EQUALITY FORUM ANNOUNCES CHINA AS 2006 FEATURED NATION
Chinese gay civil rights pioneer Dan Zhou to receive International Role Model Award

PHILADELPHIA—Equality Forum, a national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, has announced China as its Featured Nation at Equality Forum 2006, an international GLBT event to be held May 1 to 7 in Philadelphia.

“In past years, Germany and Canada have been profiled as the Featured Nation because of their progressive GLBT policies,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. “Our Board of Directors has selected China to highlight its emerging grassroots gay and lesbian civil rights movement. China is beginning to make important changes.”

In 2005, Equality Forum celebrated the Gay Pioneers who started the organized North American gay and lesbian civil rights movement in 1965 through annual demonstrations in front of Independence Hall. “Equality Forum 2006 will honor China’s Gay Pioneers, who are bravely stepping out of their closet,” stated Lazin. “We hope Equality Forum 2006 will bring attention and enhance international support for the Chinese gay and lesbian civil rights movement.”

Dan Zhou has been named the 11th recipient of Equality Forum’s International Role Model Award, given annually to a person who has helped progress GLBT civil rights. Zhou, a 31-year-old Shanghai attorney, is a leader in gay and lesbian civil rights and HIV/AIDS activism in China. Zhou was profiled in the June 27, 2005, issue of TIME Magazine.

Zhou will receive the award at the International Equality Dinner at the National Constitution Center on Saturday, May 6. “It is an extraordinary pleasure for me to accept the award,” stated Zhou.

The 13th annual Equality Forum will feature over 80 programs, parties and special events. There is no registration fee, and all substantive programming is open to the public at no charge. For further information, visit www.equalityforum.com.

ABOUT EQUALITY FORUM

Equality Forum is a national nonprofit and 501(c)(3) GLBT organization headquartered in Philadelphia. Equality Forum undertakes high impact initiatives, produces documentary films, highlights GLBT history and presents annually the largest national and international GLBT civil rights forum.

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