Creating Change Brings Over 2000 LGBTQ+ And Allied Advocates Together In Washington, DC January 20-25

The following is a press release from EDGE OUTreach partner National LGBTQ Task Force

The National LGBTQ Task Force is less than two weeks away from hosting the 38^th Creating Change in Washington DC. From January 20 to 25, 2,000 attendees will attend to bolster their organizing and strategy skills through hundreds of workshops, sessions, and day-long, identity-based institutes prepared to strengthen the LGBTQ+ movement.  

“Unstoppable” is the theme of the gathering, as Creating Change brings together activists on the state, local, and national levels and brings the movement together to move forward.  

“There is a palpable call for courage in DC...where we will continue to blueprint our liberation at a time when our very existence is being legislated out of classrooms, clinics, and courtrooms,” said Fernando Lopez, director of Creating Change. “Our convening is our rebellion, our refuge, and our rallying cry. From the streets of our neighborhoods to the suites of power, we will gather to share wisdom, to turn outrage into strategy and strategy into action, equipping people from across the nation to build an unstoppable movement.” 

Special general sessions during Creating Change, held Thursday, Fridayand Saturday, include the annual State of the Movement, with Task Force President Kierra Johnson addressingattendees on facing the challenges ahead in 2026 and beyond.  

The general sessions will be available live streaming and online afterwards at  https://www.thetaskforce.org/creating-change/virtual/  

“The climate of today’s political attacks against LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities makes Creating Change a timely, deeply necessary, and powerful gathering for us to push back and win against the current administration and entities at state and local levels working to do away with progress we have made toward liberation and cause real harm to so many,” Johnson said.  

The Friday general session will include a “Leaving Extremism” discussion about political and religious extremism’s impact on the LGBTQ+ and other movements, featuring Kris Hayashi, ACLU’s Director of National Campaigns Trans Justice, Tahil Sharma, the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Faith Director and Nadine Smith of Equality Florida. Journalist Laura Flanders will serve as moderator.  

Saturday’s general session includes keynote speaker Leo Herrera, a queer Mexican artist who explores queer and immigrant experiences through the lenses of sex, technology, and history. Saturday’s general session also includes a highly anticipated appearance by social media influencer,educator, and comedian Alok Vaid-Menon.  

Finally, the DC’s Gay Men Chorus will perform several iconic queer anthems to close out the final general session. 

The Task Force has a long standing tradition of recognizing leaders and trailblazers in the LGBTQ+ movementy and this year is no exception. The following awards will be be presented during the general sessions:

The Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging Issues  

The Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging Issues is presented to Letitia Gomez, whose work exemplifies outstanding leadership in their advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders. Each year at Creating Change, the Carmen Vazquez SAGE Award is given to a community leader who reflects her spirit and passion as a long-time LGBTQ+ and social justice activist.  

Outstanding Transgender Leadership Award 

Presented this year to Kris Hayashi of the ACLU, this award honors a trans or nonbinary leader whose vision, courage, and advocacy have strengthened and uplifted trans communities. 

Faith Leadership Award 

Presented this year to Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, this award honors a faith leader whose work bridges spiritual values with the pursuit of justice, equality, and liberation for LGBTQ+ people. 

To offer attendees the Task Force’s traditional version of “radical welcome”to one of the queerest cities in America, more than 50 local ambassadors have worked tirelessly to bring Creating Change to life in the past year.Local artist and icon Rayceen Pendarvis is set to appear at Creating Change as an ambassador, joined by dozens of other diverse LGBTQ+ DMV area individuals. 

The DC Mayor’s Office on LGBTQIA+ Affairs’ Community Health Specialist Malachi Stewart, Another Creating Change Ambassador, said attending next week’s gathering is a chance to be frank about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ people. “It's a place to be with other people facing that same fate, we can say it out loud, be in community and exhale,” Stewart explained.“We have to face it in the present time before we face the future. [Creating Change] comes at the right time.” 

Centering both queer liberation and queer joy, Creating Change’s Agents of Change Ball and “Kierra’s Kabaret “return as the key, annual entertainment events. Under the theme “Out of this World,” participants of the Agents of Change Ball will compete for cash prizes in various groups and individual categories. Kierra’s Kaberet returns with POSE FX actress and trans activist Dominique Jackson as co-host with a “sneaker ball” theme. For information about tickets to these events, go to  http://ngltf.convio.net/site/Calendar?id=104966&view=Detail  

For those interested in the weekend’s evening events, The Task Force is offering a Weekend Party Pass that provides access to Friday and Saturday evening events, allowing people to immerse themselves in the spirit of love, resistance, and community that defines Creating Change. Weekend passes are a donation of $45 or individual event passes are $25 each. Weekend passes do not include other Creating Change programming.  

Find more information about Creating Change on the  Task Force’s website.