You can check the agenda for 2019 below
| Thursday, May 16 | |||
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| National Conference (only for participants from Colombia) | Meeting at the Parliament of the Republic of Colombia and meetings with other authorities of the country (by invitation only) |
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| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Registration | Meetings | |
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Opening | ||
| 9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Group work | ||
| 12:00 pm – 1:00pm | Plenary: presentation of group ideas | ||
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch and presentation about advocacy successes of the LGBTI movement in Colombia | ||
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Sorting group contributions | ||
| 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Coffee break | ||
| 3:30 pm . 5:30 pm | Building a national advocacy work plan with a regional perspective | ||
| 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm | Reading and approving manifesto | ||
| 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Inaugural reception offered by the Nordic States | ||
| Friday, May 17 | |||
| 8:00am – 8:30am | Registration | ||
| 8:30am – 11:00am | Democracy demands equality See more |
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| 11:00am – 11:30am | Coffee break | ||
| 11:30am – 1:00pm | Meeting the needs of refugees and migrants in the region See more | Working with allied politicians in Central America See more | Workshop – Dissecting “gender ideology” discourse |
| 1:00pm – 2:00pm | Lunch | ||
| 2:00pm – 3:30pm | Right to live a full life: economic and social rights for trans communities See more |
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| 3:30pm – 4:00pm | Coffee break | ||
| 4:00pm – 5:30pm | Corporate as allies in the fight for equality See more | LGBTI indigenous people in politics See more | Workshop: Working with allied elected officials |
| 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Rainbow over the storm: taking back Brazil’s democracy See more |
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| 7:00 pm – 9:00pm | Reception for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia | Film Screening courtesy of the Swedish Embassy and Short Film “La Niña Jose” | |
| Saturday, May 18 | |||
| 9:30am – 11:00am | LBTQ women in Parliament: leading the change in the Americas See more |
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| 11:00am – 12:30am | LGBTI-friendly cities See more | Queer, black, and proud: making institutions listen See more | Rigth to health and its inclusion on the agenda of the LGBTI organizations See more |
| 12:30am – 1:30pm | Lunch. | ||
| 1:30pm – 3:00pm | Working with allied politicians in the Caribbean See more |
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| 3:00pm – 4:30pm | The democratic crisis in Nicaragua See more | The democratic crisis in Venezuela See more | TBD |
| 4:30pm – 5:00pm | Coffee break | ||
| 5:00pm – 6:30pm | Countering the wave of religious conservatism in the Americas See more |
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| 7:00pm | Closing party & dance exhibition from Barranquilla’s carnival (Courtesy of Procolombia) | ||
Democracy Demands Equality
Equality is the essence of democracy. When countries stop working towards attaining this goal the fabric of society begins to fall apart, confidence in institutions plummet and authoritarian movements grow. This plenary session hopes to address the notions and foundations of democracy and equality and the importance of the intersection between them.
Modera:
John Petter Opdhal, Norwegian Ambassador
Participants
Wilson Castañeda
Director, Caribe Afirmativo, Colombia
Gabriela Adrianzen
CLACAI Executive Secretary Consultant, PROMSEX, Peru
Alex Sorto
Director, Somos, Honduras
Rossana Marzan
Director, Diversidad Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Mayor Parker
President, LGBTQ Victory Institute, United States of America
Diana Rodriguez
Defensoria del Pueblo, Colombia
Antonio Hernández Llamas
Director, IDPAC, Colombia
Juan Carlos Soler
Viceministro para la Participación e Igualdad de Derechos, Colombia
Sandra Mora
DDHH Director of the Police, Colombia
Juan Carlos Solera
Vice Minister for Participation and Equality of Rights, Ministerio del Interior, Colombia
Right to live a full life: economic and social rights for trans communities
The trans community has fought for decades for the acknowledgement of their rights and are not satisfied with the simple acceptance of their existence. Uruguay has taken the lead in advancing trans rights in the Americas with legislation that assures access to basic rights such as health, education, employment and housing. This session will look at the strategy to secure these advances and the steps that other countries are taking in that direction.
Moderate:
Dominique St-Vil,, OTRHA, Haiti
Panelists
Said López
National Coordinator, SOMOSTRANS, Honduras
Yren Rotela
Activist and Human Rights Defender, Paraguay
Brianna Titone
State Representative, Colorado General Assembly, United States of America
Fedrico Graña Viñoly
National Director of Sociocultural Promotion, Ministry of Social Development of Uruguay, Uruguay
Rainbow over the storm: taking back Brazil’s democracy
The election of Jair Bolsonaro to the Presidency of Brazil is the result of an extremely successful political participation strategy by the intolerant religious movements. Through an attempt to find a common enemy and construct a sexist, racist, and homophobic discourse, the President has been able to distract the country away from the real problems facing Brazil, such as growing inequality, economic crisis, and political corruption. Opposing this intolerance wave, a new generation of women, Afro-descendants, and LGBTI people has risen deciding to take back democracy and its institutions. Join the newly LGBTI elected officials from Brazil while the discuss strategies to counter Bolsonaro’s hate politics.
