Beyond the Rhetoric: Civil Rights and Our Shared Responsibility Series Vimeo Livestream, 6pm CT Free event with suggested contributions $5-20

Join us for a conversation on the state of LGBTQIA+ rights in the US with Alphonso David, President of Human Rights Campaign and Adri Perez, Policy and Advocacy Strategist at ACLU of Texas. Alphonso David will address national LGBTQIA+ issues and initiatives, followed by Adri Perez who will focus on the state of Texas. A moderated conversation with QandA will be facilitated by Ashley Clemmer, Director of Programs and Community Engagement at the Rothko Chapel.

Please email questions for presenters to programs@rothkochapel.org.

About the series In conjunction with the Chapel’s 50th Anniversary and commitment to furthering social justice nationally and internationally, "Beyond the Rhetoric: Civil Rights and Our Shared Responsibility" speaker series will examine different understandings of and approaches to furthering human rights and civil liberties in the United States. Visit the series page to learn more about and register for related events.

About the Presenters Alphonso David is President of the Human Rights Campaign. Alphonso is an accomplished and nationally recognized LGBTQ civil rights lawyer and advocate. He is the first civil rights lawyer, the first Black man and first person of color to serve as president of the Human Rights Campaign in the organization’s 40-year history. He has been at the forefront of the movement for LGBTQ equality for more than a decade at the national and state level, serving as Counsel to the Governor of New York, as New York Deputy Secretary and Counsel for Civil Rights, and as a staff attorney at Lambda Legal. At Lambda Legal, Mr. David litigated precedent-setting civil rights cases across the nation affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals as well as those living with HIV and AIDS. He handled both affirmative and defensive matters relating to marriage, parenting rights, discrimination in schools and access to health care. For the past decade, Mr. David has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law. He began his work in academia at Fordham University Law School and continued at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Adri Perez is a life-long El Pasoan, UTEP graduate, and policy & advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas, where they lead LGBTQIA+ advocacy on the Sexuality & Gender Equality team. Adri represents the ACLU of Texas in statewide coalitions, trains and educates families of trans kids, and advocates at the legislature on bills that affect trans Texans. Adri is an organizer whose intersectional experience motivates their advocacy as a native fronterizx, transgender, queer educator and abortion storyteller. Prior to joining the ACLU of Texas in 2018, Adri started West Fund, the first abortion fund in West Texas. They also co-founded the Fronterizx Fianza Fund that raises money to pay bonds for people in immigration detention. Adri previously worked at Ngage New Mexico, Fund Texas Choice, and YWCA El Paso Del Norte. Adri received the Rising Star Award from the League of Women Voters of El Paso and the “Golden Girl” Award from the El Paso Queer Bar Association in 2019. They were recognized as the Texas Rising 2015 Organizer of the Year while a student at the University of Texas at El Paso.