Activism in the LGBTIQ CommunityBeing homosexual in Italy, homosexual man 23 years old, ItalyBeing a homosexual in Italy can be very different depending on the zone and the family you grow up in. Generally, the common mentality is heavily influenced by the catholic church, especially in the less rich parts of the country. This results in a higher difficulty for people to accept the condition of being gay. Whereas there is often no explicit discrimination, a lot of prejudices are still strongly rooted among the people, and there does not seem to be a tendency to improve this. Having said that, never in my personal experience have I met difficulties arising from my condition. Lesbian woman, 24 years old, Flanders (Belgium)"In theory, Flanders is one of the most advanced regions in Europe when it comes to LGBT rights, as the Belgian legal system offers many provisions to combat discrimination. However, the reality of daily life is much more grim, especially for young LGBTs: research from Ghent University shows that 33 to 45% of all young Flemish LGBTs (<26) considers suicide. The numbers are particularly alarming when the results regarding girls under 26 are taken into account, 25% of the lesbian girls claimed to have attempted suicide, as opposed to only 5,4% of the straight girls. If the psychological well-being of young gay people is already so bad in a relatively gay-tolerant region as Flanders, then one can only be concerned about the psychological well-being of youngsters in regions where there is no legal protection at all. Legal provisions are a good start to combat discrimination, but changing hearts and minds is much harder. Therefore, a good implementation of legal provisions is pivotal." LGBT Political Activism in EuropeMartin K.I. Christensen in ILGA-EuropeTwo years ago I became member of the Executive Board of ILGA-Europe and one year ago I was elected as co-chair. The organization has got a male and female co-chair. ILGA- Europe, is the European Chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA. It a non-governmental umbrella organisation which represents its members, principally organisations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, at the European level. Its membership comprises organisations from throughout Europe. ILGA-Europe enjoys consultative status at Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and participative status at the Council of Europe and receives financial support from the European Commission. It is a member of the Platform of European Social NGOs. ILGA-Europe was established as a separate region of the ILGA in 1996. ILGA itself was founded in 1978. It has an office in Brussels with about 14 staff members. My involvement as a gay activist began at the Lesbian and Gay Radio in Copenhagen, Radio Rosa. I later became Chairman of the Association running the radio and was then elected member of the National Board of LGBT Danmark, the Danish National Association of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals. Since 2001, I have been a member of the Board of LGBT Danmark International and thereby involved in ILGA-Europe and bilateral cooperation with other organisations in both Eastern and Western Europe. Information about ILGA-Europe in most European Languages: Guidelines on a Safe&Fun Sex Party!Why a Sex Party?Because we want to meet on various levels with respect and without fear. We want to create a safe space, where everybody feels good. That's why we would like to create a respectful atmosphere on the party. In case you generally disagree with this sexparty, please don't attend. Like any other event, it is what people who show up make of it. Here are some expectations that we find we have in common: Be considerate, respectful and kind. Transform yourselves. Dress up. Take risks. Enjoy them. Be daring and delicious. Learn. Have fun. People's gender identity and sexuality are diverse; do not assume to find the genitals you expect. Don't assume anything. Ask people around for information or help when you need it. Let's all help each other. Some of us will also take turns to be available to help and try to solve problems, so you will always find two contact persons walking around with a symbol that makes them recognisable. One of the fun things of a sex party is asking and talking about what you feel like doing. Pay attention to yourself. Pay attention to others. Paying attention means listening and communicating clearly. "No" means No. "Yes" means Yes. "Excuse me, what are you doing?" is a question that needs to be answered. "Please, leave me alone", means leave me alone and do not hover near me for the rest of the event. You are welcome to leave any time. You are welcome to come back (get a stamp at the door when you leave).
