Lesbian Visibility Day is around the corner and to mark this important occasion, the Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community is co-organising a special online conference: “EU and Lesbians: A Critical Time to Connect” together with the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBTI Rights.

This exciting event brings together MEPs, civil society, national representatives and European Commission staff to discuss lesbian needs in the EU and what responses the EU is providing and should provide under different frameworks and through different institutions. See the LVD 2020 – AGENDA for the full list of speakers per panels.

It takes place online, on April 23rd 2020 between 10am-12pm CEST.

To register and submit questions ahead of the event, please follow this link (please register by 2pm CEST April 22nd). Technical information will be sent over email after registration.

“At a time of unprecedented global crisis, Europe has to remain at the forefront of LGBTI representation and advocacy. This event marking Lesbian Visibility Day is an important platform for celebrating our values of equality and diversity. This is an opportunity to reinforce that we will not allow a health crisis to be used as an excuse to roll back hard-won LGBTI rights in Europe.”  Maria Walsh MEP, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s LGBTI Rights Intergroup.

“The positive side of this crisis is that it takes us back to the depths of our humanity. The pandemic that we are experiencing at this time adds to all other crises. We, lesbian activists and politicians alike, are at a crossroads. And it doesn’t matter if we take one road over another, no, the real issue lies in our ability to work together, to turn our discourses into transformative action, to turn our defeats into victories without ever leaving any minority on the side.” Joëlle Sambi Nzeba, co-chair of EL*C

REGISTER HERE. Technical information will be sent over email after registration.

Program

EU and Lesbians: A Critical Time to Connect

Lesbian Visibility Day – 23 April 2020 – 10:00-12:00 CEST

Opening
LGBTI Intergroup Co-President, ​Terry Reintke ​
EuroCentralAsian* Community Co-Chair,​ Joëlle Sambi Nzeba

Panel 1: ​Intersectional EU policies: when strengthening the lesbian movement means sustaining all oppressed minorities​ (10:00-11:00)

Duration: ​1hour discussion (guided by questions) Moderation:​ Evgenia Giakoumopoulou, EL*C Board Member

Speakers:

Malin Björk (GUE/NGL)​, LGBTI Intergroup, Vice-President

Joëlle Sambi Nzeba, ​EL*C​ co-Chair

Andrea Ayala, ​Salvadoran Human Rights Activist, refugee based in Europe

Halliki Voolma, ​Policy Officer, DG JUST, Gender Equality Unit

Anna Mrozek, ​Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior

Citizens, Women and Youth

Karen Melchior (RE)​, LGBTI Rights Intergroup

Panel 2: Shaping EU policies: The L(esbian) Word should no longer be a taboo in the EU institutions ​(11:00-12:00)

Duration:​ 1h discussion (guided by questions) Moderation: ​Ilaria Todde, EL*C Board Member

Speakers:

Irena Moozová​, DG JUST, Director, Equality and Union Citizenship​, JUST D

Maria Walsh (EPP)​, LGBTI Rights Intergroup, Vice-President

Tanja Fajon (S&D)​, LGBTI Rights Intergroup

Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL)​, Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup, Co-President

Katrin Langensiepen (G-EFA)​, Disability Intergroup, Co-President

Samira Rafaela (RE), ​Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup, Co-President

Closing Remarks
LGBTI Intergroup Co-President, ​Terry Reintke
EuroCentralAsian* Community Co-Chair,​ Joëlle Sambi Nzeba