(I'm reposting this on behalf of Equality South Dakota.)
More than 85 individuals registered and we estimate 150 were in the room Judy Shepard's keynote address after dinner in the evening. (Remember, we're talking about Rapid City, South Dakota.) Change is coming!
It was an excellent event. Workshops all day focused on everything from how LGBT adoption and other family legal issues are handled in South Dakota (yes, you can do it), keeping kids safe (with help from PFLAG-Sioux Falls president Terri Carlson and Sioux Falls area coach Nathan Alfson), faith community relationships (and non-relationships) with the LGBT, LGBT+ 101 (the lingo is IMPORTANT!), and more.
The evening event was quite something. We heard from David Patton, president of the Black Hills Center for Equality, who reminded us of the recent changes that have taken place. He introduced the couples that just won the South Dakota marriage equality lawsuit, and their rockstar lawyer Joshua A. Newville, who gave us an update on the lawsuit, and introduced Judy Shepard for the keynote.
Judy Shepard's address was very moving and special; we believe some of the reason is that Judy and Dennis Shepard are from this part of the world and know it well. Shepard had great words of encouragement, and some warnings for the community to not lose momentum once marriage equality happens, and to make sure we work together among ourselves and with other groups pushing for equality.
We got some great press, too:
- First annual 'Dakotas Equality Summit' in Rapid City (KOTA Territory News KOTA)
- Gay advocates aim to use SD summit to organize, find allies (Rapid City Journal/AP)
- First 'Dakota's Equality Summit' kicks-off in Rapid City (Black Hills FOX KEVN - w/video)
- Judy Shepard: 16 years of tears over gay son's murder (Rapid City Journal)
- 'Dakota's Equality Summit' wrapped-up with Keynote Speaker Judy Shepard (Black Hills FOX KEVN - w/video)