CHANGE! COMMUNITIES MOBILISING, MOVEMENTS RISING! Conference Programme Overview

CHANGE! COMMUNITIES MOBILISING, MOVEMENTS RISING! CONFERENCE PROGRAMME OVERVIEW Wednesday 1st Thursday 2nd Friday 3rd Saturday 4th Opening Session: Community Organising Plenary 3: Election Queer Ed Panel Results Movement Panel Workshops Workshops Morning Plenary 1: Opening of AGM; Activity Self Organised Spaces Self Organised Spaces Report; ILGA World representatives Consultations Consultations Workshops Plenary 2: Candidates for Workshops Election; Candidates for Plenary 4: Election of 2019 Conference Conference Venue 2019; Approval of Budget, Accounts and Board Afternoon Newbie Sessions Self-Organised Spaces Self Organised Spaces Report Workshops Consultations Self Organised Spaces Consultations Women’s Caucus Research Presentations Evening Perspective Sessions Research Presentations Self Organised Spaces Self-Organised Spaces TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to Warsaw 2 Security, health and well-being 7 Intersectionality 8 Code of Conduct 9 Reflection 13 Social media 14 About the ILGA-Europe Conference 15 Conference: Wednesday 17 Conference: Thursday 19 Conference: Friday 26 Conference: Saturday 32 Presentations: Timetable and Details 40 Consultation sessions 46 Biographies 50 ILGA-Europe’s Annual General Meeting 54 Practical information 58 Social programme 61 Locally organised events 61 ILGA-Europe’s Board and Staff 66 Delegate list 70 Conference map 84 #IEWarsaw2017 1 We are looking forward to hosting you for these few days when we will face the difficult tasks this wide European movement has taken upon itself. The ‘Communities Mobilising, Movements Rising’ conference theme will allow us to take a closer look at what threats and opportunities arise in times of growing insecurities. Through panels, workshops and discussions we hope to be able to see more clearly how we can, in the upcoming years, contribute to an open and just society: l how to foster the connections between our LGBTI identities and our cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, beliefs, work, experiences, families and other backgrounds l how to introduce change to the wider society and, at the same time, enable and empower those whom we have so far WelcoME left behind l how to mobilise, organise, and rise as a movement, and in FROM OUR that what attention do we pay to creating space for others, l how is our work contributing to building bridges, Hosts, KPH fostering understanding and cooperating with people with whom we, so far, have not had mutual interests Dear friends from all across Europe, Central Asia and the The Conference venue is located near to what used to be the World, heart of the Warsaw Ghetto. This historical site is not only I feel privileged and honoured to be able to welcome you, proof of what happens when prejudice and hate take over, but on behalf of the team of Campaign Against Homophobia also evidence of the unprecedented role fear and indifference (KPH), to Warsaw for the ILGA-Europe Conference 2017. play in oppression. Our history teaches us that to achieve real change we need to stand together. We need to bring on board The history of Poland is rich in struggles and divisions and, in LGBTI people, people of faith, people of colour, allies, effect, Warsaw itself has been rebuilt many times over the politicians, trade unions, media and many, many more. We years. Rebuilt by people who have overcome wars, need to be one community and one movement. We need to occupations, partitions, martial law, who fought for democracy mobilise. We need to rise to achieve freedom, equality and and freedom, and who were always looking towards a better dignity for all. With this Conference we aim to bring us another world and a better future. This historical heritage is still visible step closer to this. on so many levels – from architecture, commemoration sites and culture, to the movement that today is growing vibrantly The team of Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) is looking in spite of oppressive political circumstances. forward to seeing you in Warsaw and spending these few days together on making the world a better place for LGBTI people. This year you will be visiting a country where major political forces strive to divide the society, and target non-governmental organisations and the human rights they stand for. And yet they are unsuccessful because a large portion of the society still believes in the values on which democratic Poland was formed almost 30 years ago: freedom, equality, solidarity. We believe that the Conference will contribute to the struggle for these values. The event comes to Warsaw at a perfect time - two years after a nationalist government came into power and began radicalising the public discourse, and two years before the next vital elections. We are convinced that your presence will bring much needed attention to the situation of A. CHABER, LGBTI people in Poland and encourage political commitments. