Author: EL*C

Dear Commissioner Dalli,

We are writing to you in our capacity as Co-Chairs of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) on the occasion of the International Lesbian Visibility Day on the 26th of April. EL*C is a feminist network of lesbian organisations and lesbian, bisexual and trans women, non-binary and intersex persons from over 50 countries of Europe and Central Asia. EL*C was founded in 2017 with the aim to improve the lives of lesbians and (re)build the lesbian movement. As such, EL*C strives to be a representative and powerful voice of the lesbian movements in Europe and Central Asia. In this letter, the term “lesbian” includes all non-heterosexual LBTIQ women, unless otherwise specified, in line with EL*C’s policy to give visibility and empowerment through the use of the word lesbian.

As (in)visibility remains a critical issue, and the root-cause of growing violence and discrimination towards lesbiansin the European Union, accession countries and beyond, we would welcome an opportunity to  meet with you, online as a start, or in any other way convinient to you given the current situation, and discuss with you ways in which future EU actionscan take on board the fight against lesbophobia, gender-based violence, discrimination and stigma against lesbians. We firmly believe that your mandate as the first EU Equality Commissioner is a historic opportunity to ensure that the needs of lesbians are addressed by the European Union, especially with regard to the Gender Equality and the LGBTI Strategies, and to reinforce engagement with lesbian led civil society, so as to increase representativity in decision making.

The intersectional approach that you have chosen in designing the European Commission’s strategies on equality is a fundamental step in building a more equal and inclusive European society. An additional step is necessary in recognising the specific intersectional position of lesbians as women and as part of the LGBTI community, avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach that contributes to the marginalisation and invisibility of lesbians. It is fundamental to mention also that the levels of stigma multiply and intensify depending on other perceived or claimed social identities that a lesbian might embody, such as ‘gender identity’, ‘race,’ ‘class,’ or ‘ableness.’ For example, lesbians of color and black lesbians are exposed to misogyny, racism and lesbophobia in overlapping and mutually reinforcing ways.

In the current crisis caused by the COVID-19, marginalised communities find themselves in particularly precarious situations. EL*C is in contact with many lesbians across Europe, trapped in potentially dangerous situations due to the crisis, from young lesbians obliged to quarantine with their lesbophobic families, to older lesbians that cannot go out, do not have family on which to rely, and are provided food and medication by the local lesbian community. Lesbians are being fired by their employer, as a result to their families not being recognised as equal to heterosexual ones, or not recognised at all. We are also witnessing with great concern the recent attacks in Hungary and Poland against the trans community and against women’s rights, specifically their sexual and reproductive rights. These acts of violence demonstrate how the crisis is being instrumentalised, in some contexts, to roll back on the rights of minorities and on women’s bodily autonomy. Lesbian movements, often at the forefront of the fight for women and LGBTI rights, constitute an easy target for nationalist, far-right and anti-gender narratives. We fear that, even in countries, which are perceived as progressive, the current crisis will result in the de-prioritisation of lesbian rights, as it is happening in France with the postponing once again of the extension of  access to IVF to lesbian couples and single mothers.

Due to lesbians’ invisibility in the political discourse, in society and in research, lesbians still remain extremely marginalized socially, economically and politically. At the same time, lesbian organisations and spaces find themselves especially deprived of funds and resources and have been obliged to close down or are struggling to continue providing the increasingly indispensable services for the lesbian community. It is therefore particularly timely that the Commission acts to empower and to improve the life of lesbians in the European Union, in particular by ensuring that:

The implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy guarantees that policies on gender-based violence and socio-economic equality are built, applied and evaluated taking into consideration the needs of lesbians;

The upcoming LGBTI Strategy takes lesbians specifically into consideration, by avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach and by securing a full coordination with the other strategic frameworks on equality and non-discrimination. To guarantee this coordination, the approval of this strategy by the end of the year is, therefore, fundamental;

Data is properly collected and research is regularly financed on the level of acceptance and status of lesbians in society, but also on their needs, as well as on the impact and assessment of existing and upcoming policies concerning the fundamental rights and freedoms of lesbians;

Adequate funding opportunities are available for lesbian civil society organisations and that lesbians are explicitly recognised as a target group in funding priorities.

EL*C stands ready to further discuss further with you these recommendations, to make sure that the work of the EU, in general, and the European Commission, in particular, ensures full protection and empowerment of lesbians in the European Union, accession countries and beyond.

Yours sincerely,

Joëlle Sambi Nzeba                                                                                                          Olena Shevchenko

EL*C Co-Chair                                                                                                                      EL*C Co-Chair

[embeddoc url=”https://europeanlesbianconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-Dalli-2-1.pdf” download=”all”]Dear Commissioner Dalli,

Dear Commissioner Dalli,

We are writing to you in our capacity as Co-Chairs of the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) on the occasion of the International Lesbian Visibility Day on the 26th of April. EL*C is a feminist network of lesbian organisations and lesbian, bisexual and trans women, non-binary and intersex persons from over 50 countries of Europe and Central Asia. EL*C was founded in 2017 with the aim to improve the lives of lesbians and (re)build the lesbian movement. As such, EL*C strives to be a representative and powerful voice of the lesbian movements in Europe and Central Asia. In this letter, the term “lesbian” includes all non-heterosexual LBTIQ women, unless otherwise specified, in line with EL*C’s policy to give visibility and empowerment through the use of the word lesbian.

As (in)visibility remains a critical issue, and the root-cause of growing violence and discrimination towards lesbiansin the European Union, accession countries and beyond, we would welcome an opportunity to  meet with you, online as a start, or in any other way convinient to you given the current situation, and discuss with you ways in which future EU actionscan take on board the fight against lesbophobia, gender-based violence, discrimination and stigma against lesbians. We firmly believe that your mandate as the first EU Equality Commissioner is a historic opportunity to ensure that the needs of lesbians are addressed by the European Union, especially with regard to the Gender Equality and the LGBTI Strategies, and to reinforce engagement with lesbian led civil society, so as to increase representativity in decision making.

The intersectional approach that you have chosen in designing the European Commission’s strategies on equality is a fundamental step in building a more equal and inclusive European society. An additional step is necessary in recognising the specific intersectional position of lesbians as women and as part of the LGBTI community, avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach that contributes to the marginalisation and invisibility of lesbians. It is fundamental to mention also that the levels of stigma multiply and intensify depending on other perceived or claimed social identities that a lesbian might embody, such as ‘gender identity’, ‘race,’ ‘class,’ or ‘ableness.’ For example, lesbians of color and black lesbians are exposed to misogyny, racism and lesbophobia in overlapping and mutually reinforcing ways.

