On behalf of CNN, the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference of Emory University, and the National Center For Civil and Human Rights, you are invited to attend the third open forum of CNN Dialogues on Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00 pm at Grady High School Theater.

CNN DIALOGUES: Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender:
Has More Openness Led to More Acceptance?

The LGBT community has a long history of participation, activism, and contribution to the fabric of American culture. Its pioneers have paved the way for many policies enacted in corporate America, on Capitol Hill, and within state and local government- all with the aim to include and respect. Now, more than ever before, we find LGBT themes prominently integrated into pop culture and mainstream media. Is the hit television show "Modern Family" pointing us all in the direction of a new American reality?

In this dialogue, we ask: has the increasing openness in the LGBT community led to increasing acceptance? Or is it the other way around? An esteemed group of panelists and our audience will explore this question, along with some of the most pervasive issues impacting LGBTs in America today: workplace inclusion; community building; marriage equality, teen bullying; the role of religion in the community; and leading an "authentic" life.

Jane Velez-Mitchell photo credit: Jane Velez-Mitchell

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Grady High School Theater 929 Charles Allen Drive Atlanta, GA 30309 For more information and TICKETS, click here: Admission: $25.00

This event, moderated by
Jane Velez-Mitchell,
Host, "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell"




will feature panelists:

Robin Brand
Deputy Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund & Leadership Institute

LZ Granderson
Senior Writer at ESPN & CNN Contributor

Donna Rose
Transgender Speaker
Activist & Author, "Wrapped in Blue"
The first transgender member of the Human Rights Campaign and the GLAAD Board of Directors

Johnny Weir
US Champion Figure Skater

Robin Brand photo credit: The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

LZ Granderson photo credit: ESPN

Donna Rose photo credit: Donna Rose

Johnny Weir

Information about our moderator and panelists:

Jane Velez-Mitchell
Host, "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell"

Jane Velez-Mitchell hosts "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell,"a topical event-driven show with a wide range of viewpoints. A veteran television news journalist, Velez-Mitchell reported for the nationally syndicated Warner Brothers/Telepictures show "Celebrity Justice" and regularly served as guest host for "Nancy Grace," another HLN program.

Velez-Mitchell chronicles her lifelong battle with alcoholism, as well as her coming out as a lesbian and her discovery of a healthier, happier and more meaningful existence, in "iWant: My Journey From Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler Honest Life," which was released in October 2009, and became a New York Times bestseller. Her most recent book, "Addict Nation" was released in February 2011.

In 2010, her HLN show garnered a Genesis Awards from the Humane Society of the United States, her third having won two others on "Celebrity Justice." Velez-Mitchell is the recipient of a Los Angeles Emmy Award and a New York Emmy Award. The KCAL-TV newscasts she co-anchored won three Southern California Golden Mike Awards and an Emmy. She also wrote, directed and produced "Dancing Through Life," an award-winning documentary.

http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/velez-mitchell.jane.html

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Robin Brand
Deputy Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund & Leadership Institute

Robin Brand is the deputy executive director at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute, and organization that identifies, trains and helps elect openly LGBT leaders to public office. As deputy executive director, Brand develops strategies and oversees programs for the nation`s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender political action committee.

Prior to taking on her current role, Brand was chief operating officer for Gill Action, and earlier was a senior vice president at the Victory Fund and Leadership Institute. Her work in LGBT politics has included raising candidate-specific funds and helping elect the first openly LGBT legislators in several states.

Previously, Robin served as the eastern political director for the Democratic National Committee and as the executive director of the Washington State Democratic Party.

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LZ Granderson
Senior Writer at ESPN & CNN Contributor

LZ Granderson is a senior writer at ESPN and contributor with CNN. He has been named Journalist of the Year by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and is a 2011 Online Journalism Award finalist for commentary. He writes a weekly column for CNN.com, appears weekly on various CNN television programs and has contributed to ESPN`s Sports Center, Outside the Lines and First Take. Prior to joining ESPN and CNN, Mr. Granderson wrote for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Grand Rapids Press, The South Bend Tribune and was a Hechinger Institute Fellow at Columbia. For the past three years Mr. Granderson has been named one of the top 25 college speakers by Campus Pride and is a 2011 and 2010 nominee and the 2009 winner of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation award for online journalism.

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Donna Rose
Author & Advocate for Transgender & Transsexual Issues

Donna Rose is a nationally recognized author, speaker, athlete, and advocate for transgender and transsexual issues. Her work with Corporate America earned recognition as a "Gay Corporate Leader" by The Advocate Magazine in April 2006, and has helped to shape LGBT workplace policy in corporations across the country. Donna was the first openly transgender member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Board of Directors in Washington, DC. She also served as the Board National Co-Chair for Diversity, and is the first openly transgender member of the Board of Directors for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and for GLAAD. Donna has led day-long Transgender Intensive training sessions at the Out and Equal Workplace Summit since 2006, served on the Transgender Advisory Committee, and was co-chair for the 2008 Summit in Austin, Texas. In 2003, she released her memoir, "Wrapped in Blue: A Journey of Discovery" Her website, www.donnarose.com, is a nationally respected source of information and support for/about the transgender community.

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Johnny Weir
US Champion Figure Skater

Johnny Weir is a three-time US Champion, two-time Olympian, and World medalist figure skater. He claimed his first senior US national championship in 2004, and successfully defended his title in 2005. In 2006, Johnny captured his third consecutive national championship, earning a place on the US Olympic team. He went on to win the bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships - the only medal won by a Team USA member at that competition.

Johnny is the star of his own reality series on the Logo Network, called Be Good Johnny Weir, which won the 2010 NewNowNext Award for Most Addictive Reality Star. In autumn 2010, he was honored by the Seattle chapter of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) with the HRC Visibility Award. Most recently, Johnny was selected as Grand Marshal of the 2011 Los Angeles PRIDE parade, one of the largest LGBT pride celebrations in the country. This past June, he also participated in Pride + Joy, the Pride Month campaign hosted by Macy`s department stores.

For more information and TICKETS, click here: