4th WORLD CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Unveiling More Keynote Speakers!
Diego Garcia Blum
Diego Garcia Blum is the Program Director for the Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. His work is dedicated to advocating for the safety and acceptance of LGBTQI+ individuals globally, particularly in regions where they face significant risks. It is a calling born out of his own story of overcoming oppression as a gay man and witnessing the heartbreaking assault on LGBTQ people in repressive areas of the world. At Harvard, Garcia Blum's efforts have centered on driving social change through policy, impactful research, political engagement, storytelling, community organizing, coalition-building, and developing training programs for advocates.
Prior to his current role, Diego worked under Governor Deval Patrick researching LGBTQI+ issues and creating educational programs as the Social Change Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership. Since 2020, he has taught "Queer Nation: LGBTQ Protest, Politics, and Policy in the United States" alongside Dr. Timothy Patrick McCarthy at Harvard. Garcia Blum previously served on the National Board of Governors of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQI+ advocacy group in the U.S., where he also volunteered as a community organizer in Washington D.C.
Before dedicating his work to politics and LGBTQI+ rights, Diego was an accomplished nuclear engineer with almost a decade of experience developing zero-carbon energy technologies. Diego holds a Master in Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard University, where he served as Student Body President and as a Presidential Service Fellow. He also holds bachelor degrees in nuclear engineering and political science from the University of Florida
Dennis Shepard, Board Member Emeritus
Official Agency Biography
Dennis is the father of Matthew Shepard and has been an advocate for parents’ unconditional love for their LGBT children both during Matt’s life and, very publicly, since the hate-motivated murder in Laramie, Wyoming, which took Matt’s life at age 21. Born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Dennis earned a degree in education from the University of Wyoming before marrying Judy in 1973 and settling in Casper, Wyoming, to raise their family. An oil industry safety specialist, Dennis worked for more than 16 years in safety operations for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, before retiring from that position in 2009. He has served on the Matthew Shepard Foundation board of directors since the organization’s inception, and currently speaks to audiences around the country, particularly to victims’ advocacy organizations and law enforcement audiences about his experiences and the importance of equal treatment of LGBT crime victims and their loved ones. He and Judy continue to live and work in Casper.
Greg Miraglia
We are thrilled to announce Greg Miraglia as one of or our keynote speakers for the upcoming conference.
Greg is a true force, bringing a wealth of experience and passion to our stage. He's a celebrated LGBTQI+ activist, accomplished author, respected college professor, engaging radio host and producer, and a dynamic professional speaker.
With over 35 years in law enforcement across three different police departments – including serving as the Deputy Chief of the Napa Valley Railroad Police Department –
Greg offers a unique and invaluable perspective. In 2009, he founded Out to Protect, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQI+ individuals in law enforcement and strengthening the vital relationship between law enforcement and the broader LGBTQI+ community.
Greg's dedication to justice, advocacy, and building bridges makes him an ideal speaker for our conference. We are excited for you to hear his insights and experiences!
Drew Dalton
We are delighted to announce another powerful voice joining our lineup of keynote speakers: Drew Dalton!
Drew brings a remarkable two decades of experience spanning the NGO sector and academia. Until recently, he served as a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sunderland, where he specialized in global LGBTQI+ rights, activism, and international development.
An accomplished and award-winning teacher, trainer, and activist, Drew is the visionary Founder and CEO of ReportOUT. This award-winning international human rights organization is dedicated to meticulously documenting human rights abuses faced by LGBTQI+ populations worldwide. Beyond ReportOUT, Drew also chairs the UK Alliance for Global Equality, a robust civil society group actively lobbying governments to advance global LGBTQI+ rights.
As Company Director of Drew Dalton Consulting, and currently penning his highly anticipated book, 'Broken Rainbow?' with Bloomsbury Publishers, Drew is at the forefront of discussing the pervasive nature of global queerphobia. His influence is widely recognized, having previously been voted by the Pride Power List as one of the top 100 most influential LGBTQI+ people in the United Kingdom.
Drew will deliver a compelling keynote address that will explore the criminal justice system's global harms to LGBTQI+ individuals and crucially, how we can collectively work to improve these systems. His insights promise to be both thought-provoking and inspiring.
Join us to hear from Drew and many other impactful speakers! More details on our full speaker lineup and registration can be found on our conference website. Click the link below.
Judy Shepard, Board President
Official Agency Biography
In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21-year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory. Determined to prevent others from suffering their son’s fate, Judy and Dennis decided to turn their grief into action and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on Matthew’s legacy. The Foundation is dedicated to working toward the causes championed by Matthew during his life: social justice, diversity awareness & education, and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Judy Shepard is the founding president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors, and served as its first executive director as well, from 1999 to 2009. In her continuing role as board president, she travels across the nation speaking to audiences about what they can do as individuals and communities to make this world a more accepting place for everyone, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. Speaking from a mother’s perspective, Judy also authored a 2009 memoir, “The Meaning of Matthew,” exploring the family’s journey through the prosecution of Matthew’s assailants, the ensuing media coverage, and their continuing work to advance civil rights. On May 3, 2024, Judy Shepard was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor. Originally trained as a teacher, Mrs. Shepard holds a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming where she later pursued some post-graduate studies. She and Dennis continue to make their home in Casper, Wyoming.