The country’s largest annual gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders will be held in Long Beach this year, according to a press release issued by First District Councilmember Robert Garcia’s office.
The 28th International LGBT Leadership Conference will take place at the Renaissance Hotel and surrounding venues in downtown Long Beach from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2.
Attending the gathering each year are openly LGBT elected and appointed officials from around the world, including members of Congress, state legislators, city councilmembers, commissioners, presidential appointees and judges. The conference also draws the leadership of national and state LGBT nonprofit organizations, as well as media and business professionals.
“Long Beach is proud to host LGBT Leaders 2012,” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. “This conference, aimed to increase visibility and representation of openly gay candidates at all levels of public service, will be right at home in one of the most diverse cities in the country.”
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute, which produces the annual conference, is the nation’s leading organization that identifies, trains and supports openly LGBT public officials.
Garcia, who has attended the last three conferences, pitched Long Beach as the host city along with Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester.
“We are honored to host the most important and influential conference for LGBT leaders in the country,” Garcia said. “Having attended the conference the last few years, I can say with certainty that this gathering will be a boon to the downtown economy.”
The Victory Institute is one of the most influential LGBT organizations in the United States, according to the press release from Garcia’s office, and its annual convention is considered extremely important to the political progress of the LGBT community.
For more information, visit the Victory Institute website at victoryinstitute.org or contact Garcia’s office at (562) 570-6919.