In the current crisis caused by the COVID-19, marginalised communities find themselves in particularly precarious situations. EL*C is in contact with many lesbians across Europe, trapped in potentially dangerous situations due to the crisis, from young lesbians obliged to quarantine with their lesbophobic families, to older lesbians that cannot go out, do not have family on which to rely, and are provided food and medication by the local lesbian community. Lesbians are being fired by their employer, as a result to their families not being recognised as equal to heterosexual ones, or not recognised at all. We are also witnessing with great concern the recent attacks in Hungary and Poland against the trans community and against women’s rights, specifically their sexual and reproductive rights. These acts of violence demonstrate how the crisis is being instrumentalised, in some contexts, to roll back on the rights of minorities and on women’s bodily autonomy. Lesbian movements, often at the forefront of the fight for women and LGBTI rights, constitute an easy target for nationalist, far-right and anti-gender narratives. We fear that, even in countries, which are perceived as progressive, the current crisis will result in the de-prioritisation of lesbian rights, as it is happening in France with the postponing once again of the extension of  access to IVF to lesbian couples and single mothers.

Due to lesbians’ invisibility in the political discourse, in society and in research, lesbians still remain extremely marginalized socially, economically and politically. At the same time, lesbian organisations and spaces find themselves especially deprived of funds and resources and have been obliged to close down or are struggling to continue providing the increasingly indispensable services for the lesbian community. It is therefore particularly timely that the Commission acts to empower and to improve the life of lesbians in the European Union, in particular by ensuring that:

The implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy guarantees that policies on gender-based violence and socio-economic equality are built, applied and evaluated taking into consideration the needs of lesbians;

The upcoming LGBTI Strategy takes lesbians specifically into consideration, by avoiding a “one-size-fits-all” approach and by securing a full coordination with the other strategic frameworks on equality and non-discrimination. To guarantee this coordination, the approval of this strategy by the end of the year is, therefore, fundamental;

Data is properly collected and research is regularly financed on the level of acceptance and status of lesbians in society, but also on their needs, as well as on the impact and assessment of existing and upcoming policies concerning the fundamental rights and freedoms of lesbians;

Adequate funding opportunities are available for lesbian civil society organisations and that lesbians are explicitly recognised as a target group in funding priorities.

EL*C stands ready to further discuss further with you these recommendations, to make sure that the work of the EU, in general, and the European Commission, in particular, ensures full protection and empowerment of lesbians in the European Union, accession countries and beyond.

Yours sincerely,

Joëlle Sambi Nzeba                                                                                                          Olena Shevchenko

EL*C Co-Chair                                                                                                                      EL*C Co-Chair

[embeddoc url=”https://europeanlesbianconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-Dalli-2-1.pdf” download=”all”]Dear Commissioner Dalli,

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

#LVD2020, #LesbianVisibilityDay, #LesbianGenius

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

#LVD2020, #LesbianVisibilityDay, #LesbianGenius

EL*C OPENS AN ONLINE SPACE FOR LESBIANS TO EXCHANGE DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Every day from 12-1pm Vienna time (1-2pm Moscow time) and 7-8pm Vienna time (8-9pm Moscow time)

Many of us lesbians* might be especially affected by self-isolation measures. To help our community stick together, despite the lockdown and across borders, we have decided to open an online space, where you can join to listen, and exchange with us and other lesbians, anonymously or not.

Starting this Saturday, April 4th, and every day (7days per week) for the coming weeks, we will be available to hear from you, your situations, your difficulties, or stories that lifted you up during these times.

EL*C team members come from all corners of Europe and Central Asia, including countries already severely impacted by COVID-19 exceptional measures. From Italy to Ukraine, from Spain to Serbia, from France to Kyrgyzstan, each of us know or have heard of lesbian friends, activists, colleagues, relatives who are specifically suffering from the lockdown because they are lesbians. We have heard of Italian lesbians in their twenties obliged to stay among hostile families they had decided to leave. We have heard of over 65-year-old lesbians in Serbia forbidden to go out and with no one to bring them food, except younger lesbians who got organised for this. We know how the situation of lesbian migrants is specifically terrible during those times. We know what it takes for some of you to be separated from your lover(s) and friends.

The online space can also be the opportunity to collect new testimonies to share on Lesbian Visibility Day (26 April), illustrating how the Covid-19 crisis is affecting lesbians, but also how our close-knit community finds ways to overcome the challenges. When joining, let us know if you agree for your story to be shared.

✔ Everyday from 12pm to 1pm, and from 7pm to 8pm (European Time)
✔ See language calendar below (updated weekly)
✔ Please register here to receive the link to join the online space (max 30 min prior to the session): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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EL*C OUVRE UN ESPACE D’ÉCHANGE EN LIGNE POUR LES LESBIENNES PENDANT LA CRISE DU COVID-19

Tous les jours de 12h à 13h CEST et de 19h à 20h CEST

Beaucoup parmi nous, lesbiennes*, peuvent se trouver particulièrement affectées par les mesures de confinement. Pour aider notre communauté à rester soudée, malgré l’isolement et à travers les frontières, nous avons décidé d’ouvrir un espace en ligne, où vous pouvez nous rejoindre, pour écouter et échanger, avec nous et d’autres lesbiennes, anonymement ou non.

À partir de ce samedi 4 avril, et tous les jours (7 jours par semaine) pendant les semaines à venir, nous serons disponibles pour écouter vos témoignages, vos situations, vos difficultés ou les histoires qui vous ont remonté le moral pendant cette période.

Les membres de l’équipe d’EL*C viennent de tous les coins d’Europe et d’Asie centrale, y compris de pays déjà sévèrement touchés par les mesures exceptionnelles contre le COVID-19. De l’Italie à l’Ukraine, de l’Espagne à la Serbie, de la France au Kirghizistan, chacune d’entre nous connaît ou a entendu parler de lesbiennes, que ce soit des amies, militantes, collègues, ou parentes, qui souffrent d’autant plus du confinement du fait qu’elles sont lesbiennes. Nous avons entendu parler de lesbiennes italiennes dans leur vingtaine obligées de rester dans leurs familles hostiles qu’elles avaient décidé de quitter. Nous avons entendu parler de lesbiennes serbes de plus de 65 ans à qui l’on a interdit de sortir et qui n’ont personne pour leur apporter de la nourriture, à l’exception de lesbiennes plus jeunes qui se sont organisées pour cela. Nous savons combien la situation des lesbiennes migrantes est particulièrement difficile en ces temps. Nous comprenons ce que cela coûte à celles d’entre vous séparées de leurs amantes/compagnes et de leurs amies.

L’espace en ligne pourra également être l’occasion de recueillir des témoignages à partager lors de la Journée de la visibilité des lesbiennes (26 avril), mettant en lumière la manière dont la crise du Covid-19 affecte les lesbiennes, mais aussi comment notre communauté puise en elle-même pour surmonter les difficultés. Lorsque vous nous rejoignez, n’hésitez pas à nous faire savoir si vous acceptez que votre histoire soit partagée.

