The Equality Caucus - Braver Angels

The Mission

As the Equality Caucus, we believe LGBTQ individuals are guaranteed our inalienable rights in the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which are among our shared American values. To support the movement-making work of Braver Angels to build bridges, we aim to engage in dialogue to undermine harmful stereotypes, focus on solutions, and respect our shared humanity.

Who We Are

We are members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) communities, across generations and regions of the United States, that hold diverse views about issues affecting our communities.

The Challenge

Within our LGBTQ communities, we are witnessing polarization pitting members of the community against each other, mischaracterizing diverse views, and being both instigators and victims of cancel culture.

Within American society, some individuals in the LBGTQ communities experience harmful stereotyping, threats to their physical and psychological safety, and challenges to their rights and protections.

The Opportunity

Within our LGBTQ communities and the greater Braver Angels community, the BA Equality Caucus is a space to share concerns and hope for equality, learn to listen to each other, understand viewpoint diversity, and strive to establish common ground.

Allies (friends, family members, colleagues, those concerned for themes identified in the charter, and other allies) are welcome to join.  Thank you.

If you have questions please communicate directly with the Equality Caucus leadership team at email equality-caucus-info@braverangels.org

Thank you.

 

 

Equality Caucus welcomes you to a general meeting 

Thursday August 1, 6:30-7:30 PM Eastern, by Zoom online meeting.

The proposed agenda

  • Welcome by co-chairs
  • Introducing ourselves to one another
  • Update: Caucus participation at Braver Angels National Convention 
  • Discussion of what programs the Caucus would like to offer to the broader Braver Angels communities
  • Other items introduced in the meeting
  • Closure and well wishes
  • Note: if we don’t need the full hour we conclude early.

Zoom invitation for the meeting will be sent to all signed up participants and others who request to attend.  Please encourage any interested colleagues, acquaintances, others to sign up.  If you have questions please communicate directly with the Equality Caucus leadership team at email equality-caucus-info@braverangels.org

A marquee presentation at National Convention, June 2024: A Gay May & a Conservative Christian Walk Into a Bar

  • Link to Youtube at

Marquee presentation at 2024 National Convention: A Gay Man & a Conservative Christian Walk Into a Bar

David Blankenhorn, a founder of Braver Angels, in conversation with Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and author of Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America (2004) at the beginning of same-sex marriage debates; and later books including notably Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought (2014, with George Will), and The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth (2021).  They reflect on a continuing conversation that was earlier highlighted by Braver Angels: Braver Angels highlights the Blankenhorn-Rauch conversation

 

Braver Lens: Equality Caucus

The Caucus welcomed participants to gather online through several sessions using photography to meet one another, inform conversations on themes from the Caucus’ charter statements, and develop an exhibit for the June 2024 Braver Angels Convention.   Braver Angels and an expert with Photovoice (our model of using photography and conversation) provided a facilitation guide and other tools developed through the Fall 2023 Braver Lens program series.

Might you be interested to join a Fall-Winter 2024 Braver Lens: Equality Caucus?  Please send your interest to Edward Strickler, edwardnvirginia@hotmail.com, with the Equality Caucus Steering Committee, and facilitator with our Braver Lens series.  Thank you

 

Episode of ‘How can we disagree better’ Braver Angels podcast hosted by Mónica Guzmán

  • Link to podcast at

Listen at ‘disagreeing better’ about LGBTQ+ rights

Spencer Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, and Troy Williams, the activist at the head of Utah’s most active LGBTQ rights organization, don’t buy the notion that a good way to stand for the ideas on your side is to attack the people on the other. Reflecting on their sometimes contentious relationship, the two talk with Mónica about how they’ve both been able to advance their sides through honest dialogue and good-faith engagement, resulting in some surprising win-win policy outcomes for the people in their state.

 

 

 

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