GLAF: Three Major U.S.
Organizations Become Partners in the International Conference on LGBT
RightsNovember 12th, 2005,
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56622
MONTREAL, Canada, Nov. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "We are pleased to
announce that three major organizations from the United States-the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (the Task Force), the Gay &
Lesbian Athletics Foundation (GLAF), and the National Organization for
Women (NOW) - have agreed to partner with Montreal 2006 in the
organization of the 'The Right to Be Different' International
Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights,"
Louise Roy, CEO of Montreal 2006, announced today. Nearly 400
submissions for the call for proposals have been received as of 31
October, a number unprecedented for a conference of this kind.
Organizers will also publish the preliminary program on 15 January.
"The Right to Be Different" International Conference on LGBT rights
will be held in Montreal from 26 to 29 July 2006, just before the
opening of the 1st World Outgames. Some 2,000 delegates from around
the world are expected to attend the conference.
About NOW
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest
organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has
500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. Since its founding in 1966, NOW's goal has been
to take action to bring about equality for all women.
"We are pleased to become partners in the International Conference
for the advancement of LGBT rights that Montreal 2006 will be
organizing next July. Their goal is to bring together some 2,000
delegates for three days to examine the evolution of rights around the
world," said Olga Vives, executive vice president of NOW. "Our
expertise and experience in the defense of women's rights in the
United States will offer the Conference a different perspective as
well as suggestions for action plans for the future," she added.
On behalf of NOW, Vives will also be on the program and bursary
sub-committee of the International Scientific Committee, which is
co-chaired by Joke Swiebel, former European Parliament deputy from the
Netherlands, and Robert Wintemute, professor at the School of Law of
King's College in London.
Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation
"The International Conference on LGBT rights has the official
support of GLAF," Mac Chinsomboon, executive director of GLAF (The Gay
& Lesbian Athletics Foundation), reiterated today. "In fact, we
believe that the Conference is of such significance that GLAF has
decided not to hold its own annual conference in 2006 in order to join
forces with the many groups and associations that will be taking part
in the Montreal Conference for the defense of LGBT rights around the
world."
Representatives of GLAF are actively preparing for the
International Conference, which will be held in Montreal just before
the opening of the 1st World Outgames next summer. GLAF
representatives are focusing specifically on the parts of the
conference program related to sport, the practice of sport, homophobia
in sport and in supporting youth in affirming their identity.
New speakers announced
Organizers of "The Right to Be Different" International Conference
are proud of the event's success in the United States. Montreal 2006
is currently attending the 18th Annual Creating Change Conference in
Oakland, California, organized by the National Lesbian and Gay Task
Force. The Montreal 2006 Conference organizers are also pleased to
announce that Kim Gandy, president of NOW, has just agreed to speak at
the conference, as has New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson.
They join Judge Deborah Batts, from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, on the list of American
speakers.
"The partnerships we have developed in the United States for the
International Conference on LGBT rights," concluded Roy, "shows how
important it is for the LGBT community to remain vigilant, even in
countries where we have made advancements in rights. 'The Right to Be
Different' International Conference will be one of the high points of
the Outgames next year."
RESOURCES
Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation
http://www.GLAF.org
info@GLAF.org
Montreal 2006 "The Right to Be Different" International Conference
on Human Rights
http://www.montreal2006.org/en_conference.html
Pascal Dessureault
514-252-5858 ext. 5378
pdessureault@montreal2006.org
CONTACTS
Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation
Monica VanBuskirk
Media Director
(617) 588-0600
Media@gayconference.org |