✔ Tous les jours de 12h à 13h, et de 19h à 20h (heure européenne)
✔ Voir le calendrier linguistique ci-dessous (mis à jour chaque semaine)
✔ Veuillez vous inscrire ici pour recevoir le lien pour rejoindre l’espace en ligne (max 30 min avant la session): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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ОТКРЫТЫЕ ОНЛАЙН ВСТРЕЧИ ОТ EL*C ДЛЯ ОБЩЕНИЯ И ПОДДЕРЖКИ ВО ВРЕМЯ КОРОНАВИРУСА

В период с 4 апреля по 26 апреля с 12.00 до 13.00 и с 19.00 до 20.00 (центральное европейское время)

Многие из нас как лесбиянки* могут быть особенно затронуты мерами самоизоляции. Чтобы помочь нашему сообществу держаться вместе, несмотря на закрытие границ и изоляцию, мы решили открыть онлайн-пространство, к которому вы сможете присоединиться, чтобы слушать и делиться своими опытом и чувствами с нами и с другими лесбиянками (анонимно или нет).

В период с 4 апреля в течение следующих недель мы будем готовы выслушать вас, ваши истории и трудности, с которыми вы сталкиваетесь. Мы предоставим вам все детали для подключения и расписание встреч на русском языке.

В команде EL*C люди из разных уголков Европы и Центральной Азии, в том числе из стран, которые уже серьезно пострадали от мер, направленных против распространения коронавируса.
От Италии до Украины, от Испании до Сербии, от Франции до Кыргызстана, каждая из нас знает или слышала о подругах-лесбиянках, активистках, коллежанках, родственницах, которые особенно страдают от изоляции, потому что они лесбиянки.
Мы слышали об итальянских двадцатилетних лесбиянках, которые хотели уйти из враждебно настроенных семей, но вынуждены были остаться.
Мы слышали о том, что лесбиянкам в Сербии старше 65 лет запрещено выходить на улицу, и никто не приносит им еду, кроме молодых лесбиянок, которые самоорганизовались, чтобы оказать помощь.
Мы знаем, что положение лесбиянок-мигранток особенно ужасно в эти времена. Мы знаем, чего стоит некоторым из нас быть разлученными со своими партнёрками и подругами.

Для нас это онлайн-пространство также может стать возможностью собрать новые истории, которыми мы сможем поделиться в День Видимости Лесбиянок (26 апреля), чтобы продемонстрировать то, как кризис, связанный с коронавирусом, влияет на нас, и то, как наше сообщество находит способы отвечать на вызовы этого времени.
Присоединяясь, дайте нам знать, если вы согласны с тем, чтобы поделиться своей историей.

✔ Ежедневно с 12:00 до 13:00 и с 19:00 до 20:00 (центральное европейское время)
✔ Смотрите языковой календарь ниже (обновляется еженедельно)
✔ Пожалуйста, зарегистрируйтесь здесь, чтобы получить ссылку на подключение к онлайн-пространству (макс. за 30 минут до начала): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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DURANTE LA CRISIS DEL COVID-19 EL * C ABRE UN ESPACIO DE INTERCAMBIO EN LÍNEA ENTRE LESBIANAS

A diario de 12 a 1PM y de 7 a 8PM Hora Central Europea

Muchas de nosotras, lesbianas *, podríamos resultar especialmente afectadas por las medidas de autoaislamiento. A fin de ayudar a nuestra comunidad a mantenerse unida, a pesar del bloqueo y a través de las fronteras, hemos decidido abrir un espacio en línea, donde podamos unirnos para escucharnos e intercambiar experiencias entre lesbianas, de forma anónima o no.

A partir del sábado 4 de abril y todos los días (7 días a la semana) durante las próximas semanas, estamos disponibles para escuchar sobre sus situaciones, sus dificultades o las historias que las animan en estos momentos.

Las integrantes del equipo EL * C provenimos de todos los rincones de Europa y Asia Central, incluidos países que ya han sido severamente afectados por las medidas excepcionales del COVID-19. Desde Italia hasta Ucrania, desde España hasta Serbia, desde Francia hasta Kirguistán, cada una de nosotras conocemos o hemos oído hablar de amigas lesbianas, activistas, colegas, parientes que sufren de manera específica el encierro por ser lesbianas. Hemos oído hablar de lesbianas italianas veinteañeras obligadas a permanecer con sus familias hostiles de las cuales habían decidido separarse. Hemos oído hablar de las lesbianas Serbias de más de 65 años que tienen prohibido salir sin que nadie les traiga comida, excepto lesbianas más jóvenes que se organizaron para hacerlo. Sabemos lo terrible que es la situación de las migrantes lesbianas en estos tiempos. Sabemos lo que cuesta, en esta época, el mantenerse separadas de amantes y amigas.

El espacio en línea también puede ser la oportunidad de recopilar nuevos testimonios para ser compartidos el Día de la Visibilidad Lesbiana (26 de abril), a fin de ilustrar la forma en que la crisis del Covid-19 está afectando a las lesbianas, pero también cómo nuestra comunidad unida encuentra formas de superar los desafíos. Infórmanos, al unirte, si aceptas que tu historia sea compartida.

✔ Todos los días de 12 a 1 pm y de 7 pm a 8 pm (Hora Central Europea)
✔ Ver el calendario de idiomas a continuación (será actualizado semanalmente)
✔ Regístrate aquí para recibir el enlace para unirte al espacio en línea (como máximo 30 minutos antes de la sesión): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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LLL : LOCKED-DOWN LESBIANS LISTENING

Avrupa Lezbiyen* Konferansı (EL*C), yeni tip koronavirüs (Covid-19) krizinde lezbiyenler için sanal bir alan açıyor.

Her gün 12.00’den 13.00’e ve 19.00’dan 20.00’ye (Avrupa Saatiyle)

Birçok lezbiyen*, sosyal izolasyon önlemlerinden etkilenmiş olabilir. Sokağa çıkma yasakları ve karantinaya rağmen, komünitemizi/ camiamızı bir arada tutmak için hepinizin katılabileceği, dinleyebileceği, bizimle veya diğer lezbiyenlerle etkileşime geçebileceği online bir alan yaratmaya karar verdik.

Bu Cumartesiden (4 Nisan) başlayarak önümüzdeki haftalarda her gün durumunuzla, yaşadığınız zorluklarla ilgili sizden haberler almak veya bu süreçte moralinizi yükselten hikayeleri dinlemek için online buluşmada sizi bekliyor olacağız.

