Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 12:35:30 +0200 From: ilga Subject: 1ST CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE ON GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL ISSUES ILGA INFORMATION SERVICE: 9 SEPT 1996 Following is the official press release of the first les/bi/gay Caribbean conference held last August. Sebastiaan Nijhoff (sebastiaan@caribbe.an) coordinator Apex ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1ST CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE ON GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL ISSUES In august the first conference to explore issues affecting Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals in the Caribbean was held in Jamaica. This conference was held with the financial and technical assistance of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Over 14 Caribbean countries were represented, with support of an even broader group of countries and territories. During the conference participants were able to share the specifics of each territory as regards Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals. In addition strategies for reaching these groups in the different territories were discussed, as well as the necessary educational approaches towards those groups and the wider Caribbean communities in general. At the end of the conference the foundations were laid for the formation of a Caribbean body to continue the work. Participants left the conference with the conviction that such a body is of vital importance and that urgent work should be done and continued to further this method of Caribbean integration. A follow-up meeting is planned for 1997 to monitor progress and deal with subsequent issues. A steering committee of representatives of four countries (Jamaica, Trinidad, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles) is coordinating the different tasks that were set out and preparing next year's conference in Curacao (Netherlands Antilles). The Curacao association of gays and lesbians, ORGUYO (pride), will for the time being be channeling the steering-committee's P.R. ORGUYO can be contacted at: address: Montanja di Rei 447 Curacao, Netherlands Antilles Tel: 599 9 678543 or 599 9 472273 Telefax: 599 9 650585 to the attention of Mr. M. Kleinmoedig e-mail: curamare@ibm.net -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Apex - active for freedom of expression and equality for homosexuals Apex url: caribbe.an/apex PO Box 853 eml: apex@caribbe.an Curacao, Netherlands Antilles phn: +599 9 321 6969 Member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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!