July 06 - N°121

Geneva World Conference

• ILGA Shows Political Strength in Geneva
  With some 220 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists coming from all regions of the world, the 23rd World Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, held in Geneva, from March 27 till April 3 2006 has been a strong demonstration of how alive and needed the LGBT movement and ILGA as its platform are in the world today. The conference was organised by a coalition of Swiss LGBT groups such as Lestime, Dialogai, Pink Cross and 360° led by Yves de Matteis.
  
• Said and Heard at ILGA’s 23rd World Conference
  Quotes and commentary on the conference, provided by Violeta Silva Barrientos of the International Sexuality Forum(ISF) in Peru, Patrick Obioha, of the SupportProject in Nigeria (SPIN), Karine Espinera of Sans Contrefaçon in France, Ines Gontek of Behind the Mask in South Africa, Maya Shanker of the Sangini Trust in India, Anna Kirey of the LBT Organization Labrys in Kyrgyzstan, and Livan Soto Gonzalez of Cenesex in Cuba.
  

Order DVD on ILGA's Work!

Rainbow's End Now on DVD!
With already more than 30 international festival participations, the new documentary Rainbow’s End (in cooperation with ILGA World) has become the most successful and complete overview of the world of LGBT activism. An ideal film for private and public screenings to initiate discussions, motivate future activists and promote the work of ILGA. With subtitles in six languages!

Video

Donate One of the 23rd ILGA World Conference Videos!
During the last ILGA World Conference, a scholarship programme allowed more than 80 people to come and participate. But the vast majority of the 500 people who had put their candidature for scholarships to come to Geneva couldn’t make it. Anticipating this situation, the organizers have actually recorded on videos most plenary sessions of the Conference. These videos will be available on the Net to be seen by anybody at anytime, anywhere.

Edito

Edito
"The 23rd ILGA World Conference, which many of you attended, was an enormous success," writes Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Co-Secretary General of ILGA, in the introduction to this issue of Campaigning.

Souvenirs from the ILGA World Conference

IDAHO

Second Go for the International Day Against Homophobia!
Last year, the success of the 1st International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) led to the official recognition of Louis-Georges Tin’s initiative by Belgium and the European Parliament. This year, the French activist and IDAHO Committee president took us on a global tour of the initiatives organised by LGBT groups around the world.

Women's Preconference

Said and Heard at ILGA's Pre-Conference on Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Health
ILGA’s report “Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Health: Common Concerns, Local Issues” was launched at the preconference in Geneva, and the day was organised around the common and local health issues of women. Cheryl Dobinson, Gloria Careaga, Linda Baumann, Bernadette Muthien, Mira Ofreneo, Bin Xu, Patricia Curzi, Rina Nissim, and Eszter Kismodi share their insights.

Same-Sex Violence

Violence Doesn't Distinguish Between Sexualities
Mira Ofreneo, a Filipina psychologist, and Bernadette Muthien, an activist for women’s and LGBT issues in South Africa, met last April in Geneva during the ILGA conference. Strengthened by their experience, they run a workshop on the topic of violence in same-sex couples and united homosexuals around the world.

Women's Secretariat

Questions for the Women's Secretariat
ILGA’s last World Conference witnessed the election of a new Women’s Secretariat. The Swedish LGBT federation, RFSL has agreed to take up this challenging role and represent women’s needs within ILGA. An interview with Maria Sjödin, Executive Director of RFSL.

Religion

• Islam and Homosexuality
  Imam Muhsin Hendricks, President of the Inner Circle in South Africa, shares his thoughts on Islam and homosexuality.
  
• Dalai Lama Expresses Support for LGBT Human Rights
  Participants at the World Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association received a special message of support from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The statement expresses the Dalai Lama's concern at "reports of violence and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people" and "urges respect, tolerance and the full recognition of human rights for all."
  
• Statement from the Tibet Bureau, Office of the Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama
  "I am pleased to bring you greetings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of the XXIII World Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association,” writes a representative of the Dalai Lama.
  
• Initiative for the Advocacy of Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights in Muslim Communities
  On April 1, the conference featured a plenary panel of LGBT Muslims, with speakers from Bosnia Herzegovina, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Panelists described the International Initiative for Queer Muslim Visibility begun in Bosnia, and Inner Circle, a national umbrella organisation for LGBT Muslims now operating in South Africa. Later on, participants launched the following initiative.