Three groups join Montreal for conference

“We are pleased to announce that three major organizations from the United States—the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (the Task Force), the Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation (GLAF), and the National Organization for Women (NOW) – have agreed to partner with Montréal 2006 in the organization of the ‘The Right to Be Different’ International Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights,” Ms. Louise Roy, CEO of Montréal 2006, announced today. Nearly 400 submissions for the call for proposals have been received as of 31 October, a number unprecedented for a conference of this kind. Organizers will also publish the preliminary program on 15 January.

“The Right to Be Different” International Conference on LGBT rights will be held in Montréal from 26 to 29 July 2006, just before the opening of the 1st World Outgames. Some 2,000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the conference.

About NOW
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since its founding in 1966, NOW's goal has been to take action to bring about equality for all women.

“We are pleased to become partners in the International Conference for the advancement of LGBT rights that Montréal 2006 will be organizing next July. Their goal is to bring together some 2,000 delegates for three days to examine the evolution of rights around the world,” said Ms. Olga Vives, Executive Vice President of NOW. “Our expertise and experience in the defence of women’s rights in the United States will offer the Conference a different perspective as well as suggestions for action plans for the future,” she added.

On behalf of NOW, Ms. Vives will also be on the program and bursary sub-committee of the International Scientific Committee, which is co-chaired by Ms. Joke Swiebel, former European Parliament deputy from the Netherlands, and Mr. Robert Wintemute, professor at the School of Law of King's College in London.

Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation
“The International Conference on LGBT rights has the official support of GLAF," Mr. Mac Chinsomboon, Executive Director of GLAF (The Gay & Lesbian Athletics Foundation), reiterated today. “In fact, we believe that the Conference is of such significance that GLAF has decided not to hold its own annual conference in 2006 in order to join forces with the many groups and associations that will be taking part in the Montréal Conference for the defense of LGBT rights around the world.”

Representatives of GLAF are actively preparing for the International Conference, which will be held in Montréal just before the opening of the 1st World Outgames next summer. GLAF representatives are focusing specifically on the parts of the conference program related to sport, the practice of sport, homophobia in sport and in supporting youth in affirming their identity.

New speakers announced
Organizers of “The Right to Be Different” International Conference are proud of the event’s success in the United States. Montréal 2006 is currently attending the 18th Annual Creating Change Conference in Oakland, California, organized by the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force. The Montréal 2006 Conference organizers are also pleased to announce that Ms. Kim Gandy, President of NOW, has just agreed to speak at the conference, as has New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson. They join Judge Deborah Batts, from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, on the list of American speakers.

“The partnerships we have developed in the United States for the International Conference on LGBT rights,” concluded Ms. Roy, “shows how important it is for the LGBT community to remain vigilant, even in countries where we have made advancements in rights. ‘The Right to Be Different’ International Conference will be one of the high points of the Outgames next year.”