This last year has involved the world’s communities in the issues of gays and lesbians and their rights like few others in recent times. Gathering this weekend in San Diego to discuss these issues in depth are some of the world’s top GLBT leaders and activists, representing GLBT communities and individuals in the U.S. and other countries.

Each November, GLBT elected and appointed officials from around the world gather at The International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials (INLGO) conference. This year the event is being held here in San Diego, hosted by City Councilmember Toni Atkins, and conference co-chairs California State Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Christine Kehoe, and San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Also co-chairing is Kevin Vaughan, president of INLGO, and associate director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, PA.

“This is a great opportunity for San Diego and California to highlight the progress we’ve made on LGBT issues both locally and statewide to an international gathering of elected and appointed officials,” Atkins told the Gay and Lesbian Times. “I’m excited that we’ve been able to put together a timely and informative program that touches on issues and events that directly affect our lives and are in the news every day. From gays and lesbians serving in the military in Iraq, to the gay marriage ruling in Massachusetts, to the discrimination confronting LGBT youth in our educational system, these are issues that are confronting our community head on, so the timing of this conference couldn’t be better.”

The list of participants in the conference is impressive. U.S. Representative Barney Frank, California State Senator Sheila Kuehl, New York Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, Vermont State Rep. Bill Lippert, who was instrumental in the passage of Vermont’s civil unions law, Canadian Member of Parliament Svend Robinson and German Legislator Volker Beck, both gay unions legislation sponsors in their respective countries, and Ambassador James Hormel are planning to bring exceptional insight and experience to the table at INLGO.

“We’ve intentionally sought to diversify the makeup of our panels to include speakers who have successfully worked on these issues in other countries,” Atkins said. “Hopefully, as these issues continue to explode on the national political scene here in the United States, we’ll be able to learn from the experiences of LGBT officials and activists in these countries and work to promote and protect LGBT civil rights whenever and wherever we can. In particular, I think we can learn much from our Canadian and European counterparts in figuring out how best to strategize against the pending wave of right-wing, anti-gay rhetoric that will surely be hurled at our community on the gay marriage issue now that Massachusetts has weighed in on the matter.”

Four panel discussions, a presidential candidate forum and presentations will provide in-depth examination of some of today’s most controversial issues affecting GLBT and non-GLBT communities worldwide. The topics are: gay unions — an international perspective; addressing issues for our youth and in our schools; and gays serving in the armed forces during wartime.

Kate Clinton, fresh from her fall tour, will also be on hand to offer her unique, humorous commentary on the developing Presidential election, and entertain guests at a gala dinner the closing night of the conference that will include an address from Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.

“Clearly, having Congressman Kucinich speak at the conference reflects positively on the importance of the LGBT vote in the upcoming presidential campaign,” Atkins said. “It’s especially timely in light of the Massachusetts gay marriage ruling, which will undoubtedly be used as a wedge issue in national races for the Presidency, U.S. Senate and Congress.”

Founded in 1984, INLGO has become a major planning and support network of GLBT officials, whose numbers grow at every level of government with each additional year of activism.