IDAHOT Events 2015: Sweden

In Sweden, ILGCN/Tupilak hosted an international poetry & music evening on May 17 as a salute to IDAHOT and to all colleagues joining in all over the world, while Lesbians Who Tech were organising a social event the next day.

[box type=”note” ]We are still busy collecting information on this year’s IDAHOT activities and are waiting to hear back from activists and event organisers. If you have information to share with us, please write us at contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org[/box]
ILGCN/Tupilak have been joining forces with Sweden’s Viking Bears – the Swedish branch of the international bear movement in combating the stereotypes of what gays should be.​
The event took place at a LGBT-friendly pub on the Old Town island, the Secret Garden
The program included:

• Caroline Williams and friends —  sång och musik
• Peter “Sexodus” Fröberg — sång och musik  
• Louise Bergetoft — LGBT Amnesty, Sweden
• Tomas  (Herr Doktor Laureatus)  Åberg — poesi  
• Padma — poesi 
• Björn Gata: poems of Steven Henry Golding (USA) and words on his American LGBT library work
•  “The Grey Ghosts of Tefía” — Franco’s forgotten gay concentraion camp on the Canary Islands — a monologue of Bill Schiller
• Film: “Blood” by Alexi Carpentieri, words by Malga Kubiak
• Konst:  “Våre Stemmer HIV: 30 år i Norge ” — senast verk av Fin Serck-Hanssen, Norway

ILGCN, the International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network, was created at the ILGA world conference in Paris in 1992 to promote international rainbow culture and exchange across borders.
Tupilak, the Queer Cultural Workers in the nordic area, started in 1989 to join together lesbian, gay, trans, bi and queer cultural workers from different professions: writers, film makers, musicians, poets, journalists, actors, designers, singers, translators, sculptors, publishers, dancers, artists, photographers, etc.

In Lund members of Lund University have organised a day of workshops and discussions for students and members of the public. The talks and workshops addressed a wide range of subjects related to LGBT issues and will be given in English, French and Swedish. Organisers of the day-long event hope that the talks and workshops offered practical training opportunities for members of the community, whilst also allowing individuals to engage on a wide number of under-addressed areas.

Program (Eng)

• 00 Flag-hoisting ceremony
  Watch the rainbow flags go up on the main university building (white house)
• 08:30-09:15 Lecture/Talk: LGBTQ 101 (Swe)
  Learn the LGBTQ basics. A lecture targeted at everyone who wants to know more about the rainbow-colored letters LGBTQ. And, by the way, why are they rainbow-colored? Please not, the lecture is held in Swedish
• 08.30-10.00 (Swe) | 10.30-12.00 (Swe)
  Workshop Anti Oppressive Pedagogics – A talkative Exercise
  In the exercise, we try to talk ourselves into understandings of what it could be like to be someone else than the ones we usually are. Sign-up required.
• 09:15 Coffee
• 09:30-10:30 Cy Jung, French author and activist (Eng, Fr)
• 12:00-13:00 Lunch break
• 13.00-14.30 (Eng) | 15:00-16:30 (Swe)
  Workshop Anti Oppressive Pedagogics – A talkative Exercise
  In the exercise, we try to talk ourselves into understandings of what it could be like to be someone else than the ones we usually are. Sign-up required.
• 14:30 Coffee
• 15:00-16:00 Freedom or Heterosexual Marriage – Bachelorette, Old Maid or Wife? (Swe)
  Emma Severinsson, Öresund network for gender historians. In the 1920s the job market opened up for women on a larger scale, which meant they got a better opportunity to support themselves. This contributed to their ability to decide whether to live an independent life outside a heterosexual relationship. Based on Swedish weekly press/tabloid materials and a queer perspective, the notions of these antisocial women who flourished in contemporary life are examined. Please not, the lecture is held in Swedish
• 16:30- LGBTQ-LU IDAHOT AW
  After work at Ebbas Skafferi in Lund.

To see the programme on their website click here.

In Halmstad local NGO the Swedish Authority For Sexual Education held a free special film-screening of the award-winning British film ‘Pride’. The event was completely free and was open to all members of the public. For more information on the screening please click here.

Also on May 17th in Gothenburg, ‘Pride’ was screened for a second time, this time as part of a special film event held by the Gotenburg Feminist Group. The event included a film screening by Swedish feminist art/activists Glitterlicken, as well as a number of other smaller events. For more information on the event visit the official Facebook event page.

May Happy Hour – A Celebration of IDAHOT

On the 18th of May, Lesbians Who Tech and the Professional LGBT Alliance of Sweden welcomed everyone to Mälarpaviljongen for May Happy Hour. In addition to meeting new friends, there were discussions around the significance of IDAHOT, toasts to progress, and reminders why the work we all do everyday is more important than ever! The event started at 6pm at Norr Mälarstrand 64, Stockholm.

The event began with short talks by some external guests, as well as toasts to IDAHOT, also brief introduction of the groups which have organized the event. Later on there was also a socialising event. Some snacks will be served. 

Lesbians Who Tech is global community of over 9,000 queer women in and around tech. Find out more about the event here.

Movie and Discussion for LGBTQ Youth

In Stockholm,  Sweden LGBTQ youth Federation RFSL Ungdom showed the movie ‘Pride’, followed by a discussion on intersectionality. The event was specifically targeted at younger people!

Find out more about the event on the Facebook page.