In the last two decades, many people have become far more willing to act as allies for people who identify as lesbian (L), gay (G), bisexual (B) or transgender (T). Often, however, there’s also a “Q” in the LGBTQ alphabet; that stands for both “questioning” (e.g., “I’m not sure where I am on the alphabet, if anywhere…) or “queer” (“I’m just me, whatever that means to you…”).
On top of those letters, the “I” stands for “intersex,” the “2” represents “Two Spirit” (to encompass humans representing both the masculine and feminine spirits within the Native and Indigenous communities), and the “+” encompasses all other identities that humans might have.
Underlying all of this is the idea that humans—however they may identify—have the right to live their lives honestly and with authenticity.
What does it mean to be welcoming to LGBTQI2+ people? What actions or words should you avoid? How does the absence of legal rights in many states play into an “Alphabet person’s” daily life?
Join national speaker, diversity consultant and author Ellen “Ellie” Krug as she shares what it means to be a part of the “Alphabet” and offers tips and advice on how to be inclusive toward anyone who so identifies. Come with questions!
Ellie Krug was a civil trial attorney specializing in transportation law with 100+ trials. She transitioned from male to female in 2009 and later became one of the few attorneys nationally to try jury cases in separate genders. The author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), Ellie speaks, trains and consults on diversity and inclusion to court systems, corporations, law firms, government entities, social service organizations, and colleges/universities. A hopeless idealist, Ellie has presented her D&I program, “Gray Area Thinking,”® across the country. In 2016, Advocate Magazine named Ellie one of “25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights.” She is also a monthly columnist for Lavender Magazine and Minnesota Women’s Press and her monthly newsletter, The Ripple, which reaches 9000+ recipients, can be found at www.elliekrug.com. Ellie views herself as an “Inclusionist.” In January 2018, Ellie launched her weekly AM950 radio show, “Ellie 2.0 Radio,” which is about idealism and idealists seeking to create positive change in the world.
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