Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 15:42:21 +0100 From: ilga Subject: KOLN 97 INVITATION PRESS INFORMATION (6 Nov 96): INVITATION TO COLOGNE! The ILGA World Conference is *the* important international gathering for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists. Since the first meeting in Coventry, England in 1978, ILGA's international conferences have been held all over the Europe, in North America and in recent years, in Latin America. ILGA's last World Conference in Rio in June 1995 bringing together more than 300 delegates from almost 60 nations. We're expecting a huge conference. After Rio, for the first time, ILGA did not hold a conference during the next calendar year, and the name of the conference changed from Annual Conference to World Conference. Add to that, the fact that the majority of ILGA's members come from Europe (over 50% from Western and Eastern Europe), and that this conference will be in Europe, a closer proximity than Brazil. And that the number of participants increase at every conference. After two years of no ILGA World Conferences, we're hoping for and expecting the largest and most diverse participation ever! Plan ahead! The conference organizers and ILGA issue this special invitation to all of you: ****** Dear friends, Coinciding with its 25th anniversary, the group, Lesbian and Gay Liberation Front (LGLF), Cologne will be organizing the next ILGA World Conference, ten years after it successfully held the 1987 ILGA World Conference. From June 29 to July 5, 1997 ILGA World Conference will take place in Cologne,Germany, the city which is number four of the lesbian and gay capitals of the world. The conference sites are directly on the river Rhine and are handicapped accesible. The conference, which has the motto "CHALLENGE & PRIDE", will focus on the following issues: - human rights and the violation of human rights - lesbian and gay lobby work in international organisations (UN, Amnesty International, OSCE, Council of Europe, EU) - the economic dimension of lesbian and gay liberation work - trade unions - the worldwide dimension of HIV and AIDS - media, information and communication technology and their potentials - lesbian and gay people with disabilities ...and much more In addtion, on June 29 there will be one-day pre-conference with the topic: "Ideology, Religion and Homophobia". An attractive social program will accompany the conference: an opening gala with many stars, a boat tour on the Rhine, and more. The 'grand finale' will be Germany's biggest Christopher Street Days parade, where more than 500.000 visitors are expected. Registration forms are available by mid November in the Internet at ilga@macman.org, from lglf and in the next ILGA Bulletin. The conference fee will be around DM 800.- (subject to change - journalists, please don't publish this price until it is confirmed) Suggestions for workshops, as well as questions and registrations please send to: lglf ILGA 97 Kartaeuserwall 18 D-50678 Koeln Tel./Fax: +49-221-93 18 80 16 e-mail: lglf@aol.com or: ilga@macman.org Information is also available at: http://www.macman.org/ilga For donations and registration fees please use the following bank account: Kreissparkasse Koeln BLZ: 370 502 99 Konto-Nr. 20491 LGLF and ILGA are looking forward to seeing you in Cologne! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association 81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org A federation of over 300 groups from 75 countries fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We also have over 100 supportive associate and individual members. Will you join us? Contact us for more info!