Feel free to forward the meeting information to your partner organizations
and anyone you think could be interested in it. Thank you!

Kaos GL

Turkey

International Anti-Homophobia Meeting

-FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS-

What is the Meeting Against Homophobia?

Internationally participated forum organized by Kaos GL and in May 17 week
every year.

International Anti-Homophobia Meeting has been organized for the first time
in 2006. The meeting which has been held on May 17 - 20 in 2007 will be held
on May 12 - 19, 2008.

Why May 17?

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia.

The International Day Against Homophobia is the day for acting and opposing
against all physical, moral and symbolic violence related to gender identity
and sexual orientation. It aims to coordinate with all initiatives struggle
for the human equality, by inspiring and supporting them.

Why Anti - Homophobia?

We are exposed to discrimination because of our sexual orientation and
gender identity; also are facing homophobic attitudes and behaviors in every
aspect of life. When we are not able to stand against homophobia, we feed
our concerns and rage, and divert to ourselves and alike. Yet, this is the
last thing that we need!

We want to raise a public conscious that the matter of homophobia is not the
problem of only Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) individuals, but
also the problem of heterosexual women and men.

Why Meeting?

International Anti-Homophobia Meeting, organized by Kaos GL in Ankara since
2006, aims to compose a platform for discussing the discrimination towards
to LGBT individuals in Turkey and providing the visibility.

By the Meeting, we want to share and discuss our ideas on a world where LGBT
individuals and heterosexuals liberate together. We are looking for
solutions to our problems. We want to share the solutions and to create the
material and moral possibilities of common interference when needed. We want
to do this face to face and together.

We intend to meet new people, share and discuss our problems, relief and
relax.

Neither a crime nor a sin, nor a disease. Long live same-sex love!

Why International?

We are aware that homophobia is a global matter. Based on this fact, we want
to know and share the struggle experiences of LGBT individuals from the
Middle East, Balkans, Europe and every corner of the World, against
homophobia.

We aim to establish global support networks for struggle against homophobia.

Who is the host?

Kaos GL is the host of the International Anti- Homophobia Meeting.

Kaos GL is an organization, struggle for the LGBT rights. The organization
that has been continuing its activities since the early 90s in Ankara has
become a legal association in 2005 and adopted the name "Kaos Gay and
Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Association".

The association, publishing the "Kaos GL Magazine" that has been released
continuously and delivered to entire Turkey since 1994, established Turkey's
first LGBT cultural center and library in 2000 after the legalization of the
magazine.

Kaos GL performs joint activities with a number of national and
international institutions and associations varying from women organizations
to human rights organizations, in order to provide the visibility of the
human rights of LGBT individuals.

Kaos GL provides solidarity to Turkey's different cities in order to support
LGBT individuals establish their own organizations.

Who are forming the "Consulting Committee" of 2008 Meeting?

Tugrul Eryilmaz (Journalist), Pinar Ilkkaracan (Defender for Woman's Human
Rights), Nazik Isik (Social Politician), Kursad Kahramanoglu (Journalist,
Defender for Human Rights), Aksu Bora (Feminist), Murat Celikkan
(Journalist, Defender for Human Rights), Melek Goregenli (Social
Psychologist), Sahika Yuksel (Psychiatrist)

Who can join the Meeting?

Anyone, who wants to discuss the problems of LGBT individuals and homophobia
and to liberate together, can join the Meeting.

You do not need to be a member of Kaos GL or any other LGBT organization to
attend the Meeting or any activity of the Meeting. You do not to be LGBT
individual, either. You may not adopt the policies of LGBT groups. You may
just attend any meeting, listen to the discussions and / or share your
views.

Who will participate the Meeting this year?

LGBT individuals from entire Turkey, associations and initiatives, as well
as academicians, representatives of woman organizations, law workers,
journalists, artists, authors, NGO representatives and politicians.

