Social Work with People Practicing Same-Sex ... - ILGA Europe

1 http://www.feminist.org.ua/
conference/trainings/2003/
pride2003.php
2 See details on http://www.
feminist.org.ua/about/projekt/
probeg2003/probeg2003.php
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as additional factor to influence targets of advocacy. Forms of mass public events
are different and include rallies, pickets, processions, flash mobs, demonstrations,
volunteer clean-ups, etc. Traditional for Ukraine are mass public events, organized by
LGBT community to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, held annually
on May 17, beginning from 2005.
Here we should consider several nuances. First, all forms of mass public events are
considered appropriate and acceptable with the exception of gay prides. Gay pride
(or gay parade) is the factor of significant annoyance for authorities, churches and
substantial part of the society. In fact, any mass public event may resemble gay pride,
but it should never be called this way. Second, it is necessary to inform local authorities
about organization of mass public events — it is the law. Unauthorized mass public
events may lead to negative consequences for both organizers and participants. Third,
in carrying out mass public events, it is necessary to consider and to settle the issues
of safety of participants.
One of examples of mass public events, held with participation of LGBT community and
leaders of LGBT movement, was the “Race for Life” 2003, organized under the aegis
of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). NGO “Women's Network” initiated
participation of representatives of LGBT community in this event in order to demonstrate
open support to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, and to raw public
attention towards HIV epidemic among LGBT. Several Ukrainian LGBT organizations,
including Regional Information and Human Rights Centre for Gay and Lesbian People
“Our World”, Kyiv NGOs “Gay Alliance” and “Your Life”, as well as individual LGBT
activists from different regions of Ukraine supported “Women's Network” initiative and
participated in preliminary training “Parades of pride as a method of political action
of LGBT community: history, theory and practice” 1 , and in the Race for Life — 2003.
Using the event's information fair, they disseminated materials, dedicated to LGBT
community of Ukraine. In the process of preparation and participation in the race,
participants encountered significant opposition of authorities, radical political groups
and homophobic parts of the Ukrainian society 2 .
7. Cultural events.
Special cultural events may become a ”side effect” of advocacy. Their mission is to
promote the development of appropriate attitudes towards the issue — including
among decision-makers.
One of examples is TV programme ”sunny Bunny” — a special programme on gay
and lesbian issues, demonstrated during the XXXVIII Kyiv International Film Festival
“Molodist” (October 18–26, 2008). Chairman of the jury for ”sunny Bunny” was Anatoliy
Yerema, undisguised gay and general producer of “1+1 International” TV channel.
Another example of the cultural event with advocacy implications was the photography
exhibition “Different View”, organized by NGO “Insight” on September 19 — October 3,
2008 in Kyiv art gallery “HudGraf”. Visitors could review art photographs, dedicated to
the life of transgender people; the presence of people involved in decision-making in
transgender issues contributed to the development of more adequate attitudes towards
the problem.
8. Publication of documents, related to the advocacy issue.
Printed words, especially those written in academic or good journalistic style, are
strong advocacy arguments. Types of documents that can be presented to the public
may include reports, studies, recommendations, resolutions, etc. All these documents
have several important characteristics: consistency of narration, argumentation and
often — reliable statistical data. One of better examples is the practice of “Our World”
Centre, which develops and publishes reports on the status of gay men and lesbians in
Ukraine since 2000. Another example is the work of Information and Education Centre
“Women's Network”, which has been organizing regular press-conferences on LGBT
issues since 2007.