AIDS Calgary proud to have presented OutRights Human Rights conferenceon April 2 and 3, 2007 at The Westin Hotel, Calgary .

OutRights provided an unprecedented opportunity to share knowledge, create action and raise awareness on the human rights issues facing GLBT communities and their allies.

OutRights featured a variety of presentation and plenary sessions including guest speakers and expert panels, encompassing four conference themes relating to GLBT rights: inclusion within, essential rights, creating social change, health.

It was anticipated that OutRights would attract a wide Calgary audience and participants from across North America and worldwide.

OutRights was brought together a diverse group local, national, and international business and community leaders, academic scholars, students, activists, politicians, philanthropists, members of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) communities and their allies.

The OutRights conference featured many acclaimed speakers which including Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; R. Douglas Elliot, a Partner at Roy Elliott Kim O’Connor LLP; Selisse Berry, executive director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates; Michael Bach, senior manager, Director of Diversity, KPMG Canada; Michael Phair, Councillor, City of Edmonton; Leon Mar, Director of Communications, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network; Janet Keeping, President, Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership.

There were 29 workshop sessions at the OutRights conference taking place over the two day event. Information gathered at the conference and blog is being used for the development of the Calgary Blueprint . The Calgary Blueprint will be developed and distributed to conference delegates. This Blueprint will act as a declaration of commitment to human rights and will help foster change, inspire inclusion and inform people of their human rights. The expected completion date for the Calgary Blueprint is June 2007.

For more information, visit www.calgary2007.com.