EL*C üyeleri, COVID-19’dan ciddi şekilde etkilenmiş ülkeler de dahil Orta Asya ve Avrupa’nın birçok yerinde yaşıyor. İtalya’dan Ukrayna’ya, İspanya’dan Sırbistan’a, Fransa’dan Kırgızistan’a her birimiz, lezbiyen olmalarından dolayı sokağa çıkma yasağında mağdur olan arkadaşlarımız, aktivistler, yoldaşlar ya da tanıdıklar olduğunu biliyoruz. Italya’da, kendilerine düşman gibi davrandığı için terk etmek zorunda kaldıkları ailelerinin yanında kalmak zorunda olan 20 yaşlarındaki lezbiyen aktivistlerin hikayelerini duyuyoruz. Sırbistan’da sokağa çıkma yasağı yüzünden dışarı çıkamayan ve yiyecek getirecek kimsesi olmayan 65 yaşındaki lezbiyeni ve ona destek olmak için örgütlenen lezbiyenlerin hikayelerini duyuyoruz. Bu dönemde özellikle lezbiyen mülteci ve göçmenlerin durumlarının daha da kötü olduğunu biliyoruz. Arkadaşlarınızdan ya da sevgili(leri)nizden ayrı kalmanın sizin için ne demek olduğunu biliyoruz.

Yaratacağımız online alan aynı zamanda Lezbiyen Görünürlük Günü’nde (26 Nisan) paylaşılacak yeni tanıklıkları biriktirmek, COVID-19’un lezbiyenleri nasıl etkilediğini görebilmek ve yakından bağlı olduğunuz bu toplumunun karşılarına çıkan sorunlarla nasıl baş ettiğini görebilmek için harika bir fırsat olacak.

Katılırken hikayenizin paylaşılmasını isteyip istemediğinizi de bize bildirin.

✔ her gün 12.00’den 13.00’e ve 19.00’dan 20.00’ye (Avrupa Saatiyle)
✔ Dillere göre ayrıştırılmış takvim aşağıda (haftalık güncellenecek)
✔ lütfen online buluşmaya katılmak için buradan kayıt olun (toplantıdan max. 30 dakika önce)

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13/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

14/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

15/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: Turkish

16/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

17/04 12-1pm Vienna time: FR 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

18/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

19/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

20/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

21/04 12-1pm Vienna time: ES 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

22/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

23/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

24/04 12-1pm Vienna time: DE 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

25/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

26/04 3pm-11pm Lesbian Visibility Day

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other available languages on demand: Turkish, Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian-Montenegrin, Greek, Ukranian, German, Italian, Dutch, Swahili, Lingala (email us to create a slot at lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com )

autres langues disponibles sur demande : turc, serbe-croate-bosnique-montenegrin, grec, ukrainien, allemand, italien, néerlandais, swahili, lingala (envoyez-nous un courriel pour organiser un créneau à lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

другие языки доступны по запросу: украинский, турецкий, сербский, греческий, итальянский, немецкий, суахили, лингала (если необходима встреча на этих языках, напишите нам lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

otros idiomas disponibles según solicitud: turco, serbio, griego, ucraniano, alemán, italiano, holandés, swahili, lingala (envíenos un correo electrónico para crear un espacio en lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

EL*C OPENS AN ONLINE SPACE FOR LESBIANS TO EXCHANGE DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Every day from 12-1pm Vienna time (1-2pm 🇷🇺 Moscow time) and 7-8pm Vienna time (8-9pm 🇷🇺 Moscow time)

Many of us lesbians* might be especially affected by self-isolation measures. To help our community stick together, despite the lockdown and across borders, we have decided to open an online space, where you can join to listen, and exchange with us and other lesbians, anonymously or not.

Starting this Saturday, April 4th, and every day (7days per week) for the coming weeks, we will be available to hear from you, your situations, your difficulties, or stories that lifted you up during these times.

EL*C team members come from all corners of Europe and Central Asia, including countries already severely impacted by COVID-19 exceptional measures. From Italy to Ukraine, from Spain to Serbia, from France to Kyrgyzstan, each of us know or have heard of lesbian friends, activists, colleagues, relatives who are specifically suffering from the lockdown because they are lesbians. We have heard of Italian lesbians in their twenties obliged to stay among hostile families they had decided to leave. We have heard of over 65-year-old lesbians in Serbia forbidden to go out and with no one to bring them food, except younger lesbians who got organised for this. We know how the situation of lesbian migrants is specifically terrible during those times. We know what it takes for some of you to be separated from your lover(s) and friends.

The online space can also be the opportunity to collect new testimonies to share on Lesbian Visibility Day (26 April), illustrating how the Covid-19 crisis is affecting lesbians, but also how our close-knit community finds ways to overcome the challenges. When joining, let us know if you agree for your story to be shared.

✔ Everyday from 12pm to 1pm, and from 7pm to 8pm (European Time)
✔ See language calendar below (updated weekly)
✔ Please register here to receive the link to join the online space (max 30 min prior to the session): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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EL*C OUVRE UN ESPACE D’ÉCHANGE EN LIGNE POUR LES LESBIENNES PENDANT LA CRISE DU COVID-19

Tous les jours de 12h à 13h CEST et de 19h à 20h CEST

Beaucoup parmi nous, lesbiennes*, peuvent se trouver particulièrement affectées par les mesures de confinement. Pour aider notre communauté à rester soudée, malgré l’isolement et à travers les frontières, nous avons décidé d’ouvrir un espace en ligne, où vous pouvez nous rejoindre, pour écouter et échanger, avec nous et d’autres lesbiennes, anonymement ou non.

À partir de ce samedi 4 avril, et tous les jours (7 jours par semaine) pendant les semaines à venir, nous serons disponibles pour écouter vos témoignages, vos situations, vos difficultés ou les histoires qui vous ont remonté le moral pendant cette période.

Les membres de l’équipe d’EL*C viennent de tous les coins d’Europe et d’Asie centrale, y compris de pays déjà sévèrement touchés par les mesures exceptionnelles contre le COVID-19. De l’Italie à l’Ukraine, de l’Espagne à la Serbie, de la France au Kirghizistan, chacune d’entre nous connaît ou a entendu parler de lesbiennes, que ce soit des amies, militantes, collègues, ou parentes, qui souffrent d’autant plus du confinement du fait qu’elles sont lesbiennes. Nous avons entendu parler de lesbiennes italiennes dans leur vingtaine obligées de rester dans leurs familles hostiles qu’elles avaient décidé de quitter. Nous avons entendu parler de lesbiennes serbes de plus de 65 ans à qui l’on a interdit de sortir et qui n’ont personne pour leur apporter de la nourriture, à l’exception de lesbiennes plus jeunes qui se sont organisées pour cela. Nous savons combien la situation des lesbiennes migrantes est particulièrement difficile en ces temps. Nous comprenons ce que cela coûte à celles d’entre vous séparées de leurs amantes/compagnes et de leurs amies.

