Side 1-52 PDF - Out & About

OUT & ABOUT IN ENGLISH
Optimistic about 2010
PETER FALK comes from Sweden, but has lived in Copenhagen for 10 years. He is on
the board of LGBT Denmark, and one of the co-founders of Pangea.
watching a good documentary live! How could I imagine
the details you need to take care of as a cross-dresser? For
example, remember to take off your bra an hour before
soccer practice so there are no marks. To be offered a look
into someone’s personal life is such a gift. While we have
been enlightened, we have also encouraged people to
become active in the group, and we have made an effort
to acknowledge everyone’s contribution and to make the
network a safe place for people to be in.”
Peter Falk is one of the activists in Pangea
Copenhagen International LGBTIQ Network.
THE EXPAT COMMUNITY
By Miguel Obradors
The Danish National LGBT Association changed its name
in November, and in Danish it is now called LGBT Danmark,
and no longer LBL.
Peter Falk is a newly elected member of the board of
LGBT Denmark. He is also co-founder of the Pangea Copenhagen
International LGBTIQ Network. In this interview,
Peter shares with us his experiences and views about
the expat LGBTIQ Community in Denmark.
– Peter, what motivated a Scandinavian guy like you to create
an International Network for LGBTIQ persons in Copenhagen?
“When I became one of the creators of Pangea, I had lived
quite a long time in Denmark and had a solid network
of foreign and Danish friends. But I could still remember
how it was to start a new life in Copenhagen and begin to
make contacts in the LGBTIQ world. I also thought that my
network wasn’t broad and open enough, so I have really
appreciated all the transgender, bisexual, intersex, gay and
lesbian people that I have met through Pangea.”
– How has Pangea succeeded in including so many people
with different cultures, backgrounds, sexualities and gender
identities in one common project?
“We knew from the start in Pangea that we wouldn’t be satisfied
with a narrow-minded network. We arranged workshops
and talks by very different people that we liked, and
those events became a hit for everybody. Wow, it’s like
– As a foreigner on the board of LGBT Denmark, which main
challenges do you face in making LGBT Denmark more open
to the expat community?
“All our materials will, piece by piece, be translated into
English. Many expats that are not good at Danish are really
great English speakers, so it makes sense to focus on English.
LGBT Denmark has already seen the potential in all the
expats here, who now give advice and information on the
situation in Africa, for example. All the social groups within
our organisation and the LGBTIQ environment also need
to know what a great job LGBT Denmark is doing for them.
We have finally gotten the police to understand the seriousness
of hate crimes, and we changed the adoption law,
woke up the political establishment regarding bad asylum
evaluation for LGBT persons, and exposed the outdated
treatment of persons that want to have a sex reassignment.
Human Rights are inherent to each human being regardless
of sexual orientation and gender identity. We also know
that many LGBTIQ people are lonely. I am really looking
forward to all the progressive work LGBT Denmark is going
to do in the social, counselling and political spheres.”
– What differences do you see between the situation of LGB-
TIQ people in Denmark and Sweden?
“Denmark and Sweden have generally faced the same challenges,
but they have chosen different solutions. Look at
the Danish and Swedish flag, for example; yes the colours
are different of course, but why is the knob on the top different
too? The lesbian nightlife seems to be more vibrant
here, and Swedish women have long gone to Denmark for
insemination. But the coverage of us in the daily press is
still half-naked boys covered in glitter; the Swedish media
is more nuanced.”
– Any further comments?
“Denmark needs foreigners and Denmark needs LGBTIQ
persons, so I’m glad that I can contribute with both, and I
optimistically look forward to the new challenges and opportunities
2010 is putting on the table for us.”
48 Out&about · Januar 2010