Human Rights

<p>Jim Obergefell draws from his unique experience at the heart of the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling to move and empower audiences to stand by their beliefs—and prove that love always wins. </p><p>A self-described accidental activist, Jim found himself in the role of caregiver for his partner of more than 20 years, John, as he neared the end of his life due to ALS. An unexpected series of events led to their decision to marry, eventually taking Jim to the Supreme Court and the landmark decision in Obergefell v.

<p>Judy Shepard draws from personal tragedy to promote a greater understanding of LGBTQ issues and empower audiences to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach and advocacy in their own communities.</p><p>In 1998, Judy lost her son Matthew to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate that shocked and captivated the nation. Turning tragedy into a crusade for justice, this leading voice in the LGBTQ rights movement has since established The Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on her son’s legacy.

<p>Nadine Strossen is a leading expert in constitutional law and human rights and former President of the American Civil Liberties Union who speaks on free speech, intellectual freedom and civil discourse.</p><p>A former national President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a constitutional law professor, she is a leading political liberal who advocates for classical liberal values. She is serving as host for a three-part PBS series about free speech, to air in 2023. </p><p>Her 2018 book, <em>HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, N

<p>Filmmaker and Human rights activist, Barbara Martinez Jitner, is the inspiration for the Jennifer Lopez film <i>Bordertown</i>. Martinez Jitner posed as a worker in a factory on the Mexican border in order to uncover a dark world of grueling poverty and sexual abuse that has led to over 400 women being murdered in the border town of Juarez, Mexico.

<p>One of the most recognized leaders of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement, gay rights activist and diversity speaker Elizabeth Birch served as executive director of the Human Rights Campaign for over a decade.</p><p>During her tenure, the organization quadrupled in size to become the leading civil rights organization of its kind. Birch has also served as worldwide director of litigation for Apple Computer, Inc.

<p>Long known as a speaker who inspires with narratives that demonstrate the power of one, Kerry Kennedy addresses sustainable investments, social change, and the capacity of the human spirit to thrive despite overwhelming obstacles.  </p>

Michelle Alexander’s acclaimed best-seller, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness released a special 10th anniversary edition in January 2020.

<p>A key actor in the Liberian peace movement in the early 2000s, Leymah Gbowee has established herself as an international symbol of peaceful conflict resolution and the power of women as leaders and agents of change.

<p>As the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Tutu struggled to find her own place in the world. As a human rights advocate, she pulls from her personal challenges of growing up black and female in apartheid South Africa.</p><p>The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu knew from early in life that the one thing she would never be is a priest. She has always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job” However, after years spent as a development consultant, educator and race and gender activist she accepted her call to ordained ministry.

<p>Gain a new and humbling perspective of success, adversity, leadership and perseverance as John Bul Dau reveals his story from South Sudanese refugee to prominent human rights advocate and entrepreneur.</p><p>Born in war-torn South Sudan, John was just 13 when he faced starvation, disease and violence as one of 27,000 boys driven from their villages during the country’s brutal civil war in 1987. Bravely leading displaced boys across Sudan for hundreds of miles, he eventually arrived in Kenya, and immigrated to the United States in 2001.