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KPH ILGA-Europe Annual Conference 01 – 04 November 2017, Warsaw, Poland 2 ABOUT OUR HOSTS Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) is a national working with parents of LGBT people – empowering them and organisation working for the dignity and equality of LGBTQI enabling them to do advocacy work. They have already formed people in Poland. Since 2001, KPH has been at the forefront of associations and informal groups, including being involved in advocacy and social awareness raising efforts. From the European Parents Network. In 2014 we took on the task of implementing the first awareness raising campaigns that identifying and involving public figures to speak out to wide, showed LGB couples in public, through establishing a network mainstream audiences, on the need to respect and support of local groups and movement building, to influencing issues such as civil partnerships, marriage equality, decision-makers and legislation and opposing the anti- penalisation of hate crimes and legal gender recognition. In democratic developments of today’s Poland. 2016 we deepened that work by engaging leading lay Catholic authorities and media, in order to engage the movable middle. KPH builds its work on the belief that together we can achieve more. Our work is possible thanks to thousands of supporters, The last two years have been especially difficult for us, both as advocates, allies, volunteers, donors and funders. We strive to a non-governmental organisation, and as LGBTQI people in meet people where they are, engage them in work towards Poland. From our work with victims and monitoring our goals, and make change happen on many levels institutions we have seen increased levels of violence and simultaneously. discrimination. Our office has been attacked several times. Ruling party politicians are using misinformation and We work with politicians and decision-makers, but also with propaganda to attack civil society. All the political and legal teachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, psychologists, counsellors, progress made in the previous five years has been lost. We still police officers, prosecutors and judges, providing model cooperate with European and international institutions in solutions, training and educational materials. We try to enable order to pressure the government and mobilise the these professionals to better understand the specific needs of community and society to secure the human rights of LGBTQI LGB, T, Q and I people, to provide them with services tailored people. Under these circumstances, we are grateful for the to those needs, and to share these skills in their environments. privilege to host the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference and Our priority is the development of long-lasting relationships bring much needed international attention to our work. that will multiply the effects of our work. This also applies to www.kph.org.pl our efforts in building a wide ally network. In 2012 we started #IEWarsaw2017 3 WelcoME FROM THE MaYOR of WARsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz The Mayor of Warsaw Dear Participants of the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference 2017, It is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you all to Warsaw, a city deeply scarred by historical events rooted in prejudices of all types. Animosities that often developed into hatred lead to foul and atrocious acts. These animosities are still present in hate speech and acts of physical and psychological violence. We are witnessing them more often – all over the world, as well as here… Everywhere, where for various reasons, including political, it is being forgotten that every person, regardless of gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, faith, age or sexual orientation, has a fundamental dignity. Thus we are here now, opposing exclusion of the other. In defence of the weakest, who are discriminated against due to their differences, we can stop the violence and hate speech. Each generation tailors the city with accordance to its ideals. The development of the present Warsaw is possible thanks to the potential, competences, knowledge and diversity of its citizens and residents. I take pride in our city and its citizens. I wish a pleasant stay in Warsaw to all the participants of this Conference with the hope that it will be remembered dearly. Hanna Gronkiewicz-waltz THE MAYOR OF WARSaw ILGA-Europe Annual Conference 01 – 04 November 2017, Warsaw, Poland 4 WelcoME FROM ILGA-EuropE Dear friends and colleagues, The welcome letter at the beginning of each conference appeared in 10 major Polish cities within the first month of its handbook is always a time for reflection; on the past year, on the launch and the partnership between KPH and with the LGBTQ challenges we have faced as a community, the solutions that Polish Faith and Rainbow Group, and the Tolerado Association LGBTI activists have created and the political backdrop that lies continues to this day. behind these activities. When you think about the stories that Inspiration can come from the power of seeing strong LGBTI are emerging from the LGBTI movement across Europe, it’s people in visible positions speaking out for the community; particularly timely that we are meeting this year in Warsaw.

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