In addition to keynote speakers U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Colonel Grethe Cammemeyer, Olga Orraca Paredes from the National Latino/a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization (LLEGÓ) is traveling from Puerto Rico to speak at Sunday's Plenary; former D.C. Shadow Representative to the U.S. Congress Sabrina Sojourner will bring a local perspective to Summit discussions on electoral strategies.  A protest against hate crimes will wrap up the weekend.  Highlights of the Summit schedule follow:

Friday, April 23

7:00 PM                         Opening Ceremony
 

The opening ceremony will include the music of singer Angie Head and a reading by Mariah Burton Nelson.  Speakers will include Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), first open-lesbian elected to the U.S. Congress and Colonel Grethe Cammemeyer, former congressional candidate.  Pioneering lesbian rights activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon will be honored with NOW's Women of Courage Awards, and the Lesbian Avengers will close with a fire-eating ceremony.

The evening's entertainment will feature some of the best and brightest lesbian performers.  The raucous night of music and dance will be kicked-off by the Butchies who will open for SONiA of disappear fear.

9:00 AM                           Strategies Session Briefing

Performer Lisa Lusero, who has performed her one-woman piece "Impossible Body" at numerous venues,  will kick-off this plenary session.  Lusero's performance will be followed by a strategies session briefing to prepare activists for the Working Groups sessions.

Actor Jaqui Sutton will get things rolling with her dramatic reading of works by Audre Lorde.  The session will include Urvashi Vaid, author of Virtual Equality and director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute; Willa Taylor, director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum; and Patricia Ireland, president of NOW.  Poet Ana Lara will close the Plenary.

9:30 AM                             Working Group Reports to National Leaders

Working Groups will present results from Saturday's session on strategies for the new millennium with national leaders Elizabeth Birch -- the Human Rights Campaign, Ruth Harlow -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Patricia Ireland -- NOW, Kirsten Kingdon -- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Kerry Lobel -- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Dilia Loe -- Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Olga Orraca Paredes -- Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization (LLEGÓ) and Willa Taylor -- National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum.

Participants will finish the Summit with a spirited demonstration in support of expanding the federal Hate Crimes statute.  Activists will gather across the street from the Capitol (in front of the U.S. Supreme Court).

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