentioning Chechnya at opening of #HRCGlobalSummit 2018 pic.twitter.com/aBinWiXUvd

— Yuri Yoursky (@yuri_yoursky) April 10, 2018

Really humbled to be part of @HRC 2018 Global Innovators, leading global #LGBTQ advocates https://t.co/omv0hCrHOp, follow #HRCglobalsummit to see what we are doing throughout this week. #LGBT

— Ashiwaju Bisi Alimi (@bisialimi) April 10, 2018

¡Mucho gusto! We are so happy to welcome you into the @HRC family. Thank you for the incredible work you do in Ecuador for equality. #HRCGlobalSummit ���� ��️‍�� https://t.co/jT7yUsVZtO

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 10, 2018

 

In this photo, there are LGBTQI activists from Thailand, Burundi, Nigeria, the UK, Colombia, India, Kuwait, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, The Philippines, Nepal and Japan. I’m always excited to meet fellow activist from around the world. It not only recharges me but inspires me to continue my own work. Please follow these wonderful souls to see their work around the globe. ����️‍�������� . . . . . . . . #hrcglobalsummit #gayactivist #lgbtactivist #lgbtqi #lgbtqiapride #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtpride #transactivist #transgenderwoman #transwoman #transman #gay #pflag #momofagayson #gaythailand #gayburundi #gaynigeria #gayuk #gaycolombia #gaykuwait #gaykuwaiti #transpakistan #gayzimbabwe #gayphilippines #gaynepal #gayjapan #humanrights #lgbtrights #humanrightscampaign

A post shared by Sushant Naidu (@sushant_means_peace) on Apr 9, 2018 at 6:05pm PDT

Day 2: Global Innovators discuss how to use personal ties and stories to build a movement and grow their advocacy.

Director's of @HRC : "we stay together to keep stronger"
The importance to work for all LGBTIQ!#HRCGlobalSummit #2018
Human Rights Campaign es una organización que trabaja desde los años 1980 a favor d las personas LGBTI y ahora extiende su apoyo para activistas del mundo entero pic.twitter.com/MsjqwWHmgS

— Danilo Manzano (@danomanzano) April 10, 2018

#HRCGlobalSummit pic.twitter.com/YvbVSUyiQ7

— Yuri Yoursky (@yuri_yoursky) April 10, 2018

#HRCGLOBALCAMPAIGN
Transformando, aprendiendo y trabajando por un mundo más incluyente y respetuoso. @sergiourregoorg @acivico @fidelcanoco @EcastilloVa @paoladelcarmenz @Natal1aH pic.twitter.com/rwuEZPOC3z

— Alba Reyes (@AlbaLReyes) April 10, 2018

La madre del joven que se suicidó en #Colombia por la negligencia del sistema educativo, #homofobia y #AcosoEscolar
Comparte su historia: @sergiourregoorg#HRCGlobalSummit by @HRC

The mother of the young man who committed suicide in #Colombia for #homophobia and #bullying pic.twitter.com/t1zTumiMn8

— Danilo Manzano (@danomanzano) April 10, 2018

Follow along with #HRCGlobalSummit to learn more about what our Global Innovators are doing this week with @HRC. ����️‍��https://t.co/vXJWoLHy4i pic.twitter.com/wJcpqpVDZt

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 10, 2018

 

Trans representation at Global innovative Advocacy Summit #globalinnovativeadvocacysummit# #weexist# #transgender# #leadership# #ftm##inspiration# #transisbeautiful# #tdov# #tdov2018# #human# #translivesmatter# #african# #visibility# #sweden # #speakout# #queerstionmedia# #tpoc# #transmen# washingtondc# #photography# #japan# #transmen# #gay# #czechrepublic# #gendernonbinary# #humanrights# #hrcglobalsummit#

A post shared by Queerstion magazine (@queerstionmedia) on Apr 11, 2018 at 6:22am PDT

Day 3: Global Innovators discuss how to use community ties to build a movement and grow their advocacy. They joined global equality partners at the Embassy of Argentina for a reception.

