How did our nation's LGBT community achieve such monumental shifts in public understanding and public policy in just a few short decades? In her powerful, inspiring talk, Elizabeth Birch, the longest-serving President of the Human Rights Campaign, gives us a unique and important perspective on how the LGBT community's dynamic leaders and innovative strategies helped secure the recent Supreme Court decision in favor of same-sex marriage among other recent civil rights victories.

Elizabeth Birch has had an extensive career that spans the corporate, legal, public policy, communications and nonprofit worlds. She has advised the Clinton and Obama Administrations, Members of Congress, the Pentagon, many corporations and NGOs on issues of concern to LGBT people and their families. She is the President of Elizabeth Birch Company, LLC and Global Out and CEO of Peris Birch. Elizabeth began her legal career at Bingham, McCutchen. In 1989, she joined Apple Computer, Inc. as Chief Litigation and Human Resources Counsel. She also served as General Counsel for Claris Corporation, Apple’s software subsidiary. In 1995, Elizabeth became President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization. For almost a decade Birch led a team at HRC that helped drive a deeper understanding of LGBT people, helping to move the conversation from the streets to the living rooms of America. She lives in Washington, DC, with her 16-year-old twins, Anna and Jacob.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx