The arrival of June usually means rainbow flags and colors, the LGBTI community flooding the streets protesting homophobia and transphobia, showing the world that LGBTI people will not stay silent or invisible. June 2020 came with social distancing, empty streets and lockdown. For the LGBTI community in eastern and southern Europe it has also meant a spike in domestic violence, hateful rhetoric and the introduction of draconian laws and policies. How has the LGBT community responded, and what is this June like for them?
We have invited activists from Poland, Hungary, Albania and Turkey to share their stories of activism during the pandemic.
· Xheni Karaj from Aleanca LGBT in Albania
· Melike Balkan from METU LGBTI+ Solidarity in Turkey
· Krisztina Kolos Orbán from Transvanilla in Hungary
· Julia Maciocha, Equality March Warsaw in Poland
The conversation will be moderated by Mina Skouen from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and is part of the Solidarity program of Oslo Pride 2020, which has been an annual event organized by Oslo Pride, The Norwegian Helsinki Committee, FRI – Foreningen for kjønns- og seksualitetsmangfold and Amnesty International Norway since 2014.
The event will be organized through Zoom, and a link to the event will be posted in advance by the organizers.