| We are thrilled to announce that Kate Kendell, a long-time champion of The Center and former Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), will be our esteemed guest speaker at Center Stage 2024!
For 22 years, Kate led NCLR, a national legal organization dedicated to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Her leadership was instrumental in exponentially growing NCLR and she has been at the forefront of some of the most significant civil liberties battles of our time, directly litigating high-profile cases on issues ranging from reproductive rights to the intersection of church and state. The safety of LGBTQ youth, the violence facing transgender women of color, immigration policy, criminal justice reform, and the freedom to marry are just a few of the critical issues that Kate has helped elevate to the national stage.
After stepping down from NCLR at the end of 2018, Kate continued her impactful work as the Interim Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and later became the first-ever Chief of Staff at The California Endowment (TCE). Kate’s dedication to building inclusive organizations and fighting for justice across multiple communities is truly inspiring, and we are honored to have her join us for an unforgettable evening at Center Stage 2024. |
