The Salzburg Global LGBT Forum leaders consider the impact and future of the Forum
After five successful years of convening sessions, sharing stories and building a global network, Founder and Chair, Klaus Mueller and Salzburg Global Seminar Vice Presidents, Benjamin Glahn and Clare Shine, consider the impact the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum has had and how it will move forward over the next five years.
Salzburg Global Seminar remains committed to advancing dialogue and collaboration for LGBT equality as a key attribute of civic societies that no longer tear families, communities or societies apart for reasons of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. We believe that the Forum’s signature – the truly global representation of diverse leaders across human rights, law, arts and culture, and religion – is and will continue to be of vital importance for inclusive and tolerant societies.
As this report highlights through concrete examples, the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum can point to many areas of achievement since it was founded in 2013:
The Forum’s major interconnected themes already include family, storytelling, migration and human security. In the future, we plan to expand this focus to include the role of history in better understanding how societies in- or exclude the lives of LGBT people and communities in their portrayal of cultural, national or religious identities.
Expanding on the Forum’s first five years and the vibrancy of its network of LGBT human rights defenders and supporters, we have identified key priorities for the next phase of its development. Over the next five years the Forum will seek to: a) leverage its independence, diversity and inclusiveness and harness its strengths in interdisciplinary convening and collaboration; b) enhance its contribution to global storytelling and cultural expression; and c) identify and support the next generation of human rights advocates and change-makers who are advancing LGBT equality.
By catalyzing and leading collaborations around the globe, the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum aims to drive change in three areas:
Building on its strengths, the Forum will combine outreach and concrete projects for three objectives:
While continuing larger gatherings to extend and deepen the Forum’s global network, we also aim to create, support and facilitate smaller meetings and explore new formats to share our expertise and connections with stakeholders from diverse fields. We have built a strong basis, but remain a “fluid network" that responds to initiatives from our members and partners and grows through evaluation and cooperation.
As we embark on the next five years, we thank our Fellows, partners and donors who have made the first five years of the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum so successful. In the years to come, we look forward to deeper and broader collaboration, and to doing our part to realize the full and equal human rights of LGBT people and communities around the globe.