Strasbourg is set to become the temporary lesbian capital of Europe as the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) host a series of events during Lesbian Visibility Week in collaboration with the Icelandic presidency to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from April 24th to 26th, 2023. 

The events will feature prominent politicians such as Beatrice Fresko Rolfo and Hannah Bardell, Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), as well as activists from all over the region that will share their experiences and insights into the fight for lesbian rights. With over 40 lesbian human rights defenders from across Europe participating, this event is the largest gathering of its kind that the Council of Europe has ever seen and marks a historic moment in the fight for lesbian visibility and equality.

The PACE is currently discussing lesbian rights, with a focus on preparing a resolution about violence and discrimination against LBQ women. The participation of EL*C marks a critical moment in the struggle for lesbian rights. For this reason: 

• On the 25 April at 19:00 at Phare Citadelle,  EL*C and the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will host an evening to meet the prominent politicians and lesbian human rights defenders. https://fb.me/e/2cyWnvrtY

Program:
Inspirational speeches
19:00 – 19:10 Welcoming addresses
A representative of the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Hannah Bardell, MP, SNP, Member of PACE, United Kingdom

19:10 – 19:25 Speeches from LBQ human rights defenders
Nadhéra Beletreche (Mille et une lesbiennes et queers)
Helena Vukovic (L* communio, Serbia)
Dragana Todorovic (EL*C Executive Director)

Lesbian culture celebration
19:30 – 20:00 Artivist Flamenco Performance: Noelia La Negri (Spain)
20:00 – 20:05 Presentation of Strasbourg local events for Lesbian Visibility Day
20:30 – 20:45 Drag king performance: Max Warne-Lee-Souh
20:45 – 22:00 DJ sets: Nada of Bizarr Duo (Montenegro) & Zoe Heselton (Strasbourg)
Ongoing: Expositions Klara Rosatti + Documentary “What we are fighting for” (Ukraine)

• The following day is Lesbian Visibility day and we will dive into the discrimination and violence faced by LBQ women with an event,  co-sponsored by Beatrice Fresko-Rolfo and the Icelandic Presidency,  and taking place on 26 April at 12:45 in the PACE building.  The livestream of the event will be available in EL*C Youtube page at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/CcwbWWXe1B8?feature=share 

Moderator: Beatrice Fresko-Rolfo, PACE Rapporteur on preventing and combating violence and discrimination against LBQ women in Europe

Panelists:

• Ilaria Todde, EL*C Advocacy and Research Director,
• Nadhéra Beletreche, Mille et une lesbiennes et queers, France
• Angela Frolov, GENDERDOC, Moldova
• Evgenia Giakoumopoulou, Head of the SOGI Unit CoE

Strasbourg, with its rich history of human rights activism, is the perfect setting for this gathering of lesbian activists from across the continent. With this event, Strasbourg becomes the temporary lesbian capital of Europe, beating with the heart of lesbian activism. 

At EL*C, we firmly believe that the recognition of the rights of lesbians is essential for the advancement of human rights and social justice. Lesbians face a unique set of challenges, including discrimination, violence, and invisibility. Lesbian Visibility Week is not just about celebrating lesbian visibility and equality; it’s about empowering and inspiring a new generation of lesbian activists to take up the mantle of change.