By David W. Shelton
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Austin Peay State University Gay-Straight Alliance will host this year’s Conversation over Coffee event on Tuesday, April 8 in the Morgan University Center.
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. For the upcoming event, panelists will present community options for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the Clarksville area. Organizers encourage anyone in the LGBT population and their supporters to attend.
“It’s very obvious that we don’t have a viable LGBT community in the Clarksville region,” said David Shelton, who will emcee the event. “What we want to do is help people know what’s already here, and what we can build together.
Panelists include speakers from various gay-welcoming churches in the area, PFLAG (Parents, Friends & Family of Lesbians and Gays), The Tennessee Equality Project, and others. Following a brief presentation from each speaker, a panel discussion will be held that will establish a dialogue on issues within the community.
While the primary topic will be centered around building the LGBT community, organizers hope to foster a stronger voice among advocates as well. Previous Conversation event were focused on building dialogue between the LGBT community and the Christian church. This year’s discussion, however, will be a more narrow focus solely for the LGBT population.
“I think it’s important to stress that this event is for the LGBT population and our supporters,” Shelton said. “This won’t be a forum to debate religion or politics, but rather to build people up as much as possible. This is about empowering people who are too often shamed into silence.”
For more information, visit the event’s web page at conversationovercoffee.com.