South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals (March 10 - 19, 2017) has announced Keynote speaker Jessica Shortall and new Featured Speakers. Shortall is the Managing Director of Texas Competes, which is a coalition of more than 1,200 Texas companies making the data-driven case for Texas to be welcoming to LGBTQ people. She joins previously announced SXSW Keynotes Lee Daniels, Jennifer Doudna, Gareth Edwards, Adam Grant, Zane Lowe, Cory Richards, Nile Rodgers and Jill Soloway.
"Jessica Shortall is a staunch advocate of equality, fairness and decency. Her relentless pursuit and approach of these values is both influential and inspirational,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer. “At a time when human rights are front and center in the U.S. we think this message of inclusion will resonate not just through her keynote but throughout much of our conference programming, where it has emerged as a major theme.”
Featured Speakers announced today include Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Senator Cory Booker, Veep actress Julia-Louis Dreyfus, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis, Fleetwood Mac namesake Mick Fleetwood, pop singer and songwriter Kesha, actor Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad), Tinder founder and chairman Sean Rad, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, actor and producer Seth Rogen (Preacher, Sausage Party), investor Chris Sacca (Shark Tank) and more.
Attendees can view the full list of previously announced Keynotes and Featured Speakers, as well as the full list of Conference programming on the online schedule.
For more information, visit sxsw.com.
