1st
World Outgames Montréal 2006: currently
9,480 registered!
Three
major U.S. organizations become partners in the
International Conference on LGBT rights
Montréal, 12 November
2006 — “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 Montréal 2006 in the organization
of the ‘The Right to Be Different’
International Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender (LGBT) Rights,” Ms. Louise
Roy, CEO of Montréal 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 Montréal
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 Montréal 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 Ms. Olga Vives, Executive Vice President
of NOW. “Our expertise and experience in
the defence 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, Ms. Vives will
also be on the program and bursary sub-committee
of the International Scientific Committee, which
is co-chaired by Ms. Joke Swiebel, former European
Parliament deputy from the Netherlands, and Mr.
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,"
Mr. 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 Montréal 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 Montréal 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. Montréal
2006 is currently attending the 18th
Annual Creating Change Conference in Oakland,
California, organized by the National
Lesbian and Gay Task Force. The Montréal
2006 Conference organizers are also pleased to
announce that Ms. 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 Ms.
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.”
About the
1st World Outgames
The 1st
World Outgames Montréal 2006 Organising
Committee is a not-for-profit organisation. The
Outgames will be held from 26 July to 5 August
2006 with more than 16,000 participants in the
sport, cultural and conference programmes. Thirty-five
sports disciplines and four cultural activities
will be offered during seven days of competitions.
Participants from around the world and from over
100 different countries are expected. Opening
and Closing Ceremonies will cap off the sports
competitions, open to all. An international gay
sport and cultural “Rendez-Vous” not
to be missed.
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