LGBTQIA+ Programming at SXSW 2018
The Forrest Four-Cast: January 16, 2018
Content in the 24 different tracks at the 2018 SXSW Conference covers a variety of topics, ranging from “Code & Programming” to “Experiential Storytelling” to “VR/AR”. A portion of these panels and presentations focus on specific communities that are part of March Magic.
Located mainly within the “Social Impact” track, sessions that are targeted to the LGBTQ+ community include:
After Pulse: Creating an LGBTQ+ Alliance in Orlando: What followed in the wake of the June 12 shooting at Pulse Nightclub was a drastic change in the way various community organizations banded together in an alliance to collaborate and communicate more effectively. In this panel several One Orlando Alliance members will share lessons learned and encourage other communities to plan their own alliances. Scheduled for March 10 at the Westin.
The Ally Toolkit: Engaging Equity Skeptics. Our world is filled with inequities along lines of race, gender, sexual orientation and other identities. This workshop aims to teach effective strategies for engaging these skeptics, empowering allies with persuasion tools based on recent research in neurobiology. Scheduled for March 14 at the Fairmont.
Beyond Boxes: The Intersex Case for Intersectionality: Gender is fluid and sexuality is a spectrum, but the false binary of biological sex remains. Gender equity activist Alicia Weigel shares her own experience as an Intersex individual and a call-to-action for more intersectional advocacy within the LGBTQIA+ community. Scheduled for March 11 at the Westin.
Couples Who Eat, Sleep & Build Businesses Together: When it comes to running a business as a couple, there are no “normal” business hours. It’s not easy but having your partner in life to help get you through the ups and downs of building a company is possible and actually beneficial to the success of the business. Scheduled for March 10 at the Westin.
Diversity in Tech: It’s Not Just a Gender Problem: Despite greater transparency around women and minorities, companies aren’t thinking about people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community the same way. Join us as we discuss the root of these diversity problems and how companies can create an inclusive culture where everyone feels empowered to show up as their true self. Scheduled for March 11 at the Westin.
Founding an LGBT+ Nonprofit: In this session, you will learn how to transform your passion project into something with a deep sense of purpose. Takeaways will include: how do you build structure without diminishing passion, how to move from cause to action and an opportunity to make new connections. Scheduled for March 12 at the Hilton.
LQBTQ Representation in Cinema: Turner Classic Movies and FilmStruck will explore LGBTQ themes in cinema and discuss the ways in which cultural and societal institutions have often suppressed sexual orientation over the course of history, including in film. Scheduled for March 11 at the Westin.
LGBTQIA in Marketing Meet Up: Quickly connect with an entire room of LGBT marketers from all over the world! This is your opportunity to have multiple one-on-one brief introductions, talk about your latest idea and make connections that can serve you throughout the conference. Scheduled for March 11 at the JW Marriott.
RompHims and Boyfriend Jeans: Ungendering Fashion: Fashion that challenges conventional gender norms has become increasingly mainstream. However, the fashion industry often undermines social gains associated with this shift by using gendered language and images to market clothing. This session will focus on how the industry can truly ungender fashion. Scheduled for March 9 at the Four Seasons.
TransVisible in Texas: Develop a Media Campaign: This session will provide an overview of strategies to identify compelling personal stories, recruit storytellers, and train spokespeople. We will share resources, provide examples on how to build a grassroots storytelling project, and discuss methods on how to distribute stories compassionately and ethically. Scheduled for March 11 at the Westin.
Youth Power: Young Activists on the Front Lines: Young adults make up 20% of the US population and are the new face of progress. Moderated by Lux Alptraum, this panel will showcase the voices and activism of young people like Sadie Hernandez, Raquel Willis, and Blair Imani. Scheduled for March 10 at the Westin.
Browse the full SXSW 2018 content schedule here — use the search bar at the upper right corner to find what interests you most. Attend these sessions by buying a badge. You will save $100 on the walkup price if you buy purchase before the Friday, February 9 deadline.
Also mark your calendar for the annual LGBTQIA+ SXSW Community Meet Up on Thursday, February 15 at Revelry (908 E 5th St in Austin). Come to this networking event to learn more about March Magic 2018 as well as to connect with other digital creatives who are interested in SXSW.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