Nuestra directora @AlbaLReyes sigue en la Cumbre de Derechos Humanos en Washington. Aprendiendo cada día más de los grandes lideres sociales, que han conmocionado al mundo con sus acciones e historias.#HRCGlobalSummit
Sigan todo el evento a través de nuestras redes! pic.twitter.com/E7kAkcpujI

— Fund. Sergio Urrego (@sergiourregoorg) April 11, 2018

 

meet the Global innovators @bisialimi @bantubrotha #GlobalInnovatorsAdvocacySummit# #advocacy# #activism# #japan# #zimbabwe# #nigeria#weexist# #transgender# #leadership# #ftm##inspiration# #transisbeautiful# #tdov# #tdov2018# #human# #translivesmatter# #african# #visibility# #sweden # #speakout# #queerstionmedia# #tpoc# #transmen# washingtondc# #photography# #japan# #transmen# #gay# #hrcglobalsummit#

A post shared by Queerstion magazine (@queerstionmedia) on Apr 10, 2018 at 10:33am PDT

#HRCGlobalSummit @HRC pic.twitter.com/vx0Ur5Cmtl

— Yuri Yoursky (@yuri_yoursky) April 11, 2018

 

Let me take a break from my formal shirt and chill around in this cute T-shirt! #HRCGlobalSummit #transEquality

A post shared by Hasan Of Chicago (@hasanofamman) on Apr 10, 2018 at 10:14am PDT

Honored to join @HRC to celebrate the 2018 Global Innovators whose work towards #equality is changing lives around the world. Congratulations to all of them! #HRCGlobalSummit #LGBTI #HumanRights pic.twitter.com/7Hqd7sQ4x8

— Argentina in USA (@ARGinUSA) April 12, 2018

 

Some of the amazing Innovators (from both this year and last) at the #HRCGlobalSummit. #hrc

A post shared by Ian L. (@bearleft) on Apr 11, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT

Day 4: Global Innovators discuss how to use regional ties across borders to build a movement and grow their advocacy. Innovators mix & mingle with HRC staff.

 

Countries represented at this years #hrcglobalsummit! #graphicrecording

A post shared by Lauren Green (@dancingwithmarkers) on Apr 11, 2018 at 12:27pm PDT

How many innovative activists can we get into one shot? So awesome speaking at #HRCGlobalSummit to advocates from around the world doing lifesaving work! ��️‍�� pic.twitter.com/5zcEV5xUFS

— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) April 12, 2018

Ella perdió a su hijo por la homofobia, su niño se quitó la vida por la discriminación al ser #gay
Hoy ella lucha contra el Bullying
Ahora ella nos llena de orgullo!

She lost her son because of homophobia, her son took his own life due to discrimination#HRCGlobalSummit @HRC pic.twitter.com/LOgYS5dbp7

— Danilo Manzano (@danomanzano) April 12, 2018

So lovely to meet you in person @SarahEMcBride. You have a friend whenever you are in India. Keep that in the back of your mind. :) pic.twitter.com/BiIyItLVGw

— harish iyer (@hiyer) April 12, 2018

 

Trans visibility Trans* global innovators, transgender #ftm# #leadership# #weexist# #advocacy# #ftm##inspiration# #transisbeautiful# #tdov# #tdov2018# #human# #translivesmatter# #african# #visibility# #sweden # #speakout# #queerstionmedia# #tpoc# #transmen# washingtondc# #photography# #japan# #transmen# #gay# #czechrepublic# #gendernonbinary# #humanrights# #hrcglobalsummit# #washingtondc# #activism# #lgbtqia# #photography# #phillipines# #pakistan# #botswana#

A post shared by Queerstion magazine (@queerstionmedia) on Apr 12, 2018 at 5:35am PDT

Te compartimos un poco de lo que ha sido esta gran semana. El caso de Sergio Urrego sorprende y preocupa a lideres de Europa y Latinoamérica, sin embargo es una razón más para seguir trabajando por espacios libres de discriminación en #Colombia y el mundo. #HRCGlobalsummit pic.twitter.com/k577yNWciT

— Fund. Sergio Urrego (@sergiourregoorg) April 12, 2018

Lauren Green (@dancing_markers) captured the spirit of the #HRCGlobalSummit through art. For Green, "it's an honor to be here and record some of the most important conversations I will ever record in my career." https://t.co/qIK3UYQ7iM pic.twitter.com/zMGhtj7dQ6

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 13, 2018

It was great meeting with participants in the Human Rights Campaign Global Innovators Summit this morning at @WashBlade office @LosAngelesBlade #HRCGlobalSummit pic.twitter.com/FUqikobx7c

— Michael K. Lavers (@mklavers81) April 13, 2018