EL*C, the European and Central Asian Lesbian Conference, will bring hundreds of lesbian activists together in Kyiv, Ukraine for four days of sessions on politics, visibility, health, art and family life from tomorrow to April 14.

EL*C is the biggest network of lesbian activists in Europe and Central Asia, with a board of 25 members including lesbian leaders from across the area. Its first conference took place in October 2017, in Vienna. Five hundred lesbian politicians, artists, journalists and academics gathered from all over Europe and Central Asia for the historical event.

“This first conference made it clear that there was a huge need for all European and Central Asian countries to pay more attention to the situation of lesbians,” says Silvia Casalino, Chair of EL*C. “And we heard the message from thousands of lesbians in Europe and Central Asia: they wanted a network and another conference to happen.”

For this second conference, the network has chosen Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, as the location for a four day gathering one month before the European elections. “Our message to the world is clear,” says EL*C in a statement on the conference. “Lesbians act everywhere where peace in endangered and when ultra-right movements hostile to women, lesbians and all minorities threaten to take power.”

The well-being of lesbians in many European and Central Asian countries is under threat due to a lack of protection from political and institutional bodies. “Lesbians have become targets of the so-called ‘anti-gender movements’ throughout the region,” says EL*C, “and the rise of lesbophobia is evident in numerous political debates, such as the discussion on the legalisation of medically assisted procreation for lesbians.”

Indeed, the legal position of lesbian-headed families remains problematic here in Ireland as well as abroad.

Kyiv has been chosen as an ideal location for an international dialogue in today’s political climate. Over the past few months, the results of many European countries’ elections have brought to power individuals and movements that EL*C describes as deeply dangerous for LGBT persons and women.

“Ukraine,” explains Olena Shevchenko, Ukrainian member of the EL*C board and CEO of Insight, “is the best place to hold a conference in terms of geopolitical situation – it will give us a possibility to bring together West and East and to have a dialogue.”

The conference will be opened by Monica Benicio, coming especially for the occasion from Brazil. She is the partner of the activist Marielle Franco who was murdered in the streets of Rio in March 2018, and is a major actor in the fight against President Jair Bolsonaro.

An exclusive survey on the situation of lesbians in Europe and Central Asia will reveal statistics covering areas such as health, discrimination, decision-making and political participation, visibility and family.

The full programme, including dozens of sessions with high profile discussions and speakers on politics, safety, lesbian lives, media coverage of lesbian issues, resources, art and sexuality, is available from the EL*C website.

The conference will also include a public action intended to increase visibility and vocalise the lesbian agenda, bringing lesbian activists and allies together with a united voice. Organisers ask that those interested contact them directly for further details, as they are choosing not to publicise full information in case of provocation and counter-demonstrations.