Global Pride, Global Action: Empowering the Spirit of Human Rights
Join Amnesty International, Gay Games vistores, local lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trasgender (LGBT) community members for a one day conference exploring international LGBT human rights issues, and way participants can take action to end LGBT human rights abuses.
♦ Date: Saturday, July, 15
♦ Time: 10 am - 4 pm (Registration to begin at 9 a.m.)
♦ Location: Roosevelt University
Loop Campus - 430 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
* This event is free of charge and all are welcome - although space is limited.
* Participants may attend the entire conference or are also welcome to attend individual plenary sessions, panels, or workshops for which they have a particular interest.
Plenary I 10 - 11 a.m.
LGBT Rights Around the World with a focus on Islam and LGBT Rights
*Featured Speakers:
♥ Faisal Alam - US Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. Faisal is the founder of Al-Fatiha, an international organization dedicated to the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims and their friends.
♥ Parvez Sharma -a prominent gay Muslim filmmaker who has recently launched a worldwide broadcast and activism project with his feature documentary “In the Name of Allah” (in progress), the world's first documentary film on the complex intersection of Islam and homosexuality.
♥ Michael Heflin - founding Director of Amnesty International USA OUTfront Program
Panels/Workshops Session I 11:15 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m.
♥ Crossing Borders: Fleeing Persecution / Uniting our Families
This workshop will provide an overview of two important immigration issues affecting LGBT people: the granting of asylum to LGBT people fleeing persecution and their inability to petition for their same-sex partners to immigrate.
♥ Stonewalled - Police Brutality and Misconduct against LGBT People in the US and Around the World
Police abuse and torture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is a serious human rights problem throughout much of the world and there is too often a lack of accountability for such crimes. This panel will examine the issue within the larger context of identity-based discrimination and human rights, and Amnesty OUTfront’s current campaign against police brutality will be discussed.
♥ We are Family - Demanding Respect for LGBT Families
Marriage, civil unions and adoptions are all hot topics today. This workshop will examine what family rights are granted or denied to LGBT people in the United States and around the world.
♥ Lesbians: Double Jeopardy - Discrimination based on Gender and Sexual Orientation
In the US and around the world lesbian and bisexual women face a double layer of discrimination based both on their gender and their sexual orientation. Human rights abuses against lesbian and bisexual women often happen within the family and community and as a result are typically more difficult to document. Explore the particular ways in which women face human rights abuses based on their sexuality.
Lunch Break (on your own) 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Panels/Workshops Session II 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
♥ Hate Violence in our Communities and within Our Families
In the US, and around the world, LGBT people continue to face hatred and violence within their own communities and even at the hands of their own family members. This workshop will explore different forms of hate violence and provide strategies-legal, political and educational-for addressing such violence.
♥ Can you be a Believer and Support LGBT Human Rights?
People of various religious faiths have claimed that in their religion homosexuality is a sin, and many acts of violence and discrimination against LGBT people are committed in the name of religion. Yet there are also religious movements which believe that commitment to LGBT human rights is consistent with their religious doctrines. This workshop will examine how the world’s major religions deal with gay rights issues; which have been supportive and which have not.
♥ Transgender People - Facing Abuse and Leading the Struggle for LGBT Rights
Around the world, transgender people face marginalization and state and non-state violence because of their gender identities. This workshop will introduce terminology and examples of gender-crossing communities, and then present human rights issues specific to people who have transitioned or are transitioning genders. It will explore how transgender issues intersect with lesbian, gay and bisexual issues in the international human rights context.
♥ LGBT Rights are Human Rights - How International Human Rights Standards Protect the Rights of all People
What are the basic laws and international institutions that make up international human rights law? This workshop will explore what these international standards say about LGBT human rights, and how LGBT people can utilize human rights institutions and instruments such as the UN human rights system, the European Convention on Human Rights, the African Charter on Human Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights to protect their rights
Plenary Session II 3 - 4 p.m.
Combating Homophobic Violence in the Caribbean
*Featured Speakers/Performers
♥ Gareth Henry - Co-Chair of the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG), the only LGBT organization in Jamaica. Leader in the fight against homophobic violence in Jamaica.
♥ Doria Roberts - respected singer/songwriter and social activist. Doria has committed herself to inspiring compassion, social action, and change through her music and various projects.
Global Pride, Global Action
Throughout much of the world today, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people continue to face serious discrimination and violence. Join Amnesty International's OUTfront program at the Aldo Castillo Gallery for a reception with international human rights activist Gareth Henry head of J-FLAG (Jamaica's Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays), OUTfront program director Michael Heflin and leading Amnesty International activists. Come hear about Amnesty International’s work to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
♦ When: Thursday July 13, 2006; 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
♦ Where: Aldo Castillo Gallery
675 N Franklin
Chicago
♦Cost: $50 per person - funds will go to support Amnesty’s
work on LGBT human rights issues.