L’espace en ligne pourra également être l’occasion de recueillir des témoignages à partager lors de la Journée de la visibilité des lesbiennes (26 avril), mettant en lumière la manière dont la crise du Covid-19 affecte les lesbiennes, mais aussi comment notre communauté puise en elle-même pour surmonter les difficultés. Lorsque vous nous rejoignez, n’hésitez pas à nous faire savoir si vous acceptez que votre histoire soit partagée.

✔ Tous les jours de 12h à 13h, et de 19h à 20h (heure européenne)
✔ Voir le calendrier linguistique ci-dessous (mis à jour chaque semaine)
✔ Veuillez vous inscrire ici pour recevoir le lien pour rejoindre l’espace en ligne (max 30 min avant la session): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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ОТКРЫТЫЕ ОНЛАЙН ВСТРЕЧИ ОТ EL*C ДЛЯ ОБЩЕНИЯ И ПОДДЕРЖКИ ВО ВРЕМЯ КОРОНАВИРУСА

В период с 4 апреля по 26 апреля с 12.00 до 13.00 и с 19.00 до 20.00 (центральное европейское время)

Многие из нас как лесбиянки* могут быть особенно затронуты мерами самоизоляции. Чтобы помочь нашему сообществу держаться вместе, несмотря на закрытие границ и изоляцию, мы решили открыть онлайн-пространство, к которому вы сможете присоединиться, чтобы слушать и делиться своими опытом и чувствами с нами и с другими лесбиянками (анонимно или нет).

В период с 4 апреля в течение следующих недель мы будем готовы выслушать вас, ваши истории и трудности, с которыми вы сталкиваетесь. Мы предоставим вам все детали для подключения и расписание встреч на русском языке.

В команде EL*C люди из разных уголков Европы и Центральной Азии, в том числе из стран, которые уже серьезно пострадали от мер, направленных против распространения коронавируса.
От Италии до Украины, от Испании до Сербии, от Франции до Кыргызстана, каждая из нас знает или слышала о подругах-лесбиянках, активистках, коллежанках, родственницах, которые особенно страдают от изоляции, потому что они лесбиянки.
Мы слышали об итальянских двадцатилетних лесбиянках, которые хотели уйти из враждебно настроенных семей, но вынуждены были остаться.
Мы слышали о том, что лесбиянкам в Сербии старше 65 лет запрещено выходить на улицу, и никто не приносит им еду, кроме молодых лесбиянок, которые самоорганизовались, чтобы оказать помощь.
Мы знаем, что положение лесбиянок-мигранток особенно ужасно в эти времена. Мы знаем, чего стоит некоторым из нас быть разлученными со своими партнёрками и подругами.

Для нас это онлайн-пространство также может стать возможностью собрать новые истории, которыми мы сможем поделиться в День Видимости Лесбиянок (26 апреля), чтобы продемонстрировать то, как кризис, связанный с коронавирусом, влияет на нас, и то, как наше сообщество находит способы отвечать на вызовы этого времени.
Присоединяясь, дайте нам знать, если вы согласны с тем, чтобы поделиться своей историей.

✔ Ежедневно с 12:00 до 13:00 и с 19:00 до 20:00 (центральное европейское время)
✔ Смотрите языковой календарь ниже (обновляется еженедельно)
✔ Пожалуйста, зарегистрируйтесь здесь, чтобы получить ссылку на подключение к онлайн-пространству (макс. за 30 минут до начала): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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DURANTE LA CRISIS DEL COVID-19 EL * C ABRE UN ESPACIO DE INTERCAMBIO EN LÍNEA ENTRE LESBIANAS

A diario de 12 a 1PM y de 7 a 8PM Hora Central Europea

Muchas de nosotras, lesbianas *, podríamos resultar especialmente afectadas por las medidas de autoaislamiento. A fin de ayudar a nuestra comunidad a mantenerse unida, a pesar del bloqueo y a través de las fronteras, hemos decidido abrir un espacio en línea, donde podamos unirnos para escucharnos e intercambiar experiencias entre lesbianas, de forma anónima o no.

A partir del sábado 4 de abril y todos los días (7 días a la semana) durante las próximas semanas, estamos disponibles para escuchar sobre sus situaciones, sus dificultades o las historias que las animan en estos momentos.

Las integrantes del equipo EL * C provenimos de todos los rincones de Europa y Asia Central, incluidos países que ya han sido severamente afectados por las medidas excepcionales del COVID-19. Desde Italia hasta Ucrania, desde España hasta Serbia, desde Francia hasta Kirguistán, cada una de nosotras conocemos o hemos oído hablar de amigas lesbianas, activistas, colegas, parientes que sufren de manera específica el encierro por ser lesbianas. Hemos oído hablar de lesbianas italianas veinteañeras obligadas a permanecer con sus familias hostiles de las cuales habían decidido separarse. Hemos oído hablar de las lesbianas Serbias de más de 65 años que tienen prohibido salir sin que nadie les traiga comida, excepto lesbianas más jóvenes que se organizaron para hacerlo. Sabemos lo terrible que es la situación de las migrantes lesbianas en estos tiempos. Sabemos lo que cuesta, en esta época, el mantenerse separadas de amantes y amigas.

El espacio en línea también puede ser la oportunidad de recopilar nuevos testimonios para ser compartidos el Día de la Visibilidad Lesbiana (26 de abril), a fin de ilustrar la forma en que la crisis del Covid-19 está afectando a las lesbianas, pero también cómo nuestra comunidad unida encuentra formas de superar los desafíos. Infórmanos, al unirte, si aceptas que tu historia sea compartida.

✔ Todos los días de 12 a 1 pm y de 7 pm a 8 pm (Hora Central Europea)
✔ Ver el calendario de idiomas a continuación (será actualizado semanalmente)
✔ Regístrate aquí para recibir el enlace para unirte al espacio en línea (como máximo 30 minutos antes de la sesión): https://forms.gle/rVWhUqSCjxQw2che6

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LLL : LOCKED-DOWN LESBIANS LISTENING

Avrupa Lezbiyen* Konferansı (EL*C), yeni tip koronavirüs (Covid-19) krizinde lezbiyenler için sanal bir alan açıyor.

Her gün 12.00’den 13.00’e ve 19.00’dan 20.00’ye (Avrupa Saatiyle)

Birçok lezbiyen*, sosyal izolasyon önlemlerinden etkilenmiş olabilir. Sokağa çıkma yasakları ve karantinaya rağmen, komünitemizi/ camiamızı bir arada tutmak için hepinizin katılabileceği, dinleyebileceği, bizimle veya diğer lezbiyenlerle etkileşime geçebileceği online bir alan yaratmaya karar verdik.

Bu Cumartesiden (4 Nisan) başlayarak önümüzdeki haftalarda her gün durumunuzla, yaşadığınız zorluklarla ilgili sizden haberler almak veya bu süreçte moralinizi yükselten hikayeleri dinlemek için online buluşmada sizi bekliyor olacağız.

