A few weeks ago, we opened registration for our first in-person conference since 2019. The 2022 GIH Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy will be held in Miami, Florida, and includes an opportunity for participants to join us virtually.
Since then, we have received a few inquiries asking whether we considered moving the conference in light of Florida’s response to the pandemic and its more recent legislative action limiting conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. A few days ago, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1557, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” into law. I can’t help but note the irony that Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act was written to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) in health care. Florida’s pandemic response and legislative actions directly conflict with the mission and values of GIH, an organization committed to better health for all through better philanthropy. So, why are we still going?
The decision to hold the annual conference in Florida was made before the pandemic, and deciding whether or not to stay has been a topic of conversation for our board and staff over the past several weeks. During our decisionmaking process, I spoke with several of you – including some of those expressing concern about the conference location; leadership at Funders for LGBTQ Issues, the Florida Philanthropic Network, and foundations in Florida and other states with similar policies; funders supporting LGBTQ programs; and other philanthropy support organizations – to understand the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. I also reviewed GIH’s 2016 decision to move the 2017 annual conference. Overall, most people felt we should stay in Florida, and here’s why:
- We Must Support Funding Partners Working in Challenging Environments
GIH consists of more than 200 Funding Partner organizations located across the country, and the majority are focused on improving outcomes at the state and/or local levels. Their efforts are sometimes at odds with state or local policies related to public health, coverage and access, LGBTQ health, racial equity, disability rights, or any number of topics, but that does not stop their work. They look to GIH for support and best practices. Refusing to go to places where the work is difficult sends the wrong message to those working in these communities under challenging circumstances. As one Funding Partner said to me, “If you’re supposed to be my home, and you turn your back on me, where am I supposed to go?” - This is an Opportunity to Support the Local Public Health, Philanthropic, and Advocacy Community
Florida is not homogeneous. Many people in Florida and other states do not support HB 1557 or similar public health policies and laws. There are also many people and organizations working hard to prevent the passage of such legislation and overturn bills that have passed. Going to Florida provides health funders an opportunity to acknowledge and connect with those doing the difficult work, discuss what’s working, and brainstorm where there are challenges. Some funders may choose to follow the advice of Funders for LGBTQ Issues and support the communities disproportionately affected by the policies enacted or the local organizations working to develop solutions. We will work with local Funding Partners and community leaders to develop programming at the annual conference and afterwards that shines a light on and directly confronts these issues. - We Have a Chance to Bridge the Divide
Disregard for public health best practices, stigmatizing members of the LGBTQ community, and denial of structural racism are not limited to Florida. Similar actions are happening across the country. Our nation is extremely divided, and everything seems to be viewed as a political issue. Yet we face growing health challenges no matter where you live, which political party you belong to, or whether you belong to one at all – issues such as climate change, rising health care costs, health inequities, workforce shortages, mental and behavioral health needs, and more. The challenges we face cannot be solved without working together, and we cannot work together if we cannot talk to each other. We must be willing to meet each other where we are to begin addressing these critical problems. Engaging with those we disagree with rather than retreating helps foster understanding and build trust. - There Are Important Practical Considerations
Moving the conference would result in GIH paying significant cancellation costs, since we are less than 90 days from our start date, as well as additional costs to secure a new conference venue. These costs would come at a time when the markets remain uncertain. In addition, GIH is currently raising funds for our ambitious new strategic plan that embeds health equity and social justice throughout our core issue areas, and will see GIH using its voice to support the policies and systemic changes needed to meet our growing challenges and ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to reach their highest level of health. Moving the conference would also be a significant challenge for the GIH team, an amazing group of individuals dedicated to helping our Funding Partners learn, connect, and grow. Like everyone else, they have been asked to stretch, adapt, and extend themselves during these past two years and have demonstrated that they can meet any challenge. They have already put a lot of time into ensuring that our first hybrid conference is full of rich content and provides a meaningful experience for all who participate, whether in person or online. They have also been working with Funding Partners in Florida to craft interesting and educational site visits. Moving the conference would place an undue burden on them. - This Situation is Different from the One GIH Faced Six Years Ago
Some of you may recall that in May 2016, we announced our decision to move our 2017 annual conference out of North Carolina because of HB 2, also known as the bathroom bill, and you may be wondering how this decision is different. One of the main differences between our decision to move the conference in 2016 and today is these issues are not limited to one state. During the pandemic, leaders in several states acted against the advice of public health experts nationally, and in their own states, and spread misinformation, which led to unnecessary suffering and deaths. Florida is also not the only state to enact laws and policies aimed at limiting the rights and freedoms of members of the LGBTQ community. Nor is it the only state limiting conversations about race in schools. These actions are happening in states across the country, where many of our colleagues are based, and where they are working tirelessly to improve health and health equity amid challenging circumstances. Another difference is there were national calls to boycott North Carolina, and many Funding Partners had travel bans. In contrast, Funders for LGBTQ Issues is calling on its members to support members of the LGBTQ community and organizations working to reverse these policies. Additionally, in 2016 there was no option for Funding Partners who could not travel to North Carolina to participate virtually as there is this year.
I want to assure you that we did not make this decision lightly. Since joining GIH in March of 2020, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in-person (something I hope to rectify at the conference), nor have many of you had the chance to be together in person with your peers from other organizations. Your opportunities to get to know me have largely been limited to my letters in the GIH Bulletin, webinars, and presentations at the virtual annual conference and Fall Forum. As such, you may not know that I don’t shy away from hard work or difficult decisions. I’ve spent my career working to achieve health equity for many underserved communities. It’s always been an uphill climb, with periodic glimpses of how steep the gradient is. It is easy to leave or wash our hands of places we disagree with. It is harder to go there, engage with the people in those communities, and try to change their minds and actions. But that is what we must do to fight inequities as we seek to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
I want to thank the individuals who reached out to share thoughts and concerns about the conference location. We welcome feedback from all of our Funding Partners on whatever topic is on your mind. Your voice informs our decisions, improves our programming, and helps us better support you. We understand if you disagree with our decision and hope you will still join us in Florida or virtually. It has been far too long since we have been able to gather together, and as the pandemic and these issues in Florida have shown, much work remains. We value each of you and your support of GIH, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve better health for all through better philanthropy.
Cara V. James
President and CEO, Grantmakers In Health