Mindy Michels manages Freedom House’s Dignity for All LGBTI Assistance Program from Washington, D.C. Dignity for All provides emergency assistance; security, opportunity and advocacy rapid response grants (SOAR grants); and security assessment and training to human rights defenders and civil society organizations under threat or attack due to their work for LGBTI human rights.

Michael Heflin is director of equality for the Open Society Human Rights Initiative, which promotes justice, equality and participation of all, including LGBTI individuals and communities.

Graeme Reid is director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch in New York City. Reid, who is originally from South Africa, has conducted research and has taught and published extensively on gender, sexuality, LGBT issues and HIV/AIDS.

Shawn M. Gaylord leads Human Rights First’s initiative to combat violence against LGBTI people globally.

John Marnell is the publishing and communications officer at Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action in Johannesburg and is often based in Melbourne, Australia. He has trained journalists from across sub-Saharan Africa on how to better report on LGBTI issues.

Colin Stewart runs the Erasing 76 Crimes blog, which focuses on the human toll of more than 70 countries’ anti-LGBTI laws and local struggles to repeal them.

Joel Bedos is executive director at the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia. The annual day is observed on May 17 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally.

Fabrice Houdart is human rights officer at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights New York who works on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. His team leads the United Nations’ Free & Equal campaign to promote global LGBTI rights.

Church World Service works to create a safe space for LGBTI people, providing both resettlement for LGBTI refugees and protection to those still facing the fear of persecution. The organization currently works with LGBTI communities in both Africa and the United States in order to safeguard the human rights of all persecuted people and provide services that […]