Modera:
Javier Ciurliza, Ford Fundation
Panelists
Katia Cunha
Pernambuco State Legislator, Pernambuco Legislative Assembly, Brazil
Fabiano Contarato
Senator, Senate, Brazil
Fabio Felix Silveira
State Deputy, Brazil
LBTQ women in Parliament: leading the change in the Americas
Political participation of women across the Americas is growing. In these moments, we have a record number of LBTQ women in parliament from countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. These representatives from various backgrounds and countries across the continent will address their role in democracies and the opportunity they have to work to reach equality.
Modera:
Rosanna Marzán, Executive Director, Diversidad Dominicana, Dominican Republic
Panelists
Estefanía Cortes-Vargas
Congresswoman, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada
Erika Hilton
State Legislator, Legislative Assembly of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Diane Rodríguez
National Assembly Member, National Assembly, Ecuador
Renitta Shannon
Representative to the House, House of Representatives of Georgia, United States
Working with allied politicians in the Caribbean
Countries in the Caribbean are taking steps towards the equality of LGBTI persons. However, high stigma and absence of elected LGBTI officials forces the LGBTI movement to create alliances and trusting relationships with allies within governments and parliaments. This panel will convene elected officials who are allies who will lend their perspective about the ways and possibilities to advance equality in the Caribbean and how the LGBTI movement can help their work.
Modera:
Mónica Bothner, Project Officer, FRI, Norway
Panelists
Roosvelt Augustin
Serovie, Haiti
Aziza Lake
Senator, Senate of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
Gloria Reyes
Congresswoman, House of Representatives, Dominican Republic
Valerie Woods
Senator, Senate of Belize, Belize
Countering the wave of religious conservatism in the Americas
Conservative religious movements have had a successful strategy of social mobilization and access to democratic institutions during the last decade in response to the advancement of rights for women and LGBTI persons. With a common set of goals, campaigns such as “Don’t Mess with My Kids” and “March for Life” have impacted policy and stalled advancements towards equality for women and LGBTI persons. This panel of experts and elected officials will discuss the short- and long-term strategies to counteract the political influence of these conservative movements.
Modera:
Elber Gutiérrez, Newspaper El Espectador
Panelists
José Manuel Morán
Researcher, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
Gabriela Adrianzen
CLACAI Executive Secretary Consultant, PROMSEX, Peru
Nicolas Panotto
Director, Multidisciplinary Studies Group on Religion and Public Advocacy, Chile
Corporate as allies in the fight for equality
Various international studies have confirmed that discrimination against LGBTI persons results in an economic loss for countries and companies. Driven by individual interests to increase innovation and productivity, and responding to the request of shareholders and staff, corporations increasingly have a more active role in favor of diversity and inclusion. Individuals from various corporations will discuss the public and private role of companies in favor of equality and potential areas of collaboration with civil society.
Modera:
Felipe Cárdenas, Cámara de Comercio LGBT de Colombia
Panelists
Mauricio Toro
Representante a la Cámara, Cámara de Representantes, Colombia
Lars Henriksen
President, Copenhagen Pride, Denmark
Soraya Serrano
Banco ProCredit Colombia, Colombia
Felipe Cárdenas
Cámara de Comerciantes LGBT de Colombia, Colombia
LGBTI indigenous people in politics
More and more indigenous LGBTI leaders across the continent are embracing their multiple identities with pride and working towards the recognition of the specific needs of their communities. Simultaneously, various First Nations have legally protected LGBTI persons within their communities. Indigenous and LGBTI leadership in various countries will discuss the challenges that indigenous communities face across the continent and the advances in acceptance of the LGBTI community among their own.
Modera:
Jenny Petrow, Interamerican Foundation
Panelists
Zumak Sacha Flores Andy
National Technical Director of Electoral Actions Abroad, National Electoral Council of Ecuador, Ecuador
Fernando Us
Activist and Human Rights Defender, Guatemala
Andrés Cancimance
Candidate for Governor of Putumayo, Colombia
LGBTI-friendly cities
Local governments and institutions have the closest impact on the daily lives of citizens. Using their legislative and executive capabilities, cities have pioneered the protection and inclusion of the LGBTI community. With the upcoming tenth anniversary of the implementation of LGBTI strategic initiatives in the city of Bogota, mayors from throughout the continent will share their experiences in creating welcoming cities for LGBTI persons.
