The LGBTQ Experience in Public Relations: Stories that Shaped Our Profession, Our Values and Our Future

May 28

Event Overview

Join us for the industry's first-ever event to celebrate our field's thriving LGBTQ community...and hear the previously untold personal stories of some of the top leaders in public relations.

When: Thursday, June 6, 2019, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.Where: 150 East 42 Street (between 3rd and Lexington Avenues), New York

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, you'll hear how the Gay Rights movement has benefitted the lives of our colleagues — most notably, in legalizing same-sex marriage — and also how far we have to go. For instance, there are still no federal laws to protect gay and lesbian professionals from being discriminated at work, forcing many of our colleagues to remain "in the closet" for years.

While our panelists represent a wide range of generations, ethnic backgrounds and geographies, the personal challenges they've faced as LGBTQ professionals are strikingly similar. And despite the field's drive toward greater diversity, bias still exists.

Ever since the Stonewall Uprising, public relations strategies have played a key role in the national Gay Rights movement, in framing the narrative, getting the message out and molding public opinion.

As we welcome a new generation of LGBTQ professionals to our industry, the next wave of Gay Rights activism might very well be in their hands.

Keynote: Scott Widmeyer, Chief Strategy Officer, Finn Partners

Panel I: Where we've been

Chiqui Cartagena, author, former senior vice president, Political and Advocacy, Univision
Del Galloway (host and master of ceremonies), vice president, Communications, Wells Fargo
Cathy Renna, managing partner, Target Cue
Bob Witeck, founder and president, Witeck Communications

Panel II: Where we're going

Troy Blackwell, director, PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards
Dr. Erica Ciszek, assistant professor, University of Texas - Austin
Jim Joseph, global president, Burson Cohn & Wolfe
Drew McCaskill, senior vice president, Global Communications, Nielsen
Dr. Brenda Wrigley, associate professor, Curry College and Emerson College

A networking reception will follow the panel discussion.

The event will be live streamed on our Facebook page.

REGISTER

@Bob_Witeck@BrendaWrigley@CathyRenna@ChiquiCartagena@DelGallowayWF@DrewMcCaskill@elciszek@JimJosephExp@museumofpr@scottwidmeyer1@TroyBlackwell

Paul Kontonis

Paul is a strategic marketing executive and brand builder that navigates businesses through the ever changing marketing landscape to reach revenue and company M&A targets with 25 years experience. As CMO of Revry, the LGBTQ-first media company, he is a trusted advisor and recognized industry leader who combines his multi-industry experiences in digital media and marketing with proven marketing methodologies that can be transferred to new battles across any industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kontonis/