Here's one way to re-think your communications strategy: focus on messengers, not just messages. The specifics of a particular messaging strategy are often less important than the predisposition of your audience towards receiving your message. Elevating the voices of highly motivated messengers in your communication strategy helps open up new audiences to hear your message, and adds color and depth to your communication strategy to build the quality relationships needed to encourage bold action.

Julian Bond, our guest of honor, was taking questions from the participants. As the event unfolded, I couldn't believe I was in the room with someone whom I had admired so much and had even heard my parents and grade school teachers talk about long before I even knew what DC looked like. And I really couldn't believe that I was responsible for organizing the event.

Panelists highlighted the fact that though they have myriad disagreements over tactics, their goal of full equality for all LGBT citizens, remain the same. One overwhelming focus of the coalition was on not counting anyone out. While continuing to count on and hold our allies responsible for the promises they'd made to their constituency, it was vital to also engage those who were either moveable or have stood against us in the past.