Think smart about safer sex. Take care of any sexually transmitted diseases that you have and do not want to catch. Sex is about enjoying each other and yourself, not about competition. No photos in the sex party, no gossip afterwards. There is a BDSM space and also one for women, men and a mixed one, please respect these spaces and the right of each person to define his/her own gender. Use alcohol and other drugs respectfully to your own body and the people around you. Think about other other ways of gaining courage and feeling good about yourself. Do not wear symbols that may be perceived extremely aggressive by others such as racist or nazi symbols. The party space is quite dusty and dirty. There is a place to wash your hands. There is a fire exit at the back, a fire extinguisher can be found at the entrance. Please don't smoke inside and be careful with the candles. Clean up after yourself, keep the place clean. Condoms and gloves in bins. Needles in sharp bins. Remember you are responsible for yourself and others. That includes diseases, emotional trauma, stress, new relationships, old relationships, boredom, sleeplessness, muscle cramps or other (possibly) unwanted consequences of attending or not attending this party! Take care about yourself! This sexparty guidelines are a combination of the ones at Queeruption IV, Ladyfest Vienna 2007, Queer&Rebel Berlin and Copenhagen International Queer Festival 2008. Activism in AfricaIs nice to give me this opportunity to write something about being gay in Africa, much more in Ghana, westen Africa, I have been worked hard for the development of the organisation but as the condition concerning sexual rights in Ghana are very rigid both gays and lesbians are often left with the feeling that the fight for recognition of homosexual in Ghana is not a rewarding job. For instance, when I was coming out as a gay boy in a small village it was a very big task, you can be arrested for being gay (for nathing). I have been on the front line working with marginalized sexual minority groups in Ghana. We have been struggle and strive to agin political, social and cultural recognition of gay life, in Ghana. They use to say I don't have gays in Ghana, but funny thing is that we have a lot gay Bars and Clubs (hmm). Text in danish: Mens Shop ( Copenhagen LGBT Bookstore)Men’s Shop har eksisteret siden starten af 70’erne og fik sit nuværende navn i 1981, da Ebbe Hjorth, som stadig er indehaver, købte forretningen. Det startede med at være en biograf, Sodoma & Gomorra. Det var i de glade dage, lige efter at Danmark som første land i verden havde legaliseret porno. Det betød at turister fra hele verden invaderede København og naturligvis også mænd, der ville ha’ sex med mænd. Det blev meget hurtigt en stor industri, og der meste af indre Vesterbro, Pisserenden og Nansensgade området var ”red light distrikt”. Sexturisterne blev hentet i lufthavnen i store busser og kørt direkte til live sexshows, i butikker og biografer. Efterhånden opstod der mafia lignende tilstande i København. Det betød at regeringen måtte gribe ind og regulerer pornografi lovgivningen og betød bl.a. Live sexshows og darkrooms på udskænkningssteder blev forbudt. (Børneporno var dog stadig legalt. Der fandtes endda også en del Homoseksuelle børneporno magasiner på dansk). Allerede i midten af 70’erne var antallet af pornorelateret butikker faldet kraftigt, og i dag en der kun en lille koncentration tilbage på Istedgade og i sidegaderne. Sodoma & Gomorra (Men’s Shop) kørte videre med at være 90% biograf og 10% butik. I 1981 købte den nuværende ejer butikken og udvidede Det bevirkede at vi i 2007 lukkede helt ned for biografen og lavede vores butikskoncept om fra at være en ren pornobutik til at være en livsstilsbutik for LGBT. Hvor produkterne før bestod af pornofilm og legetøj, så har vi i dag også bøger, undertøj, smykker, parfume, alm. spillefilm m.m. Vi er stadig ved at udvikle og tilpasse vores koncept. Bl.a. kigger vi i øjeblikket på hvordan vi får endnu flere kvinder ind i butikken og taler om at åbne et lesbisk område. Samtidig er vi i gang med at udvikle og opdatere vores nyligt åbne hjemmeside. Vi er hverdag i kontakt med mange mennesker, lokale samt turister. Vi gør meget ud af at hjælpe folk og guide dem rundt i miljøet. Vi kender jo til stort set alt hvad der foregår. Så udover at være en butik, ser Vi har igennem alle årene været meget bevidste, om at støtte op omkring det lokale LGBT miljø. Og udover økonomisk støtte enten i form af kontante bidrag eller varesponsoreringer, så har vi altid været en aktiv medarrangør af mange af de små og store LGBT begivenheder der finder sted. Det er svært at spå om fremtiden, men vi forsøger hele tiden at været et lille skridt foran og ser på hvor tendenserne er på vej hen. For vores overlevelse hænger sammen med det produkt vi udbyder. Vi er et meget lille miljø, med meget forskellige interesser og det er svært at gøre alle tilfredse. Men man skal tænke på at for hver krone der bliver lagt i en butik/bar i København, så går nogle procenter tilbage til det lokale miljø. Det kan så igen skabe rum og mere liv for foreninger, grupper og græsrødder. Lars Noah |
CalendarBangeaRead more about Pangea's subgroup for international bisexuals. Pangea LadiesRead more about Pangea's ladies-only group. Trans-PangeaRead more about Pangea's trans-group. Voices of...Activism in the LGBTIQ Community |