Feeling safe is a human right -- but in many African countries, colonial-era laws make it dangerous for LGBTQIA+ people to gather and share their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Creating a space that leaves no room for discrimination, pan-African LGBTQIA+ advocate Okong'o Kinyanjui cofounded an online platform that give...

These moving, personal talks share stories of love and commitment in the LGBTQ community.

Tyler Gilmore is a veteran of the Marines who vocally expressed his support for the trans ban. In this episode Dylan connects him to Maddie Makara, a veteran who served for 16 years and recently came out as a trans woman (Audio Only).

This is our first episode of a new series — the TED Talks Daily Book Club. Join Elise as she interviews TED speakers about their books and their ideas beyond the page. First up: Geena Rocero, an award-winning producer, model, director and the author of "Horse Barbie: A Memoir." A stunning narrative at the center of transgender history and activi...

Ever since middle school, people have asked Thomas Lloyd the same question repeatedly. "If I had a dime for every time I was asked, 'Why am I so gay?' I could probably pay for one credit at Georgetown." In this humorous talk, Lloyd explores the intricacies of social "covering" as a gay man, finding community and the importance of identity owners...

After watching these charming talks, it'll feel like love is always just around the corner.

Lynne Elvins candidly shares the experience of adopting a son with her partner Emma -- and what it can teach us about authenticity and advocacy.

Why not use the qualities that make you unique to blaze your own path forward? That approach has driven Phillip Picardi, first as chief content officer at Teen Vogue, where he expanded coverage of politics and activism, and then at them., Conde Nast's first platform devoted to the queer community. In this funny, candid talk, he shares how he's f...

In this passionate talk, diversity trainer and activist Fahad Saeed addresses the persistent myth that inclusive language and acronyms create more barriers than they tear down. Sharing his own experiences as a gay Muslim man born to immigrant parents, he explains how redefining the constructs around personal identity can have positive repercussi...

Powerful, personal stories of sharing one's true identity with the world.

Ash Beckham recently found herself in a situation that made her ask: who am I? She felt pulled between two roles — as an aunt and as an advocate. Each of us feels this struggle sometimes, she says -- and offers bold suggestions for how to stand up for your moral integrity when it isn't convenient.

Between television, the movies and top 40 lists, ballroom culture was appropriated by pop culture decades ago. With the spectacular support of a team of dancers, community leader Ronald Murray reclaims the subculture's narrative for queer communities of color.

Growing up as a gay teen in Northern Ireland, Lyra McKee had her share of disagreements with the Church and, as a journalist in her 20s, found herself estranged from religious institutions. It wasn't until 2017 and an unexpected conversation about LGBTQ rights in an Orlando mosque that she found herself reckoning with the influence of religion o...

Did you ever have a teacher who cared for you when no one else did? Jok Church tells a short, moving story of the teacher who sheltered him as a young gay teen and helped him grow -- and how, many years later, he and his partner had the privilege of returning the favor.

In this touching talk, Ash Beckham offers a fresh approach to empathy and openness. It starts with understanding that everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced hardship. The only way out, says Beckham, is to open the door and step out of your closet.

Shane Wickes had his dream job: line coach at his high school alma mater. But there was one complication. "Football teaches so many great life lessons to those who play or coach," he says, "but one negative thing that it does teach is that being gay is not okay." In this moving talk, Wickes shares his story about coming out to his team. A story ...

Puberty is an awkward time for just about everybody, but for transgender teens it can be a nightmare, as they grow overnight into bodies they aren't comfortable with. In a heartfelt talk, Norman Spack tells a personal story of how he became one of the few doctors in the US to treat minors with hormone replacement therapy. By staving off the effe...

School can be an awkward time for nearly everyone, but for queer students, it can be particularly nightmarish. In a heartfelt and personal talk, Coby Everton shares their experiences of isolation in academic environments and explains why allies are essential in these spaces.

In a courageous, intensely emotional talk at the city council in Fort Worth, Texas, councilman Joel Burns reaches out to the targets of teen bullying -- kids who are gay, perceived as gay, or just different -- with a vital message about their lives, and the harassment they face.

Morgana Bailey has been hiding her true self for 16 years. In a brave talk, she utters four words that might not seem like a big deal to some, but to her have been paralyzing. Why speak up? Because she's realized that her silence has personal, professional and societal consequences. In front of an audience of her co-workers, she reflects on what...

After a vote that banned same-sex marriage in California, activist David Fleischer and his team at the Los Angeles LGBT Center started knocking on doors to test whether they could change voters' minds with a simple conversation. The results were encouraging. In this talk, Fleischer stresses the importance of deep canvassing and face to face inte...

Love: it’s what makes the world go round. And also: all you need. As well as that thing, in addition to war, in which all is fair. Here, TED Talks about this most basic of human emotions.

The public displays of affection that straight couples take for granted every day can be outright dangerous for queer couples to practice -- what do you do when simply holding hands with a loved one can be considered a political act? Irish activist Panti Bliss shares what it's like to navigate such a world and highlights the importance of normal...

Today, there are many ways to conceive a child, thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF and egg-freezing. But the law lags behind these advancements, says attorney Ellen Trachman, troubling parents-to-be with stranger-than-fiction mix-ups and baffling lawsuits. Trachman makes the case for legality to reflect the realities of reprod...

Hours before New York lawmakers rejected a key marriage equality bill (38-24), State Senator Diane J. Savino made the passionate case for a government that recognizes and administers same-sex marriages. Here's her fresh, thought-provoking perspective on one of the most contentious issues in US culture, religion and government.

From racial identity to political affiliation, labels shape our lived experiences. Alexandria Holder delves into her life as a queer activist and US Air Force Sergeant to illustrate this duality, explaining that while labels can be used to divide, their greater power lies in helping people connect, find common ground and build healthy, supportiv...

When TED media communication associate Micah Eames came out as trans at work, he quickly realized he'd need to start having tricky conversations with coworkers. Here's his advice for how you can open up about your identity at work and what your colleagues can do to help.

For a long time, Amrou Al-Kadhi struggled to negotiate the intersections between their queer and Islamic heritage. These identities felt completely polarized, as if their identity were founded on a tectonic fault at constant risk of rupture. Yet, it was the unlikely world of quantum physics that allowed Al-Kadhi to find the magic of contradictio...

Diana Adams is a leading international lawyer and activist for underserved families.

In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a talk that's part cultural love letter, part history lesson, he details the legacy of gender fluidity and inclusivity in his native Philippines -- and...