Speaker: Kevin Schumacher, Regional Program Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, OutRight Action International

Currently in the Middle East, LGBTI individuals suffer from a multitude of human rights violations and are denied the freedom to be who they are. Kevin Schumacher, Regional Program Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, has worked with OutRight Action International, formally known as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, for the past ten years to monitor LGBTI rights in the area and to shed light on the various violations occurring in the region. Mr. Schumacher will do a comparative analysis on Iran, Iraq, and Syria in regards to LGBTI Rights, specifically looking at the situation of LGBT Iraqis and Syrians, especially under ISIS, the trans situation in Iran, and the lesbian situation in Iran.

Kevin Schumacher is the Regional Program Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. From 2006 to 2009, Kevin was the Communications Coordinator when OutRight Action International was formerly known as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, monitoring LGBT rights violations in Iran and Iraq. He previously worked as the Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Coordinator for Iran and Iraq. Kevin is bilingual in Persian and English, and has advanced comprehension of Standard Arabic. He has an M.A. in International Relations form the National University, Tehran, Iran and an M.A. in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Kosher pizza will be served.

Photo credit: Elvert Barnes/Creative Commons

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