Michael Cashman (Member of European Parliament), Anja Meulenbelt (Dutch
author), Mithat Sancar (Lawyer), Yakin Erturk (UN Violence Against Woman
Reporter), Kursad Kahramanoglu (Former ILGA Secretary General), Oral
Calislar (Jornalist), Hulya Gulbahar (Lawyer), Oya Aydin (Lawyer), Serpil
Sancar (Academician), Yildiz Tokman (Feminist), Selma Acuner (EU Expert),
Melek Goregenli (Social Psychologist), Selcuk Candasayar (Psychiatrist),
Pinar Ilkkaracan (Defender for Woman's Human Rights), Ozlem Altiparmak
(Lawyer), Aksu Bora (Feminist), Kerem Altiparmak (President of Ankara
University Political Sciences Faculty Human Rights Center), Sevki Sozen
(Prof. Dr., MD, Forensics), Juliano Cano Nieto (Researcher, Human Rights
Watch, USA), Senem Doganoglu (Lawyer), Ayse Gul Altinay (Academician), Jenny
Sudén (Academician, Sweden), Hande Ogut (Critic), Rebecca Sevilla (Education
International, Belgium), Diego Mellado (European Commission Turkey
Delegation), Aija Salo (ILGA-Europe), Murat Celikkan (Journalist, Defender
for Human Rights), Yildirim Turker (Journalist, Author), Murathan Mungan
(Poet - Author).

Who participated the previous Meeting?

Jon Martin Larsen (Journalist, Norway), André van Houwelingen (Psychologist,
Holland), Michael Upton (Queer activist, Great Britain), Anette
Trettebergstuen (Parliamentarian, Norway), Martin Christensen (LBL member,
Denmark), Hohn Fisher (ARC, Switzerland), Karen Busby (Lawyer, Canada), Gert
Hekma (Sociologist, Holland), Inge-Lise Paulsen (LBL; Denmark), Aleksandar
Andreev (EGAL, Macedonia) have participated the first Meeting in 2006, from
abroad. The same year Melek Goregenli (Social Psychologist), Aykut Atasay
(Director), Gulsum Depeli (Academician), Guzin Yamaner (Academician), Sahika
Yuksel (Psychiatrist), Nesrin Yetkin (Psychiatrist), Mahmut Sefik Nil
(Psychologist), Murat Comert (Academician), Erinc Seymen (Artist), Kursad
Kahramanoglu (Former ILGA Secretary General), Taner Ceylan (Artist),
Murathan Mungan (Poet - Author) have participated from Turkey.

For 2007 Meeting, Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat (Academician, USA), Börje Vestlund
(Parliamentarian, Sweden), Anette Trettebergstuen (Parliamentarian, Norway),
Kursad Kahramanoglu, Selin Berghan (Sociologist), Buse Kilickaya (Pembe
Hayat "Pink Living" LGBTT Association), Julia Ehrt & Dan Ghattas
(TransGender Network, Germany), Ugur Alper (homoloji.com), Beate Katharina
Seiferth (L-Mag Magazine, Germany), Asbjorn Jorgensen (Gaysir.no, Norway),
Marit Östberg (Kom ut Magazine, Sweden), Ayse Erbil (Radio LoRa,
Switzerland), Murat Cinar (Director, Italy), Oktay Ince (Karahaber Video),
Aykan Safoglu (Director), Batur Ozdinc (A-İnfos), Irem Aksu (Global Action
Group), Ayca Orer (Bianet), Ali Riza Taskale (Hacettepe Uni. Communication
Faculty), Cihan Ertan (Akdeniz Uni. Department for Sociology), Anne Ross
Solberg (Researcher, Norway), Berfin Emre (Hacettepe Uni. Communication
Faculty), Goze Orhon (Hacettepe Uni. Communication Faculty), Kerem
Altiparmak (Ankara University Human Rights Center), Hervé Caldo (France),
Anna-Maria Sörber (Journalist, Sweden), Jan Swierszcz (KPH, Poland),
Vladimir Velkovic & Jakov Causevic (SPY-Safe Pulse of Youth, Serbia), Mine
Gencel Bek (Ankara Uni. Communication Faculty), Hulya Ugur Tanriover
(Galatasaray Uni. Communications Faculty), Fatih Ozguven (Author), Barbaros
Sansal (Fashion Designer), Aslı Dogan & Inci Birincioglu (Ege University),
Lambdaistanbul, Pembe Hayat "Pink Life", GTURK, Beargi, Gaci Istanbul,
Lubunya, Gaci/Kadin Kapisi "Woman Door", Antalya Rainbow, MorEl Eskisehir,
Kaosist, Kaos GL Izmir and Kaos GL representatives have participated.

What is the main theme of this year?

"Human Rights and Discrimination" has been defined as the main theme for the
Meeting this year, which will be held on May 12 - 19, 2008 in Ankara.

