Speaker: Maria
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Over de spreker
Maria Sjödin has been a leader in the global LGBTIQ movement for over 25 years, advancing rights in their home country of Sweden and internationally. They joined Outright International in 2014 and were appointed executive director in 2022. Before stepping into their current role, Maria served as Outright’s deputy executive director, leading the development and communications teams through a period of extraordinary growth. Under their leadership, Outright expanded its visibility, diversified its funding sources, and significantly increased financial support for its global initiatives. Maria also launched groundbreaking efforts such as Outright’s COVID-19 Global LGBTIQ Emergency Fund and strengthened engagement with international businesses to advance LGBTIQ rights. Prior to Outright, Maria was the executive director of RFSL, Sweden’s largest LGBTIQ organization. They established RFSL’s international program and successfully advocated for LGBTIQ human rights to become a priority in Sweden’s foreign policy and aid funding. Maria also played a key role in securing marriage equality (achieved in 2009) and the abolition of forced sterilization for trans people as a requirement for legal gender recognition (outlawed in 2013). As executive director of Outright, Maria is committed to strengthening global advocacy, expanding crisis response efforts, and ensuring that LGBTIQ movements worldwide have the resources and support they need to thrive.