
The HRC Foundation's Annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit provides an unparalleled forum for global LGBTQ+ advocates and allies to exchange ideas for advancing LGBTQ+ equality as well as an opportunity to meet with policymakers, advocates, donors, community members and supporters of global equality in Washington DC and around the world.
Inspired by the incredible work being done across five continents, the HRC Foundation launched its inaugural Global Innovative Advocacy Summit in March 2016. Since its inception, the Global Summit has brought together more than 180 established and emerging advocates from 100+ countries for the exchange of ideas and practices for advancing LGBTQ+ equality. Through in-person and online convenings, these Global Innovators, working together with HRC staff and each other, showcase projects and approaches that impact the lives of LGBTQ+ people in their countries and communities.
The HRC Foundation was proud to host the 6th Annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit - and the first to be held in person since the COVID pandemic - from October 30 to November 3 at HRC headquarters in Washington DC.
For one memorable week, a diverse group of 28 outstanding LGBTQ+ advocates and allies from 30 countries, competitively selected from a large pool of candidates, and complemented by four Innovators from previous years, came together to showcase their programs and approaches, and demonstrate how they impact the lives of LGBTQ+ people in their countries and communities.
Participants engaged in a variety of interactive settings on the summit's three key themes:
Driving Legal and Political Change
Changing Hearts and Minds
Creating More Inclusive Institutions of Daily Life.
Watch this space for more information about our 2024 Summit!
Due to COVID-19, we convened our first-ever Virtual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit in 2020. The four-month-long event brought together 31 Global Innovators from 25 different countries for informational sessions in a variety of online formats, including coffee chats, workshops and curated discussions. During these virtual convenings, the advocates discussed a range of topics—from how to strengthen their organizations by acquiring more members and supporters, to engaging allies from the business community and people of faith, and knowing how to utilize legal advocacy and litigation—all to advance global equality.
In April 2019, HRC brought 29 talented advocates from 27 different countries who are driving LGBTQ+ equality around the world to Washington, D.C. for four full days of learning, sharing and connecting with each other and HRC. Participants shared their personal and professional experiences and ideas to help them in their efforts to engage key stakeholders and allies in improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in their countries.
In April 2018, HRC brought 31 of the most impressive and creative advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in the world to Washington, D.C. for its third annual Global Summit. Over four days, the Global Innovators took part in intense discussions with each other and HRC staff on innovative ways to advance LGBTQ+ equality. They shared ideas, best practices and unique approaches to effectively build movements and advocate for equality, whether that’s through family, community or across borders.
In April 2017, HRC welcomed 30 remarkable Global Innovators from 28 different countries across five continents to Washington, D.C. for its second annual Global Summit. Over three days, the Global Innovators showcased projects and approaches that have advanced equality, particularly around daily themes of storytelling, innovating and advocating.
In March 2016, the inaugural Global Summit brought together twenty-six established and emerging advocates for the exchange of ideas and practices for advancing LGBTQ+ equality.
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