STONEWALL NATIONAL MUSEUM’S SNEP SYMPOSIUM RISES UP, OFFERS PLAN IN FIGHT TO PROTECT PUBLIC EDUCATION
Education is under attack, and as federal and state governments gut resources for marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ friendly educators and families, even in historic ‘blue’ communities, continue facing uncertainty and fear. With the goal of eliminating the Department of Education, which provided funding to protect Civil Rights, programs for children with disabilities, and other programs that served at-risk students disappearing, parents and communities are rightly terrified that our legislators are powerless.
Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library (SNMAL) in Fort Lauderdale, one of the nation’s leading and most significant LGBTQ+ museums, libraries and archives, is fighting back at the dismantling of educational safeguards and student protections with its annual Stonewall National Education Project (SNEP) Symposium this October 23rd- 26th, with the three day event covering topics such as student protections, historic accuracy, community building (local, national), teachers and administrator’s roles, and parents and community leaders’ roles in protecting the future.
Additionally, the 23rd will align with Stonewall’s annual Back to the Drive celebration, where the Museum will raise additional funds for its educational programs and welcome the community to salute teachers and administrators from across the United States. SNEP Symposium attendees will be honored guests that night.
“When we held our 2024 Symposium last year, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continued to increase across the nation and targeted young people,” stated Stonewall Museum’s President and CEO Robert Kesten. “Now, the government, expected to protect minorities and the marginalized, uses them to stoke the flames of division. On July 17th, the federal government will cut funding for suicide prevention services for the LGBTQ+ community, a service that received over 500,000 calls in 2024! This behavior will result in deaths, and we cannot be afraid to call it out as we find ways to address this ongoing crisis.”
“We are witnessing in real time undeniable truths about our community being removed from official documents, government websites, historical records, and more. DEI has been transformed from a tool for building a more civil society into a crime, with equal opportunity being viewed as a threat rather than the benefit it is.”
In previous years, the SNEP Symposium brought together representatives from school systems across the nation, including the National Education Association, New York State Education Dept., Atlanta Public School System, Broward County Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, Illinois Safe School Alliance, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Seattle Public Schools, New York State United Teachers, Albuquerque Public Schools and many more, all with the goal of making the future of public education welcoming and inclusive for all students.
“As we move forward with 2025’s program, our overall goal is clear- students deserve to thrive in an educational environment that protects their needs and identities from harm, and to ensure that vision becomes a reality, families, schools, and local communities must combine their strengths to overcome the rampant pushback from Washington and various state capitols.”
Kesten added, “Despite the stunning success of our Gala earlier this year, which drew support from people across the country and around the world, we have lost significant financial resources we have historically relied on for our SNEP Symposium, including invaluable Department of Education connections. We are looking for those looking to make ‘good trouble’ to contribute to our community’s future and support SNEP this year.”
“The time to come forward and protect the future of education is NOW, because the uncertainty isn’t slowing down. With history as a guide, united we can protect the future of our nation, culture, and community, public support is vital.”
The 2025 SNEP Symposium will be held:
- October 23rd – 26th
- Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library
- 1300 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
- To apply: contact robert@stonewall-museum.org. Partial and full scholarships are available for attendees
- Learn more information: https://stonewall-museum.org/snep/
- RSVP BY AUGUST 15, 2025
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