Jim Beaux
12-06-2008, 10:57 AM
Full release at http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileID=1197&FileCategory=50&ZoneID=7
24th World Conference of ILGA, Nov 2008
Created in 1978 as IGA, the International Gay Association, the organisation
known for the last 22 years as ILGA, the International Lesbian and Gay
Association will be known from now on as "ILGA, the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association" as voted by LGBTI activists
gathered for the association's 24th world conference in Vienna, Austria (Nov
3-6, 2008 ).
This conference, which coincided with ILGA's 30th birthday focused on
building regional associations of African, Asian, and Latin American
activists and on moving away from a traditional binary gender
representation.
The conference strongly pushed the organisation "to promote equality of
women, trans and intersex persons within and outside ILGA" and decided to
move away from the traditional binary gender representation: all positions
to be filled within the organization will now need to include two
representatives, of whom one at least identifies as a woman". This proposal,
put forward by the LGBT section of the UK trade union UNISON, enables
activists who do not wish, for political or personal reasons, to identify as
a man or a woman or identify as both to occupy a position within the
association while ensuring the organisation is not ran by men only. A UNISON
representative noted "there should be space for non-gender specific
self-perceptions in ILGA and in its Constitution, if anywhere in the world".
"With the creation of the Trans Secretariat, we've succeeded in establishing
a body to coordinate trans issues at a global level and have a say at ILGA's
world board" says Belissa Andía Pérez, trans activist from Instituto Runa
(Peru), the group which was re-elected for another two years as ILGA World
Trans Secretariat. "This is key as it allows us to put forward the demands
of the trans community within ILGA". She adds: "Vienna was the opportunity
for an extensive dialogue on gender issues. It is important within ILGA,
when amending ILGA's constitution and the way it deals with gender for
example or by ensuring trans activists are given scholarships to attend
conferences, but also important in the whole LGBTI movement: our aim is to
achieve real inclusion of gender identity and advocate for non
discrimination of trans persons, by far the most vulnerable group in the
LGBTI community".
24th World Conference of ILGA, Nov 2008
Created in 1978 as IGA, the International Gay Association, the organisation
known for the last 22 years as ILGA, the International Lesbian and Gay
Association will be known from now on as "ILGA, the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association" as voted by LGBTI activists
gathered for the association's 24th world conference in Vienna, Austria (Nov
3-6, 2008 ).
This conference, which coincided with ILGA's 30th birthday focused on
building regional associations of African, Asian, and Latin American
activists and on moving away from a traditional binary gender
representation.
The conference strongly pushed the organisation "to promote equality of
women, trans and intersex persons within and outside ILGA" and decided to
move away from the traditional binary gender representation: all positions
to be filled within the organization will now need to include two
representatives, of whom one at least identifies as a woman". This proposal,
put forward by the LGBT section of the UK trade union UNISON, enables
activists who do not wish, for political or personal reasons, to identify as
a man or a woman or identify as both to occupy a position within the
association while ensuring the organisation is not ran by men only. A UNISON
representative noted "there should be space for non-gender specific
self-perceptions in ILGA and in its Constitution, if anywhere in the world".
"With the creation of the Trans Secretariat, we've succeeded in establishing
a body to coordinate trans issues at a global level and have a say at ILGA's
world board" says Belissa Andía Pérez, trans activist from Instituto Runa
(Peru), the group which was re-elected for another two years as ILGA World
Trans Secretariat. "This is key as it allows us to put forward the demands
of the trans community within ILGA". She adds: "Vienna was the opportunity
for an extensive dialogue on gender issues. It is important within ILGA,
when amending ILGA's constitution and the way it deals with gender for
example or by ensuring trans activists are given scholarships to attend
conferences, but also important in the whole LGBTI movement: our aim is to
achieve real inclusion of gender identity and advocate for non
discrimination of trans persons, by far the most vulnerable group in the
LGBTI community".