Tickets can be purchased online
*If you have any questions please ask!
♦ Date: Saturday, July, 15
♦ Time: 10 am - 4 pm (Registration to begin at 9 a.m.)
♦ Location: Roosevelt University
Loop Campus - 430 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
* This event is free of charge and all are welcome - although space is limited.
* Participants may attend the entire conference or are also welcome to attend individual plenary sessions, panels, or workshops for which they have a particular interest.
Plenary I 10 - 11 a.m.
LGBT Rights Around the World with a focus on Islam and LGBT Rights
*Featured Speakers:
♥ Faisal Alam - US Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. Faisal is the founder of Al-Fatiha, an international organization dedicated to the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims and their friends.
♥ Parvez Sharma -a prominent gay Muslim filmmaker who has recently launched a worldwide broadcast and activism project with his feature documentary “In the Name of Allah” (in progress), the world's first documentary film on the complex intersection of Islam and homosexuality.
♥ Michael Heflin - founding Director of Amnesty International USA OUTfront Program
Panels/Workshops Session I 11:15 a.m. - 12: 30 p.m.
♥ Crossing Borders: Fleeing Persecution / Uniting our Families
This workshop will provide an overview of two important immigration issues affecting LGBT people: the granting of asylum to LGBT people fleeing persecution and their inability to petition for their same-sex partners to immigrate.
♥ Stonewalled - Police Brutality and Misconduct against LGBT People in the US and Around the World
Police abuse and torture of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is a serious human rights problem throughout much of the world and there is too often a lack of accountability for such crimes. This panel will examine the issue within the larger context of identity-based discrimination and human rights, and Amnesty OUTfront’s current campaign against police brutality will be discussed.
♥ We are Family - Demanding Respect for LGBT Families
Marriage, civil unions and adoptions are all hot topics today. This workshop will examine what family rights are granted or denied to LGBT people in the United States and around the world.
♥ Lesbians: Double Jeopardy - Discrimination based on Gender and Sexual Orientation
In the US and around the world lesbian and bisexual women face a double layer of discrimination based both on their gender and their sexual orientation. Human rights abuses against lesbian and bisexual women often happen within the family and community and as a result are typically more difficult to document. Explore the particular ways in which women face human rights abuses based on their sexuality.
Lunch Break (on your own) 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Panels/Workshops Session II 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
♥ Hate Violence in our Communities and within Our Families
In the US, and around the world, LGBT people continue to face hatred and violence within their own communities and even at the hands of their own family members. This workshop will explore different forms of hate violence and provide strategies-legal, political and educational-for addressing such violence.
♥ Can you be a Believer and Support LGBT Human Rights?
People of various religious faiths have claimed that in their religion homosexuality is a sin, and many acts of violence and discrimination against LGBT people are committed in the name of religion. Yet there are also religious movements which believe that commitment to LGBT human rights is consistent with their religious doctrines. This workshop will examine how the world’s major religions deal with gay rights issues; which have been supportive and which have not.
♥ Transgender People - Facing Abuse and Leading the Struggle for LGBT Rights
Around the world, transgender people face marginalization and state and non-state violence because of their gender identities. This workshop will introduce terminology and examples of gender-crossing communities, and then present human rights issues specific to people who have transitioned or are transitioning genders. It will explore how transgender issues intersect with lesbian, gay and bisexual issues in the international human rights context.
♥ LGBT Rights are Human Rights - How International Human Rights Standards Protect the Rights of all People
What are the basic laws and international institutions that make up international human rights law? This workshop will explore what these international standards say about LGBT human rights, and how LGBT people can utilize human rights institutions and instruments such as the UN human rights system, the European Convention on Human Rights, the African Charter on Human Rights and the American Convention on Human Rights to protect their rights
Plenary Session II 3 - 4 p.m.
Combating Homophobic Violence in the Caribbean
*Featured Speakers/Performers
♥ Gareth Henry - Co-Chair of the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG), the only LGBT organization in Jamaica. Leader in the fight against homophobic violence in Jamaica.
♥ Doria Roberts - respected singer/songwriter and social activist. Doria has committed herself to inspiring compassion, social action, and change through her music and various projects.
Global Pride, Global Action
Throughout much of the world today, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people continue to face serious discrimination and violence. Join Amnesty International's OUTfront program at the Aldo Castillo Gallery for a reception with international human rights activist Gareth Henry head of J-FLAG (Jamaica's Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays), OUTfront program director Michael Heflin and leading Amnesty International activists. Come hear about Amnesty International’s work to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
♦ When: Thursday July 13, 2006; 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
♦ Where: Aldo Castillo Gallery
675 N Franklin
Chicago
♦Cost: $50 per person - funds will go to support Amnesty’s
work on LGBT human rights issues.
Tickets can be purchased online
*If you have any questions please ask!