National Black Lesbian Conference - Dallas, Texas

April 7-10, 2005

As the new People of Color (POC) media manager for Communities of African Descent, Katina Parker represented GLAAD at this year's National Black Lesbian Conference in Dallas, Texas. The four-day conference, which was organized by the Zuna Institute and hosted by Women of Distinction, drew more than 350 women in early April. The conference included workshops and panels that addressed economic, political, spiritual and personal empowerment, as well as a concert, a banquet and a gospel brunch.

"I was very touched by the caliber of women the conference attracted. I met and socialized with as many activists as possible," Parker says. "There were a number of couples, many of which had been together for twenty plus years. And there were also young couples, those who'd recently come out and who are still weathering the storm of familial homophobia. I came away from the conference with renewed faith in the stability of same-gender loving couples and with an even greater passion to defend the rights of those couples in the media."

	Donna Payne of HRC, Las Vegas Activist Angela Harvey and Courtney Snowden of The Raben Group.
	Organization Panel: Moderator Zandra Conway & ULOAH's Executive Director Lisa Powell.
	At the Banquet: Crystal & Noell from Orlando.
	At the Banquet: Freedom to Marry's Samiya Bashir & Equality California's Sylvia Rhue.
	Zuna Institute's Executive Director Francine Ramsey with partner/fellow-organizer Cynthia Walston.
	Two attendees laugh at Comediane Karen Williams.
	DJ Spark rocks the after-party.
	Bishop Yvette Flunder of City of Refuge UCC preaches at the Gospel Brunch.
	Bishop Flunder prays for couples.
	A Dallas couple receives prayer.
	Conference attendees sing a song about freedom and acceptance.
	GLAAD's Katina Parker, Women of Distinction's Michelle Carter, Toia & Frances.