National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to Host Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and Experiences in the LGBTQ Community

Contact: Will Jones
Marketing and Communications Manager
(513) 333-7558
(513) 802-7355
wjones@nurfc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to Host
Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and
Experiences in the LGBTQ Community
 Discussion provides an in-depth look at the journey to freedom while also
 highlighting the barriers that still exist in the LGBTQ Community

CINCINNATI, OH (March 5, 2019) – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will host Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and Experiences in the LGBTQ Community on Wednesday, March 13 beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and followed by a discussion at 6:20 p.m. The panel discussion is a continuation of the Freedom 55 programming series that includes screenings, book signings, lectures and musical performances throughout 2019 commemorating the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer. The program is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required.

Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and Experiences in the LGBTQ Community features a distinguished panel that will discuss experiences in the LGBTQ community and issues pertaining to race/ethnicity, generation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and faith/religious affiliation. The discussion is organized and moderated by Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Jennifer A. Ingram. The panelists include Activist, Author and Founder of Black Cincy Pride, Tim'm West; University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Tia Sheree Gaynor; Minister and Entrepreneur, Reverend Derek Terry, and Lighthouse Youth and Family Services Director of Safe and Support, Melissa Meyer.

“Too often we limit our ideas of who has a right to freedoms and what that means,” says Jacqueline Dace, deputy director at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “This conversation provides insight from within the LGBTQ community and offers a space where they can share their experiences with others.”

Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and Experieneces in the LGBTQ Community is a part of a series of discussions commemorating the 55th anniversary of Freedom Summer, a 1964 voter registration drive, also known as the Mississippi Summer project. The goal was to end the prevailing discriminatory and segregated voting system through increased voter registration of African Americans. In preparation, hundreds of student volunteers gathered for two, one-week orientation sessions from June 14 to June 27, 1964 at Western College for Women (present day Miami University) in Oxford, OH.

The Freedom 55: The Crossroads of Identity and Experiences in the LGBTQ Community discussion is Wednesday, March 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This program is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required. For more information and to RSVP, visit freedomcenter.org.

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