38th Annual "Creating Change" Conference Comes To Washington, DC In January 2026

The following is a press release from EDGE OUTreach partners National LGBTQ Task Force

This coming January 21-26, 2026, the National LGBTQ Task Force will hold its 38^th Creating Change in Washington D.C. with thousands attending the premiere community gathering at a historically critical time for the LGBTQ movement to continue building political power and leadership and organizing skills for the movement. 

In a climate of relentless attacks on queer rights, with many specifically targeting transgender communities, bodily autonomy, immigrants, the poor and working class and more, the organization has chosen “Unstoppable” as the 2026 Creating Change theme. 

Fernando Lopez, a senior strategist for the Task Force and director of Creating Change, spoke to the convening’s power as an “incubator, catalyst and strategy session” to deepen the networks and coalitions at a critical turning point in queer advocacy.  

“There is a palpable call for courage in D.C. as we build momentum for Creating Change, where we will continue to blueprint our liberation at a time when our very existence is being legislated out of classrooms, clinics, and courtrooms,” Lopez said. “Our convening is our rebellion, our refuge, and our rallying cry. From the streets of our neighborhoods to the suites of power, we will gather to share wisdom, to turn outrage into strategy and strategy into action, equipping people from across the nation to build an unstoppable movement.” 

The five-day convening will hold institutes, workshops, and plenaries through a series of organizations and caucuses that vary in community aspects. Inclusive programming is also a driving force of Creating Change as programming highlights race, gender, and other markers of socioeconomic diversity. Day-long institutes will cover the full scope too, as Creating Change will continue its day-long institutes as 28 organizations, including the Union=Fuerza Latinx, Queer Climate Justice, and Organizing Institutes will lead intensive sessions on a variety of issues for diverse constituencies.  

Mobilizing will be key as Creating Change will be held 10 months before the U.S. midterm elections. While programming assesses organizing opportunities, Creating Change will host skill building and planning workshops to sharpen qualities in campaign organizing and strategy, activism and direct action, and lobbying and legal advocacy.  

“The climate of today’s political attacks against LGBTQ+ communities makes Creating Change a timely, deeply necessary, and powerful gathering for us to push back and win against the current administration and entities at state and local levels working to do away with progress we have made toward liberation and cause real harm to so many,” Task Force President Kierra Johnson said.  

“And, as vital it is to do the hard work, the Task Force will also welcome our changemakers to Washington D.C. to witness the joy and light Creating Change gives our people each year, which helps inspire and sustain us in these times.”  

For more information about registration and a day-by-day schedule go to https://www.thetaskforce.org/creating-change/