KINGSTON, R.I.—March 10, 2009–The University of Rhode Island’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Center will present the 15th annual symposium on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning (GLBTIQQ) Issues Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3. All symposium programs will be held at the Kingston Campus and are free and open to the public.

Following a tradition set by event planners for the past 15 years, the symposium will feature writers, community activists, educators, films, and exhibits that focus upon and celebrate GLBTIQQ people and concerns.

Topics this year will cover a broad range of issues including racial, gender, and sexual identities, marriage equality, gays in the military, spirituality, women’s history, health issues, coming out, and more.

Of special note are a first of its kind exhibit and lecture about black gay men in Rhode Island, and an evening with poet, performer, and activist Staceyann Chin whose forthcoming Simon and Schuster memoir, The Other Side of Paradise, covers growing up Chinese, black, and gay in Jamaica.

URI’s symposium is an annual highlight for the University campus as well as for GLBTIQQ communities throughout Rhode Island and the Northeast.

The programs are highly interactive and afford many opportunities for discussion, networking, and socializing. The complete program schedule with locations is available at www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium/2009/.