EL*C üyeleri, COVID-19’dan ciddi şekilde etkilenmiş ülkeler de dahil Orta Asya ve Avrupa’nın birçok yerinde yaşıyor. İtalya’dan Ukrayna’ya, İspanya’dan Sırbistan’a, Fransa’dan Kırgızistan’a her birimiz, lezbiyen olmalarından dolayı sokağa çıkma yasağında mağdur olan arkadaşlarımız, aktivistler, yoldaşlar ya da tanıdıklar olduğunu biliyoruz. Italya’da, kendilerine düşman gibi davrandığı için terk etmek zorunda kaldıkları ailelerinin yanında kalmak zorunda olan 20 yaşlarındaki lezbiyen aktivistlerin hikayelerini duyuyoruz. Sırbistan’da sokağa çıkma yasağı yüzünden dışarı çıkamayan ve yiyecek getirecek kimsesi olmayan 65 yaşındaki lezbiyeni ve ona destek olmak için örgütlenen lezbiyenlerin hikayelerini duyuyoruz. Bu dönemde özellikle lezbiyen mülteci ve göçmenlerin durumlarının daha da kötü olduğunu biliyoruz. Arkadaşlarınızdan ya da sevgili(leri)nizden ayrı kalmanın sizin için ne demek olduğunu biliyoruz.

Yaratacağımız online alan aynı zamanda Lezbiyen Görünürlük Günü’nde (26 Nisan) paylaşılacak yeni tanıklıkları biriktirmek, COVID-19’un lezbiyenleri nasıl etkilediğini görebilmek ve yakından bağlı olduğunuz bu toplumunun karşılarına çıkan sorunlarla nasıl baş ettiğini görebilmek için harika bir fırsat olacak.

Katılırken hikayenizin paylaşılmasını isteyip istemediğinizi de bize bildirin.

✔ her gün 12.00’den 13.00’e ve 19.00’dan 20.00’ye (Avrupa Saatiyle)
✔ Dillere göre ayrıştırılmış takvim aşağıda (haftalık güncellenecek)
✔ lütfen online buluşmaya katılmak için buradan kayıt olun (toplantıdan max. 30 dakika önce)

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13/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

14/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

15/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: Turkish

16/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

17/04 12-1pm Vienna time: FR 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

18/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

19/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

20/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

21/04 12-1pm Vienna time: ES 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

22/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

23/04 12-1pm Vienna time: RU 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

24/04 12-1pm Vienna time: DE 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

25/04 12-1pm Vienna time: EN 7-8pm Vienna time: EN

26/04 3pm-11pm Lesbian Visibility Day

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other available languages on demand: Turkish, Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian-Montenegrin, Greek, Ukranian, German, Italian, Dutch, Swahili, Lingala (email us to create a slot at lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com )

autres langues disponibles sur demande : turc, serbe-croate-bosnique-montenegrin, grec, ukrainien, allemand, italien, néerlandais, swahili, lingala (envoyez-nous un courriel pour organiser un créneau à lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

другие языки доступны по запросу: украинский, турецкий, сербский, греческий, итальянский, немецкий, суахили, лингала (если необходима встреча на этих языках, напишите нам lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

otros idiomas disponibles según solicitud: turco, serbio, griego, ucraniano, alemán, italiano, holandés, swahili, lingala (envíenos un correo electrónico para crear un espacio en lockeddownlesbians@gmail.com)

Throughout history, angry women have been called harpies, bitches, witches, and whores. They’ve been labeled hysterical, crazy, dangerous, delusional, bitter, jealous, irrational, emotional, dramatic, vindictive, petty, hormonal; they’ve been shunned, ignored, drugged, locked up, and killed; kept in line with laws and threats and violence, and with insidious, far-reaching lies about the very nature of what it means to be a woman—that a woman should aspire to be a lady, and that ladies don’t get angry. Millennia of conditioning is hard to unlearn…    (Bitch Magazine – Burn it down by Lilly Dancyger)

This year has been one of supposedly inaccessible dreams and goals to be reached … A little 2019 anthology of what we have accomplished inside and outside EL*C. All this was possible thanks to the incredible energy of the extraordinary EL*C Dykerectors and team, but also thanks to all of you who have never stopped encouraging, promoting and supporting the actions we are carrying out for more lesbian visibility and for building our community. Well, since at this time of year, place is givent to wishes and love declaration, we must admit that, thanks to you, with you all at our side, we feel good, really good.

No doubt, we form a hell of a team ! 

…TALKING OF TEAM, WE HAVE A NEW BOARD !

We are happy to announce the elections of a new board. Discover the faces of those #Lesbiangenuis who are now in charge of 6 new positions. We will tell you more about those genius soon, very soon ! 

2020, will be empowering and full of suprises, stay tuned ! Meanwhile, find out what we’ve been doing this last year to unlearn conditioning with anger and class.

Happy New Year and best lesbian wishes.

♥♥♥

ELC SWEET 2019 SOUVENIRS ARE MADE OF THIS…

EL*C Berlin for pioneer european lesbian research !

Part of EL*C badass squad went to Berlin this November, to present the first outcomes of the ongoing research about the past and current state of lesbian organising in Europe ! Read the details here.

EL*C is a partner of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, which funds this research and will be organising next november 2020, a huge institutional European conference on lesbians with full room of ministers and policy makers listening to lesbian stories and needs ! We also seized the opportunity of being in Berlin to visit the great team of L-MAG which was always a wonderful support to EL*C.

EL*C HITS NEWSPAPERS FRONT PAGES !!!

The #lesbiangenius did well in the press last month. Our Media Dykerector, Alice Coffin, got long interviews in National Geographic and in Le Temps.

The Swiss newspaper also put EL*C on its front page !!!

Because Alice Coffin’s interview was next to Melinda Gates’s one, Silvia Casalino, Chair of EL*C and Alice’s partner, asked the team « Do you think, that means I will become as rich as Bill? ». No guarantee, but as you can read in the full interview published on National Geographic website, when asked about which advice to give to young women starting in lives, our dykerector answered « Be a lesbian! ».

Links to both interview:

https://www.letemps.ch/societe/alice-coffin-aujourdhui-lesbienne-employe-un-gros

https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/photographie/2019/11/se-passer-du-regard-des-hommes-est-un-immense-defi

♥♥♥

Gulzada Serzhan is one of EL*C wonderful team member and an active member of Feminita, a Kazakhstan feminist initiative that protects and defends the rights of LGBTQ community members.  Gulzada’s interview was originally publish by The Village, a kazakh newspaper. It has been now translated in french and highlighted by Novastan.org, the only media in French and German specializing in Central Asia.  This was during the week of actions fighting domestic violence organized by LGBT feminists and activists in Kazakhstan. Gulzada’s are fierce, empowering and filled with confidence.

