Hundreds of lesbian activists, artists, politicians, academics, from 40 countries meet in Kyiv from April 11 to 14, to change the world one month before the European elections.

EL*C (European and Central Asian Lesbian Conference) is the biggest network of lesbian activists in Europe and Central Asia. Its board of 25 members include all the major representives of lesbian leaders in this area.  It was launched in 2017 and held its first conference in Vienna, in October 2017.

For its second conference,  EL*C chose Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, as a location and scheduled those three days of gathering one month before the European elections. Our message to the world is clear: lesbians act everywhere where peace in endangered and when ultra-right movements hostile to women, lesbians and all minorities threaten to take power. 

The well-being of lesbians in many European and Central Asian countries is under threat due to a lack of protection from political and institutional bodies. Lesbians have become targets of the so-called ‘anti-gender movements’ throughout the region and the rise of lesbophobia is evident in numerous political debates, such as the discussion on the legalisation of medically assisted procreation for lesbians.

 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONFERENCE co-organised by EL*C and INSIGHT, main Ukrainian LGBT organization

– The conference opened by Monica Benicio, coming specially for the occasion from Brazil. She is the partner of the LBGT activist Marielle Franco who was murdered in the streets of Rio in March 2018.  Monica Benicio is a major actor in the fight against Jair Bolsonaro.
– The program include dozens of sessions with high profile discussions and speakers on politics, safety, lesbian lives, media coverage of lesbian issues, resources, art and sexuality. The detailed program is available here : https://europeanlesbianconference.org/program-new/
– An exclusive survey  on the situation of lesbians in Europe and Central Asia will reveal statistics about experiences of lesbians* on different aspects, such as health, discrimination, decision-making & political participation, visibility and family
–  A public action to put visibility and to vocalize lesbian* agenda. Lesbian allies will show solidarity in uniting our voice.(Please ask directly for specifics since we cannot give too much information because of provocations and counter demonstrations)
– Official launch of the biggest network of advocacy and visibility for lesbians in the world

More information about European Lesbian* Conference 

Web: Europeanlesbianconference.org

Twitter: @eurolesbiancon

Facebook: European Lesbian Conference

What is EL*C?

The first European Lesbian* Conference (EL*C) took place in October 2017, in Vienna (Austria). Five hundred lesbian politicians, artists, journalists, academics gathered from all over Europe and Central Asia for a very successful, historical and mediatized event. “This first conference made it clear that there was a huge need for all European and Central Asian countries to pay more attention to the situation of lesbians, says Silvia Casalino, Chair of EL*C. And we heard the message from thousands of lesbians in Europe and Central Asia: they wanted a network and another conference to happen”.

The first EL*C launched a series of very positive steps for lesbians in Europe and Central Asia such as the first celebration of Lesbian Visibility Day in the European Parliament on  26th of April 2018, the representation of French lesbians at a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on November 23 2018, the public expression of the anger of lesbians from Serbia on their terrible situation on January 2019.

Why in Ukraine?

The results of many European countries’ elections have, in the last few months, brought to power individuals and movements deeply dangerous for LGBT persons and women, which means specifically hostile to lesbians. To counter this trend and present another face of Europe, one month before the EU elections of 2019, the second European Lesbian* Conference will be held in Kyiv, Ukraine. “Ukraine, explains Olena Shevchenko, Ukrainian member of the EL*C board and CEO of Insight,  is the best place to hold a conference in terms of geopolitical situation– it will give us a possibility to bring together West and East and to have a dialogue.”.

“Lesbians in Ukraine are invisible and the most vulnerable community, which suffers from stigma, sexual, domestic and reproductive violence and discrimination, adds Olena Shevchenko. The word “lesbian” is stigmatized and is a dirty word, so usually lesbians use the word “gay” which also invisibilizes the lesbian community and especially hinders lesbian needs. In such situation we think European lesbian conference will be a huge step forward in terms of visibility, vocalized needs of lesbians and community building in Ukraine”

The latest report including links to the dozens of media publications on EL*C: https://europeanlesbianconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ELC-2017_Narrative_Report-1.pdf

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