(Jackson, MS, August 4, 2015)—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) will host the next #RuralPride summit in Jackson, Mississippi, on August 14. The event, co-hosted by the True Colors Fund and Equality Mississippi, will be held at Millsaps College, 1701 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39202, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

#RuralPride is a series of summits across the country to elevate the voices of LGBTQ people and families in rural communities, explore how these communities are particularly vulnerable, and discuss proposed and enacted federal policy changes that can increase equality and access for rural LGBTQ people and their families.

The speakers for the Jackson #RuralPride summit include: Bear Atwood, Attorney At Law, PLLC; Ashlee Davis, Director, LGBTQ Rural Summit, USDA; Charles Irvin, Legal Director, ACLU of Mississippi; Reilley Morse, President/CEO, Mississippi Center for Justice;  Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director of ACLU of Mississippi; and Ming Wong, Supervising Helpline Attorney, NCLR.

The #RuralPride summits center on LGBTQ experiences in rural America, including increased rates of economic insecurity, lack of family and nondiscrimination protections, the relationship between LGBTQ and faith communities, and the heightened challenges facing rural LGBTQ youth and rural LGBTQ people of color.

The #RuralPride summit series is a partnership between NCLR and USDA that challenges the stereotype that LGBTQ people only live in metropolitan areas by raising awareness of the particular issues faced by LGBTQ rural communities.

This event is free and open to the public. Register here.

Learn more about #RuralPride.