LGBTQ+ and ally Ohioans will have an opportunity to participate in the nation’s largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ organizers and advocates. But this time, the gathering will be closer to home.
The National LGBTQ Task Force announced last week that the 2027 Creating Change conference will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, from January 27–31, 2027.
“We are so excited to bring Creating Change to Louisville–the community has greeted us with open arms and is ready to work with us to organize a phenomenal gathering in a city steeped in civil rights history and fairness work,” Cathy Renna, communications director of the Task Force, told The Buckeye Flame. “In addition, we are thrilled to be in a city that is more accessible to so many cities in the Midwest, from Indianapolis to Cincinnati.”
Now in its 38th year, Creating Change brings together “thousands of community leaders, activists, policymakers and organizers from across the country to build strategy, share skills, and strengthen the LGBTQ movement.”
This is the first time that the conference will be held in Kentucky; the gathering has yet to be held in Ohio.
According to a Task Force press release, Louisville was chosen in partnership with local organizers, nonprofit leaders and community advocates across Kentucky.
“Across Kentucky, community organizers and advocates have built durable infrastructure while navigating escalating state-level attacks, particularly targeting trans communities,” said Fernando López, senior strategist and Creating Change director at the Task Force. “Kentuckians know how to defend local gains, advance policy where possible and build coalitions that hold under pressure. This is exactly the kind of leadership Creating Change attendees can learn from.”
Organizations contributing to Kentucky’s LGBTQ organizing ecosystem include the Fairness Campaign, ACLU of Kentucky, Kentucky Health Justice Network and Sweet Evening Breeze, along with youth-led, BIPOC-led, and trans-led grassroots organizing efforts across the state.
KEY DATES:
- Call for Proposals: June 15 – September 15, 2026
- Registration & Host Hotel Booking Opens: July 15, 2026
- Creating Change Kick-off Reception: August 25, 2026 (in Louisville)
- Creating Change: January 27–31, 2027
IGNITE ACTION
- You can sign up to receive updates on the conference by clicking here.
Know an LGBTQ+ Ohio story we should cover? TELL US!
Submit a story!
