The World Youth Day ended on Sunday in Sofia, Bulgaria. 18th Conference of the International LGBT Youth and Student Organization (IGLYO).
""Past, Present and Future of LGBT Youth Activism""This is the title of the event: celebrating the organization's first twenty years, an opportunity to tell its story, share the present, and build its future together.
IGLYO was founded in 1984 by a spontaneous group of young activists involved in ILGA, who wanted to highlight the specific strengths and needs of younger generations within the gay community. Based in Amsterdam, but currently without a permanent headquarters, the organization has managed to establish international collaborations over the years, including at the institutional level. IGLYO also draws its strength from a solid partnership with the Council of Europe's Directorate for Youth Policy and the European Youth Forum.
Young gays and lesbians from over 100 years old were present at the meeting. 24 countries, not only from EU member states but also from the USA, Canada, the Balkans, Russia, and, for the first time, from nascent movements in the Middle East (Israel, Palestine, Lebanon), a sign of a progressive change underway in these countries, which recently decriminalized homosexuality. Fabio Saccà was present for Italy, representing the Arcigay Youth Groups.
The days, held in the quiet and charming village of Vladaya, saw the presence and contributions of numerous longtime activists of the organization, symbolically passing the baton to the new generations. Yael 'Hana, representative of the Council of Europe, also attended the activities for two days, reporting on the state of human rights on our continent and on the possibilities for action and intervention by the CoE regarding the rights of homosexuals.
Very touching is the testimony of Raja, Nada, Cindy and Roei from the Middle East. The IGLYO conference, in this sense, served as a diligent ambassador, offering them asylum in a meeting that would otherwise have been impossible in their countries of origin (Lebanese cannot enter Israel, ed.). These young people shared their stories, the plight of LGBT activism, often invisible, unheard, and dangerous in the challenging context of nationalism and religious conflict in that area.
Only Israel has embraced the rights of sexual minorities, allowing the recognition of civil unions and joint paternity of children (but only in the Tel Aviv area). Cohabitation between people of different nationalities is currently unthinkable. This is the case of Cindy, a Palestinian, who had to painfully end her relationship with her Israeli-born partner.
The conference concluded with participants' commitment to joint international work. Numerous cultural exchange and support projects for Eastern European communities were proposed and approved.
‘The appointment now is for the second Iglyo "Women's Conference" which will be held from 5 to 12 December 2004 in Opatija, Croatia.