Modera:
Guina Romero, Red Latinoaméricana de la Democracia
Panelists
Julie Lemieux
Major, City of Très-Saint-Rédempteur, Canada
Juan Carlos Prieto
Sexual Diversity Director, Mayor of Bogota, Colombia
Cristopher Cabaldon
Mayor, City of West Sacramento, United States of America
Rênya Medeiros
Mayor, City of Passira, Brazil
Julián Bedoya
Mayor, City of Toro, Colombia
Queer, black, and proud: making institutions listen
From Brazil, the United States, and Colombia, Afro-decedents across the Americas are reclaiming respect and social and economic equality in more concrete and meaningful ways. Many newly elected officials are of Afro-decent as well as openly LGBTI which increases the strength of the fight for greater equality among both communities. Elected officials of color who also identify as openly LGBTI from across the continent will discuss the struggles within both communities and the strength of political representation as a tool to achieve equality.
Modera:
Mónica Bothner, Project Officer, FRI, Norway
Panelists
Leslie Herod
State Representative, Colorado General Assembly, United States of America
Tatiana Rentería
Vocal, Parish Council of Borbon, Ecuador
Narciso Torres
Organization CNOA, Colombia
Health as a right and its inclusion in the agenda of LGBTI organizations
Promoting the inclusion of the Right to Health is a priority on the agenda of LGBTI organizations and sub-national governments. During the session the Right to Health and Universal Health Coverage in the LGBTI population will be addressed through successful experiences of organizations working with people living with HIV, gender identity and access to health services and paper of local governments in guaranteeing the right to health of the LGBTI population.
Modera:
Paul Bonilla, The Global Fund
Panelists
Alfredo Mejía
Plataforma Comunidad, Derechos, y Genero de América Latina y el Caribe, Colombia
Miguel Ángel Barriga
Red Somos, Colombia
Laura Weinstein
GAAT, Colombia
Dayana Hernandez
Candidate and Trans Leader, Costa Rica
Renae Green
Activist, Jamaica
Vivían Cuello
Researcher, Caribe Afirmativo, Colombia
Marcial Ortega
Directorate of Sexual Diversity, Colombia
The democratic crisis in Nicaragua
Fed up with the shortage and lack of freedom, a year ago Nicaraguan citizens took to the streets to protest the reforms that the government of Daniel Ortega was carrying out. A year later and after a brutal repression that has created a great migratory crisis in the neighboring countries, the situation has stagnated and there is no sign of a speedy recovery of democracy in the country. Student and civil society leaders will talk on the panel about strategies to recover democracy.
Modera:
Grunde Almeland, Parliamentarian of Norway
Panelists
Víctor Agustín Cuadras
Student Leader, Nicaragua
Ana Quirós
Feminist Activist and Human Rights Defender, Nicaragua/Costa Rica
Ludwika Vega Espinoza
President, Asociación Nicaragüense de Personas Transgénero, Nicaragua
The democratic crisis in Venezuela
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been mired in a political, economic, and social crisis since the beginning of 2013 that has led to a humanitarian crisis at the continental level. The legitimacy of the Venezuelan government is in question and the country has become the setting of a broader global geopolitical struggle. This panel will address the strategies for the recovery of democracy in the country and the conflicts place on the global stage as a greater dispute of power between several world powers.
Modera:
Francisco Herrero, Instituto Nacional Demócrata
Panelists
Tamara Adrián
Member fo the National Assembly, National Assembly of Venezuela, Venezuela
Quiteria Franco
Director, Unión Afirmativa, Venezuela
Luis Meneses
President, Fundación Venezolana de Apoyo a la Diversidad Sexual, Colombia
Meeting the needs of refugees and migrants in the region
The asylym request, forced displacement and migration for economic reasons are a constant reality in the America. While migration has become a smoke screen to not talk about economic inequality and corruption, migrants continue to suffer economic exclusion, abuse, poverty, and discrimination in their host countries. This panel of experts will address the principal needs of the migrant and refugee populations and the ways in which host countries can implement in a continental context which is growing more polarized due to a nationalistic discourse.
Modera:
Kenita Placide, OutRight
Panelists
Juan Archila
Director, Fundación Censurados, Colombia.
Gloria Careaga
Director, Fundación Arcoíris, México
Ricardo Lara
Insurance Commissioner, California Department of Insurance, United States of America
Carlos Romero
Director, Mesa de Diversidad Sexual, Guatemala
Working with allied politicians in Central America
Despite some advances in the field of public policies, LGBTI persons still do not enjoy legal equality in Central America. Therefore, alliances between political entities and the LGTBI movement that work both in the creation of policies and laws that guarantee the rights of LGBTI people, and in the implementation of existing policies are necessary. Allied political figures will talk about the usefulness of these alliances and the most favorable strategies to move towards equality.
Modera:
Diego Nardi, ACNUR
Panelists
Cinthia Bonilla
Genre and International Cooperation Technical Specialist, Presidency, Honduras
Iván Chanis
President, Fundación Iguales, Panamá
Josué Godoy
Congressman, Legislative Assembly of El Salvador