Embracing Differences

Our 2023 Planning Team decided to focus on LGBTQIA+ Black and people of color community members living with serious mental illness, physical, cognitive struggles, and those along neurodiverse spectra, who are often “invisible”.

With the IMM23 theme, “Embracing Differences”, and with the sub-theme, “Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color Disability Communities”, we are focusing on our community members who possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, with achievements and mistakes, joys and sorrows, and more importantly, the resilience they’ve built and reinforced with each passing year, with each life event. The Conference theme is intended to reflect these community members’ invaluable contributions to our societies and cultures, and work needed toward strengthening resources for them.

These community members are present; they are among us, they are visible.