A translated extract from her interview

I am a lesbian and before, for security reasons, I hid it. When I finally understood my sexuality and studied human rights, I became an LGBT activist and was able to come out. Some people can blame me for not hiding my sexual orientation. But that will not change my essence. To condemn me is useless.

Read full article (in french) here.

“Lesbian Rights/ Lesbian Fights” ELC at the feminist festival Les Créatives in Geneva.

We were invited to a round table on « Lesbian Rights, Lesbian Fights » in Geneva on November 23. Alice Coffin attended the panel along other lesbian* activists. If you missed it you can still. watch the full round table here.

♥♥♥

THE INTERNATIONAL FAMILY EQUALITY DAY 2019 REPORT IS OUT  with great tribute to EL*C

The International Family Equality Day 2019 Report (IFED) is out and we are grateful to see in it so many faces who made EL*C possible. Maria von Känel, Dettie Gould, Henrie Dennis, Andrea Rivas did a lot to organise or participate to EL*C.

Read their words, enjoy their pictures, along many other facts, figures and stories here.

♥♥♥

HURRAY TO KIKA FUMERO

The discourse of the far right is very damaging, basically because they deny and make invisible a reality that is demonstrated.

Hurray to our wonderful team member Kika Fumero, one EL*C wonderful team member, is now the General Director of the Canarian Institute for Equality. She gave an interview to El Diario del Canarias on the necessity to fight back far right discourses and actions. Read below more translated excerpt of the interview.

There are international laws and treaties, positions of the United Nations and the European Union. The figures are there. They are touching very sensitive issues, touching lives, identities, and want to take away rights to LGBT people or migrant children. To this, we are reacting from anger, and we are wrong. Calm must be keeped. We know what their speech is, that generates hate and anger, so we have to respond intelligently, with head and not with guts. Today, we can still lose many rights, which are conquered but not insured, and we can go backwards. Of course, if one day they get to power they will find us on the street, not the four feminists of yesterday, but a very important part of society, men and women. »

DYKES IN TIRANA

EL*C team travelled to Tirana-Albania this past month for a multi purpose visit: taking part in the women-loving-women caucus event at the ERA Conference, internal discussions on network creation and planning the work ahead, and finally taking part in Albania’s first ever Dyke March.

Participating in the ERA Conference women’s caucus gave EL*C invaluable insight into the current state of lesbian organising in the Western Balkans and Turkey. All three meetings were a huge success!

WE FORGIVE, BUT WE DON’T FORGET

In this video, our lesbian dykerector Joëlle Sambi delivers a testimony that questions a multitude of themes : slam as a poetic weapon, activism in Belgium, identity, colonialism, the norm, etc.

She also addresses the particular situation of the belgo-congolese LGBT community through the evocation of Pinkshasa Diaspora, her documentary in progress. The interview is in french but worth a look.

L WORD, a catch up session.

Come on! None of you can make us believe that they have not heard, trembled – even very slightly – with indifference or emotions at the announcement of the release of the new L Word: Generation Q! Really ? Okay, well, if you missed that, here is an interview well conducted by the journalist of Grazia Magazine and to which our dykerectors Silvia Casalino and Joëlle Sambi answered, among others. Catch up session !

Full article (in french).

♥♥♥

So, we will wrap it up here by wishing you to have, in 2020, friendS, loverS, relativeS that are for you what Nigeria is for Jamaïca.

The miss, not the country. Take care. Very very best wishes.

Throughout history, angry women have been called harpies, bitches, witches, and whores. They’ve been labeled hysterical, crazy, dangerous, delusional, bitter, jealous, irrational, emotional, dramatic, vindictive, petty, hormonal; they’ve been shunned, ignored, drugged, locked up, and killed; kept in line with laws and threats and violence, and with insidious, far-reaching lies about the very nature of what it means to be a woman—that a woman should aspire to be a lady, and that ladies don’t get angry. Millennia of conditioning is hard to unlearn…    (Bitch Magazine – Burn it down by Lilly Dancyger)

This year has been one of supposedly inaccessible dreams and goals to be reached … A little 2019 anthology of what we have accomplished inside and outside EL*C. All this was possible thanks to the incredible energy of the extraordinary EL*C Dykerectors and team, but also thanks to all of you who have never stopped encouraging, promoting and supporting the actions we are carrying out for more lesbian visibility and for building our community. Well, since at this time of year, place is givent to wishes and love declaration, we must admit that, thanks to you, with you all at our side, we feel good, really good.

No doubt, we form a hell of a team ! 

…TALKING OF TEAM, WE HAVE A NEW BOARD !

We are happy to announce the elections of a new board. Discover the faces of those #Lesbiangenuis who are now in charge of 6 new positions. We will tell you more about those genius soon, very soon ! 

2020, will be empowering and full of suprises, stay tuned ! Meanwhile, find out what we’ve been doing this last year to unlearn conditioning with anger and class.

Happy New Year and best lesbian wishes.

♥♥♥

ELC SWEET 2019 SOUVENIRS ARE MADE OF THIS…

EL*C Berlin for pioneer european lesbian research !

Part of EL*C badass squad went to Berlin this November, to present the first outcomes of the ongoing research about the past and current state of lesbian organising in Europe ! Read the details here.

EL*C is a partner of the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, which funds this research and will be organising next november 2020, a huge institutional European conference on lesbians with full room of ministers and policy makers listening to lesbian stories and needs ! We also seized the opportunity of being in Berlin to visit the great team of L-MAG which was always a wonderful support to EL*C.

EL*C HITS NEWSPAPERS FRONT PAGES !!!

The #lesbiangenius did well in the press last month. Our Media Dykerector, Alice Coffin, got long interviews in National Geographic and in Le Temps.

The Swiss newspaper also put EL*C on its front page !!!

Because Alice Coffin’s interview was next to Melinda Gates’s one, Silvia Casalino, Chair of EL*C and Alice’s partner, asked the team « Do you think, that means I will become as rich as Bill? ». No guarantee, but as you can read in the full interview published on National Geographic website, when asked about which advice to give to young women starting in lives, our dykerector answered « Be a lesbian! ».

Links to both interview:

https://www.letemps.ch/societe/alice-coffin-aujourdhui-lesbienne-employe-un-gros

https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/photographie/2019/11/se-passer-du-regard-des-hommes-est-un-immense-defi

♥♥♥

Gulzada Serzhan is one of EL*C wonderful team member and an active member of Feminita, a Kazakhstan feminist initiative that protects and defends the rights of LGBTQ community members.  Gulzada’s interview was originally publish by The Village, a kazakh newspaper. It has been now translated in french and highlighted by Novastan.org, the only media in French and German specializing in Central Asia.  This was during the week of actions fighting domestic violence organized by LGBT feminists and activists in Kazakhstan. Gulzada’s are fierce, empowering and filled with confidence.

