BALTIMORE, Md. (CBSDC/AP) – President of the NAACP, Benjamin Jealous will deliver the keynote speech at a national conference on rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Jealous is scheduled to speak at the conference Thursday night in Baltimore.

In July of 2009, Jealous and the NAACP launched an equality task force for the LGBT community.

It’s the 24the national conference on LGBT equality.

There are some high-profile measures before the Maryland General Assembly this year relating to the gay and transgender community. For example, lawmakers will be debating legalizing same-sex marriage. Legislation to extend rights to transgender residents also is expected to come before Maryland lawmakers.

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