On June 6, the Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for members of the LGBTQ+ community — citing the “unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023.” American University experts are available to comment on issues related to LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the history of the gay rights movement, and legislation impacting the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

When:

June 16, 2023 - ongoing

Where:

In-person, Zoom, Facetime, Phone

Background:

Experts available for comment include:

K. Tyler Christensen is a professorial lecturer in the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies and Department of Literature. The expanse of his doctoral work is concerned with storytelling that emerges after the Stonewall riots and during the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Naomi Moland is a senior professorial lecturer at the School of International Service. Her research focuses on LGBT rights, global media, international education, peace and conflict, and the globalization of pluralist ideologies. Her recent book,"Can Big Bird Fight Terrorism? Children's Television and Globalized Multicultural Education," explores the dilemmas of localization, diversity, and tolerance on the Nigerian version of Sesame Street. Prof. Moland’s current research investigates the cultural and religious dynamics of global LGBT rights movements.

Andrew Flores is an assistant professor of government at the School of Public Affairs, a Visiting Scholar at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, and a Public Fellow with the Public Religion Research Institute. Prof. Flores served as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus Committee on the Well-being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Populations in the US. His research focuses on attitude formation, attitude change, and public policies affecting LGBTQ populations.

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