A translated extract from her interview

I am a lesbian and before, for security reasons, I hid it. When I finally understood my sexuality and studied human rights, I became an LGBT activist and was able to come out. Some people can blame me for not hiding my sexual orientation. But that will not change my essence. To condemn me is useless.

Read full article (in french) here.

“Lesbian Rights/ Lesbian Fights” ELC at the feminist festival Les Créatives in Geneva.

We were invited to a round table on « Lesbian Rights, Lesbian Fights » in Geneva on November 23. Alice Coffin attended the panel along other lesbian* activists. If you missed it you can still. watch the full round table here.

♥♥♥

THE INTERNATIONAL FAMILY EQUALITY DAY 2019 REPORT IS OUT  with great tribute to EL*C

The International Family Equality Day 2019 Report (IFED) is out and we are grateful to see in it so many faces who made EL*C possible. Maria von Känel, Dettie Gould, Henrie Dennis, Andrea Rivas did a lot to organise or participate to EL*C.

Read their words, enjoy their pictures, along many other facts, figures and stories here.

♥♥♥

HURRAY TO KIKA FUMERO

The discourse of the far right is very damaging, basically because they deny and make invisible a reality that is demonstrated.

Hurray to our wonderful team member Kika Fumero, one EL*C wonderful team member, is now the General Director of the Canarian Institute for Equality. She gave an interview to El Diario del Canarias on the necessity to fight back far right discourses and actions. Read below more translated excerpt of the interview.

There are international laws and treaties, positions of the United Nations and the European Union. The figures are there. They are touching very sensitive issues, touching lives, identities, and want to take away rights to LGBT people or migrant children. To this, we are reacting from anger, and we are wrong. Calm must be keeped. We know what their speech is, that generates hate and anger, so we have to respond intelligently, with head and not with guts. Today, we can still lose many rights, which are conquered but not insured, and we can go backwards. Of course, if one day they get to power they will find us on the street, not the four feminists of yesterday, but a very important part of society, men and women. »

DYKES IN TIRANA

EL*C team travelled to Tirana-Albania this past month for a multi purpose visit: taking part in the women-loving-women caucus event at the ERA Conference, internal discussions on network creation and planning the work ahead, and finally taking part in Albania’s first ever Dyke March.

Participating in the ERA Conference women’s caucus gave EL*C invaluable insight into the current state of lesbian organising in the Western Balkans and Turkey. All three meetings were a huge success!

WE FORGIVE, BUT WE DON’T FORGET

In this video, our lesbian dykerector Joëlle Sambi delivers a testimony that questions a multitude of themes : slam as a poetic weapon, activism in Belgium, identity, colonialism, the norm, etc.

She also addresses the particular situation of the belgo-congolese LGBT community through the evocation of Pinkshasa Diaspora, her documentary in progress. The interview is in french but worth a look.

L WORD, a catch up session.

Come on! None of you can make us believe that they have not heard, trembled – even very slightly – with indifference or emotions at the announcement of the release of the new L Word: Generation Q! Really ? Okay, well, if you missed that, here is an interview well conducted by the journalist of Grazia Magazine and to which our dykerectors Silvia Casalino and Joëlle Sambi answered, among others. Catch up session !

Full article (in french).

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So, we will wrap it up here by wishing you to have, in 2020, friendS, loverS, relativeS that are for you what Nigeria is for Jamaïca.

The miss, not the country. Take care. Very very best wishes.

EL*C 2021 conference – local partner application form

>>> Deadline for submitting the application: December 22, 2019 <<<

The European-Central Asian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) is a collective of lesbian, queer, bi and trans women registered as an NGO, which aims to advocate for lesbian rights in Europe and Central Asia. Driven by the objective of increasing visibility of lesbian issues in all spheres, including the social, legal, health, and political ones, the EL*C as an NGO has worked during the last three years towards the establishment of a pan-European-Central Asian Lesbian network.

Our two conferences so far, in Vienna/Austria (October 2017) and most recently in Kyiv/Ukraine (April 2019), represent initial key steps in the long-expected and much needed construction of a strong lesbian movement in Europe & Central Asia that brings together a diverse team.

While building and formally establishing this Network for Europe and Central Asia, we do not forget that EL*C started as a conference, and do not lose sight of the significance of this politically defining biennial event.

As such, the EL*C team members are beyond excited to open this call and invite activists in Europe and Central Asia to dream big with us for this 3rd EL*C conference, to unleash more lesbian genius upon the world.

The next conference is due to take place in 2021 (Spring or Fall). Prior to applying please consider the following:

> Applicants may be NGOs, consortium of NGOs, informal networks, or any entity or structure committed to promoting the rights of lesbians and which can demonstrate that its leadership involves lesbians;

> Due to the foreseen workload, our partners should be in a position to work with us on a weekly basis in the year before the event, and on a daily basis in the weeks leading up to the conference;

> It would be required that at least one main contact person within the partner organisation(s) speaks English in order to facilitate coordination;

> The conference is an opportunity to bring about substantial political impact; as such, EL*C strongly encourages proposals from Southern Europe, the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Central Asia.

We look forward to your proposals and can’t wait to see where this new journey will take us!

>>> APPLY HERE <<<

EL*C 2021 conference – local partner application form

>>> Deadline for submitting the application: December 22, 2019 <<<

The European-Central Asian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) is a collective of lesbian, queer, bi and trans women registered as an NGO, which aims to advocate for lesbian rights in Europe and Central Asia. Driven by the objective of increasing visibility of lesbian issues in all spheres, including the social, legal, health, and political ones, the EL*C as an NGO has worked during the last three years towards the establishment of a pan-European-Central Asian Lesbian network.

Our two conferences so far, in Vienna/Austria (October 2017) and most recently in Kyiv/Ukraine (April 2019), represent initial key steps in the long-expected and much needed construction of a strong lesbian movement in Europe & Central Asia that brings together a diverse team.

While building and formally establishing this Network for Europe and Central Asia, we do not forget that EL*C started as a conference, and do not lose sight of the significance of this politically defining biennial event.

As such, the EL*C team members are beyond excited to open this call and invite activists in Europe and Central Asia to dream big with us for this 3rd EL*C conference, to unleash more lesbian genius upon the world.

The next conference is due to take place in 2021 (Spring or Fall). Prior to applying please consider the following:

> Applicants may be NGOs, consortium of NGOs, informal networks, or any entity or structure committed to promoting the rights of lesbians and which can demonstrate that its leadership involves lesbians;

> Due to the foreseen workload, our partners should be in a position to work with us on a weekly basis in the year before the event, and on a daily basis in the weeks leading up to the conference;

> It would be required that at least one main contact person within the partner organisation(s) speaks English in order to facilitate coordination;

> The conference is an opportunity to bring about substantial political impact; as such, EL*C strongly encourages proposals from Southern Europe, the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Central Asia.

We look forward to your proposals and can’t wait to see where this new journey will take us!

>>> APPLY HERE <<<