The Human Rights Campaign announced a key Featured Session at the South By Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals curated to discuss poignant LGBTQ+ issues. The panel, titled “When Beer Goes Viral: The Role of Brands and Media in Fighting Hate,” will dive into the responsibility of brands and the media to not perpetuate misinformation and discrimination. The Featured Session will be on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at a time to be determined.

The SXSW Featured Session participants include:

• Kelley Robinson, the first Black, queer, woman President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

• Dylan Mulvaney, trans actress and content creator. Her viral videos have received over 1 billion views across Tiktok and Instagram, and in early 2023, she was at the epicenter of a far-right hate and misinformation campaign fueled by a singular paid content piece by a major beer company.

• Aaron Walton, CEO and Founder of Walton Isaacson, a progressive and innovative marketing and advertising firm. An inductee into the 2023 Advertising Hall of Fame, and former PepsiCo marketing executive, Aaron is recognized for his pioneering strategic work leveraging entertainment and culture.

• Jo Yurcaba, a reporter for NBC OUT, the LGBTQ+ section at NBC News Digital with a focus on the transgender community. They have been published by NBCNews.com, ELLE, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Verywell, Woman’s Day, Bustle, among others.

“Brands and creators can play a major role in the peddling of disinformation and sensationalized, hate-filled rhetoric online and in the public discourse. Dylan experienced first-hand how a transphobic, click-bait driven narrative leads to real-life consequences,” said Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President. “Inclusive marketing campaigns are not political statements, nor should they be controversial. Inclusivity is the baseline expectation for any company, business or organization that is committed to equality. We are so proud to work with this incredible group of queer advocates, experts and SXSW to bring this critical conversation to Austin next year.”

The official description for this SXSW Featured Session is: “When trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney partnered with a major beer brand, the right-wing seized on the campaign. The company’s response only exacerbated things further – while conventional and social media platforms helped elevate small groups of anti-trans radicals. This panel will dive into the responsibility of brands and the media to not fuel the fire of misinformation and discrimination. Attendees will better understand how to spot the pitfalls of elevating sensational, hate-filled content aimed at undermining the acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.”

The SXSW Conference is organized into various programming tracks that specifically relate to this panel’s message and audience, including: Advertising & Brand Experience, Creating Film & TV, Creator Economy, Culture, Design, Film & TV Industry, Government and Civic Engagement, Music & Tech, Startups, Tech Industry, Workplace. More information about SXSW programming tracks and formats can be found here. Also look for leading LGBTQ+ artists and storytellers in the SXSW Music and Film & TV Festival programs closer to the event.