QueerCalendarCommunity Conversations Breakfast
The State of LGBTQ+ Rights in America: Where We Stand
and What Comes Next
📆 Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 🕛 8:00 - 10:00 AM
📍 Truluck's | 5350 Westheimer Rd.
➡️ Register to join us and start strong.
Across the country, LGBTQ+ rights continue to face rapidly evolving legal, legislative, and policy challenges. Join the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce for a timely Community Conversations Breakfast examining the current state of LGBTQ+ rights in America—and what these developments mean for our community, businesses, workplaces, and families.
A distinguished panel of legal and community leaders will provide insight into the national landscape, emerging challenges, significant court cases, and the work underway to protect and advance equality. The conversation will also explore how business and community leaders can remain informed, engaged, and prepared to respond.
PANELISTS
Brian Klosterboer (he/him)Brian Klosterboer is a Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Texas, where he leads impact litigation and advocacy to protect the civil rights and liberties of Texans. Since joining the organization in 2018, his work has focused primarily on the rights of LGBTQIA+ Texans, particularly transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse youth. He also works on First Amendment issues, students’ rights and policy change before school districts, local governments and the Texas Legislature. Brian teaches Civil Rights Litigation at South Texas College of Law Houston and is a past chair of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. A former Fulbright Fellow in Uganda, he earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Emmett Schelling is a trans man, Houstonian, an immigrant from South Korea, an adoptee, and currently serves as Executive Director of Transgender Education Network of Texas. Emmett is a leader for trans rights and gender equity.
Emmett’s ferocious, community-focused, and no-nonsense approach to the work has led him to be given the honor of receiving an array of awards from local, state, and national organizations in recognition of his work. In 2022, he was named one of “TIME’s 100 2022 list of Most Influential People in the World.” His awards also include Equality Texas’s 2019 annual “Monica Roberts Trans Advocacy” award, 2020’s “Trans Advocate of the Year” from Advocates For Trans Equality (A4TE, formerly known as Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund/TLDEF), Texas Diversity Council’s annual “Trans Advocate of the Year” (2022), Equality Federation’s Leadership award (2022), and most recently was recognized by the Rainbow Fund in Sweden (2026) as well as the Oscar Romero Humanitarian award from Rothko Chapel.
He happily resides in Houston with his wife, child, and two adopted pups. In his off time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends through food and sports.
Shelly L. Skeen is the South-Central Regional Director for Lambda Legal, leading the organization’s work across eight states. A seasoned litigator and appellate practitioner, she has filed amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, appeared successfully before the Texas Supreme Court and served as counsel in significant cases involving LGBTQ+ rights. Shelly is a former chair of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and past president of the Dallas LGBT Bar Association. She teaches at several law schools and regularly speaks and writes about LGBTQ+ legal issues. Her many honors include the Judge Norman W. Black Award, the Dallas Bar Association’s “Living Legend” recognition and the Dallas LGBT Bar Association’s Justice Award.
MODERATOR
John Nechman (he/him)
Partner
Katine Nechman McLaurin LLP
John Nechman is a partner at Katine Nechman McLaurin LLP, where he focuses on immigration law, including complex asylum cases. An immigrant born in Seoul, Korea, John has devoted much of his career to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and representing people fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He previously served as president of Immigration Equality and the National LGBT Bar Association and has taught “Sexual Orientation and the Law” and “HIV and the Law” at South Texas College of Law Houston. His advocacy has earned recognition from the Human Rights Campaign, the State Bar of Texas and OutSmart Magazine, and he was named Male Grand Marshal of the 2013 Houston LGBT Pride Celebration.
Join us for an important and informative conversation about where LGBTQ+ rights stand today, what may lie ahead, and how we can continue working together to advance equality for all.
🅿️ PARKING
Parking is available behind Truluck's and on the east side of Bank of America. There is street parking available on the South side of Brownway St.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We extend our sincere appreciation to our sponsors for supporting this important conversation and helping bring together business and community leaders to stay informed, engaged, and connected.
Thank you to Truluck's for sponsoring and hosting this important conversation.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Position your organization as a champion for equality and help make this timely Community Conversations Breakfast possible. Sponsorship offers valuable visibility among LGBTQ+ and Allied business, community, and civic leaders while demonstrating your commitment to an informed, engaged, and inclusive community.
By registering and/or attending a Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce program or event, you agree to Chamber's Terms of Use & Policies.