Some topics of 2008 Meeting are: "Discussion with Dutch Author Anja
Meulenbelt", "Feminist Forum", "Public Sexuality and Woman's Human Rights",
"International Mechanisms and Human Rights Process in Turkey", "Nationalism,
Hate Epidemic and Homophobia", "Human Rights Concept and Public Sexuality",
"Violence and Discrimination Against LGBT Individuals", "Demands of
Homosexuals in Civil Code", "Human Rights in EU Process", "Lesbian and
Bisexual Women Forum", "Forum Against Transphobia".

How will the meetings organized?

During the Meeting, each session / forum will take 1,5 hour except special
formatted activities. Meetings begin and end at the announced hours.
Following the presentations, a discussion will take place that everyone in
the hall may attend. In some sessions / forums, a moderator may also attend
besides the lecturers.

What were the forums and activities of the previous Meetings?

Film shows, exhibition, party, art - literature discussions and workshops
have taken place, as well as forums like "Media - Communications Forum",
"Homophobia at Mental Health Studies and Applications", "Queer Forum",
"International Experiences of Struggle Against Homophobia", "Lesbian and
Bisexual Women Forum", "Local Gay - Lesbian Forum", "Forum Against
Transphobia", "Feminist Forum", "Video Against Homophobia", "LGBT Media
Forum", "Campus Forums Against Homophobia", "Body in Homophobia Trap:
Masculinity - Feminity".

What are the Campus Meetings?

Campus activities in Middle East Technical University Campus, Ankara
University Cebeci Campus, Hacettepe University Beytepe Campus, in the
content of Meeting Against Homophobia with the name of "Campus Forum Against
Homophobia"

Which countries will participate?

Lawyers, politicians, academicians, journalists and LGBT activists from
Norway, Holland, England, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada, Macedonia, USA,
Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Poland and Serbia have attended the Meetings
in 2006 and 2007.

We are expecting participants from Greece, Sweden, Norway, Germany, USA,
Holland, Belgium and England for 2008 Meeting.

Is there any fee for the participation?

The participation is free of charge. You can attend to, listen to, watch and
take part at all discussions, conferences, film shows and forums.

Some parties and workshops may require a fee and these activities are
announced in advance.

What is the Marching Against Homophobia?

It is beside the hall and campus activities at the week of the International
Anti-Homophobia Meeting, which will be held for the first time this year.
The Marching will take place at the week of May 17 every year in the content
of the Meeting.

Where can I accommodate?

If you will come from other cities or countries, Kaos GL volunteers can host
you during the Meeting. If you request to stay at a hotel, we can refer you
to a co-organization in order to assist you.

How do you finance the Meeting?

Some of the activities are organized with the cooperation of Kaos GL
volunteers and some NGOs. We try to arrange supports of some associations
for an important part of the expenses. We are still in search of financial
support for 2008 Meeting.

What are dates of 2008 Meeting Against Homophobia?

This year, the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting is organized on May 12
- 19.

12 May Monday, Press Meeting

13 May Tuesday, Hacettepe University Beytepe Campus

14 May Wednesday, Ankara University Cebeci Campus

15 May Thursday, Middle East Technical University (METU) Campus

16 - 19 May Friday - Monday, Ekin Art Center

May I have a duty for the organization?

Definitely! We are expecting your participation for every stage of the
organization and realization of the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting.

You can share your opinions and / or directly take responsibility and
support.

We are expecting your suggestions:

Share your suggestions, opinions and support with us for every stage of the
Meeting.

Organization, topics, lecturers, accommodation / hosting, transportation,
sponsorship, food - breakfast, party, translation, location, participation
from abroad / Middle East, Balkans etc., web.

How can I follow the Meeting program?

You can follow the Meeting program on our web site ( <http://www.kaosgl.org>
www.kaosgl.org). Soon the independent web site of the meeting (
<http://www.antihomofobi.org> www.antihomofobi.org) will be online.

Whom can I contact for the Meeting?

Coordination of International Anti-Homophobia Meeting: Burcu Ersoy & Ali
Erol

Kaos GL - Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Association

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Avenue, 29/12, 6th Floor, Demirtepe/Kizilay - Ankara,
Turkey

Phone: +90 312 230 0358

Fax: +90 0312 230 6277

 <mailto:kao...@kaosgl.org> kao...@kaosgl.org

 <mailto:oyabu...@kaosgl.org> oyabu...@kaosgl.org

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