Post by Maddy Northam

I was incredibly lucky to have been invited to the Harvard Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights International LGBTQIA+ Activism Summit, held on campus in Cambridge last week. To have the opportunity to be part of Marshall Ganz's Public Narrative Workshop at Harvard (delivered by the amazing Abel R. Cano) was both incredibly challenging and rewarding. To hear from Jessica Stern about navigating international bodies was empowering and having Leo Varadkar share his experience of being both queer and a Taoiseach (Prime Minister) was enlightening. And second to none through the whole program was taking part in Timothy Patrick McCarthy's class - Queer Nation: LGBTQ+ Protest, Politics, and Policy in the United States. Having the chance to learn alongside Harvard students and an educator of Timothy’s calibre, and to actually build campaign plans, is something I’ll never forget. Above all of this, though, was the lessons I learned from inspiring LGBTQIA+ leaders and activists from around the world. The tactics, strategies and relationships that I have taken from these amazing people will stay with me for the rest of my life. A huge thank you to Diego Garcia Blum, Maggie Gates, Jean Freedberg, Ying Xin and others who worked so hard on this program. I can't wait to share what I have learned with PSI - Public Services International affiliates and members! 🌈 Now it’s your turn. Applications are open until 19 October for the online program that led to this summit. I didn’t think I’d ever be selected, but here I am. If you’re passionate about global LGBTQIA+ rights and leadership, I encourage you to apply: https://lnkd.in/g7S_rK8D