ST. PETERSBURG TO HOST RUSSIA's BIGGEST QUEER CULTURAL EVENT

ILGCN World Rainbow Cultural Conference Stage Included

ST. PETERSBURG TO HOST RUSSIA's
BIGGEST QUEER CULTURAL EVENT

St. Petersburg -- The International Festival of Queer Culture 2009 -- September 17-27, 2009 -- will take place in this Russian city as the largest-scale event of this type in this country so far. Several public organisations and initiative groups of St. Petersburg, both LBGT and non-LBGT, have joined forces to create this 10-day multi-event festival which is supported by partners varying from the Swedish and Dutch consulates to the St. Petersburg guidebooks.



The program includes theatrical performances, photo and art exhibitions, poetry slams, seminars, workshops, discussions, and music. Rockfest, the closing festival event, presents several emerging as well as well-established bands from St. Petersburg and is head-lined by the American group, Betty.

The events also include the 3rd stage of this year´s ILGCN (International Lesbian & Gay Cultural Network) World Rainbow Cultural Conference (earlier stages in Bucharest and Budapest) on September 21 -- with a special focus on Nordic rainbow cultural co-operation with collegues in Eastern Europe. It will also include the ILGCN's and Tupilak's (Nordic rain bow cultural workers) travelling art and photo exhibition with works from 25 nations.

"Queer" is the chosen concept for the festival aiming to celebrate university and diversity and as a rebellion against stigmas and labels. The term "queer" aims to go beyond the LGBT-sphere and to include everyone, expanding the rigid frameworks surrounding social stereotypes and stereotypes of identity, sex and gender. The message the festival hopes to bring forward is that all are different but all are united by one language - the language of art, and by common values - values of love, tolerance and mutual respect. The ambition of the festival is also to unite different people around constructive creativity and positive emotions.

More information and questions: http://www.queerfest.ru/en/index.shtml queer.fest2009@gmail.com

Information concerning the ILGCN conference and activities: www.ilgcn.tupilak.org

ISRAELI GAY ACTIVIST NAMED ILGCN "RAINBOW WARRIOR" 2009

PRESS RELEASE AUGUST 13, 2009



Stockholm -- Gay Israeli activist and pacifist, Ezra Nawi, has been awarded thee 2009 "Rainbow Warrior" by the ILGCN (International Lesbian & Gay Cultural Network) for his outstanding and courageous efforts to stop the destruction of Palestinian homes and the ousting of Palestian farmers from their land in occupied territory.



"The 57-year-old plumber by trade is an excellent example of the resistance to injustice and homophobia in a turbulent Middle East," says Bill Schiller, secretary general of the ILGCN Information Secretariat in Stockholm. "Ezra Nawi illustrates how bright the rainbow colors shine when stretched over geographic, ethnic, religious, gender and age barriers. He should be honored both by Israelis and Palestinians alike -- instead of facing court room judges and threats of prison sentences."

Although this international award diploma does not include any monetary sum, it is awarded with golden appreciation for important work well done -- promoting the identity, culture and visibility of the LGBT community and its roll in the global human rights battle for everyone. The diploma is to be presented in person as soon as possible in the Swedish capital or other appropriate place when a time and site can be chosen.

Earlier "Rainbow Warrior" awards have gone to courageous Polish gay and heterosexual activists defying homophobic media, politicians, religious leaders and neo nazi violence.

More information: www.ilgcn.tupilak.org

3rd stage of the 2009 ILGCN (International World Rainbow Culture Conference) * St. Petersburg.

3rd stage of the 2009 ILGCN (International World Rainbow Culture Conference) * St. Petersburg. September 21, 2009

(**part of the INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF QUEER CULTURE SEPTEMBER 19-27, 2009 -- St. Petersburg, Russia http://queerfest.ru/en )



Multi-cultural presentation:

*NORDIC RAINBOW CULTURAL CO-OPERATION WITH EASTERN EUROPE * using art, music, song, film, dance, poetry, drama and journalism as powerful international weapons against homophobia, intolerance and silence*

-- Anne Jaaskelainen * singer/songwriter and chair woman of the annual Tribade Day & Night Festival * Helsinki, Finland

-- Bill Schiller * Swedish Radio journalist, chairman of Tupilak
(Nordic rainbow culture workers) and secretary general of the ILGCN Information Secretariat - Stockholm

Photo Exhibit: "Nordic Delegation to Bucharest Pride" -- by Jussi Jaaskelainen, Finland

Also: samples from the Tupilak & ILGCN Travelling Art & Photo Exhibition * works from Iceland to Lithuania, Russia to Denmark, Portugal to Norway.


***** (1st stage of the ILGCN 2009 conference: Bucharest - May 21 2nd stage Budapest -- September 3-4).