On the Brink of Acceptance Conference
DATE
October 1st, 2021
TIME
9:30h EEST
PARTNERS
GLAS Foundation, Youth LGBT organization "Deystvie", NOEMA
In the “On The Brink Of Acceptance” international conference we are closing a two-year national endeavour of setting priorities and paving the way to equality for the LGBTI community in Bulgaria!
The conference will inform about the results of the initiative and together with key national and international stakeholders will explore practical solutions to the existing discrimination and stigmatization of LGBTI people in Bulgaria.
The first part of the conference will discuss the Bulgarian LGBTI Strategic framework and what are the priorities that the movement needs to focus on in the upcoming years, and the second part of the conference will dive deeper into one of the set priorities – ensuring the rights of same-sex families in Bulgaria.
Don’t forget to register for the event.
9:30-9:45 Welcome and official opening
Lilly Dragoeva, Executive Director, Bilitis Foundation
Opening Address
Victor Madrigal-Borloz, UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on SOGI (video message)
9:45-11:00 Panel discussion 1 – A Way Forward: Bulgarian LGBTI Strategic Framework
The aim of the panel discussion will be to present and discuss the priorities of the Bulgarian LGBTI Strategic Framework.
- Lilly Dragoeva, Executive Director, Bilitis Foundation
- Simeon Vasilev, Chairperson, GLAS Foundation
- Veneta Limberova, Chairperson, Youth LGBT Organization Deystvie
- Slavyanka Ivanova, freelance researcher
Moderator: Vladislav Petkov, activist and anthropologist
11:00-11:15 Stand-and-stretch break
11:15-13:00 Panel discussion 2 – Bulgarian LGBTI community voices
The aim of the panel discussion will be to discuss practical ways and examples of working for achieving LGBTI equality in Bulgaria.
- Bozhidar Klouchek, local activist from Varna
- Yordan Tomanov, local activist from Burgas
- 3 local LGBTI activists from across Bulgaria (TBC)
Moderator: Gloriya Filipova, community engagement expert, Bilitis Foundation
13:00-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:30 Panel discussion 3 – Family for all: European perspectives
The aim of the panel discussion will be to discuss the rights of rainbow families across Europe also in the light of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025, and where Bulgaria stands.
- Terry Reintke, MEP, Germany – Greens/EFA, Co-President of European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup
- Petar Vitanov, MEP, Bulgaria – S&D, Member of European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup
- Katrin Hugendubel, Advocacy Director, ILGA-Europe
Moderator: Martin Karadzhov, Chair of the Youth Steering Committee, ILGA World
15:30-15:45 Stand-and-stretch break
15:45-17:15 Panel discussion 4 – Civil partnerships for all: next steps for Bulgaria
The aim of the panel discussion will be to discuss the possibility to introduce civil partnerships in the Bulgarian legal system to ensure equal access to both heterosexual and homosexual couples.
- Borislav Sandov, 46th National Assembly MP, parliamentary group “Democratic Bulgaria”
- Nikolay Hadjigenov, 46th National Assembly MP, parliamentary group “Rise up BG! We are coming!”
- Radoslav Stoyanov, LGBTI activist and legal expert, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Moderator: Maria Cheresheva, journalist, AEJ-Bulgaria
17:15-17:30 Thank you
Lilly Dragoeva, Executive Director, Bilitis Foundation
This conference is part of the BrinkItOn project, funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014- 2020). The content of this conference represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains