Meet the Activist: Connecting LGBTQI and Women’s Rights

Thursday, March 13th, 5:30-8:30pm
5:30-6:30pm Panel discussion | 6:45-8:30pm Informal reception

Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
116 East 16^th Street, 7^th Floor, NY, NY 10003
Event is wheelchair accessible.
RSVP to attend

Held as intimate gatherings at our office, Astraea’s Meet the Activist series provides a unique opportunity to learn about the work of LGBTQI activists and movements around the world.

MORE ABOUT THE ACTIVISTS
Side by Side Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Film Festival was founded in the summer of 2007 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Through the platform of cultural events Side by Side seeks to maximize and extend the range of accurate information on LGBT and LGBT rights within the public space, challenging stereotypes and obsolete notions currently being expounded by conservative voices within government, the orthodox church, far right and ultra national groups.

Manny de Guerre is founder and organizer of the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Over the last 7 years she has been responsible for overseeing the direction and management of the film festival. Among some of the key responsibilities are the creative direction of the festival, developing projects and strategies, fundraising and establishing contact with potential partners, sponsors and organizations with the view for collaboration and building relations both at local and international levels. She has carried out extensive research in Russia concerning the importance of the arts and culture in terms of its social, political and psychological significance.

United and Strong Inc. is an LGBTI Human Rights organisation Saint Lucia, with responsibilities for general administration, advocacy and programs. She is also the Coordinator of the Eastern Caribbean hub of the Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS). She is the lead contact for CariFlags/U&S as the alternate Women’s Secretariat of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).

In 2009, Kenita Placide submitted the first written and oral presentation by United and Strong to Saint Lucia’s Constitution Reform Commission and followed up with a submission to the Universal Periodic Review process at the United Nations in 2010. Kenita is instrumental in organising the many training in Saint Lucia and the OECS including the first regional security and human rights training for LGBT and sexual rights defenders in July of 2011 and regional documentation training in 2013.

Iranti-Org is a Lesbian, Transgender and Intersex media reporting organization for South Africa and Southern Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Iranti-Org is committed to documenting and gathering evidence-based materials for the purpose of advancing the rights of LGBTI people affected by various forms of human rights violations. Iranti-Org was formed with the intention of building local partnerships and movements with media as the key platform. They use videos, photography, audio recordings, and other mediums to document Queer memories that destabilize discrimination based on gender, sexuality and sexual orientation. They also use art as a way to promote social change and bring communities together. Iranti-Org has a team of seven staff members.

Jabulani C. Pereira is an activist, researcher, trainer and facilitator and the co-founder and coordinator of Iranti-Org. Jabulani lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jabulani has been an organizer for 24 years. They have worked at the Legal Resources Centre, Soul City, and they served as a Board member of FEW, a national black lesbian organization, based in Johannesburg. Jabulani graduated from New York University. They have a masters of arts degree, with a major and focus is museum studies. Their thesis titled Museum Exhibitions, Mass Violence and Human Rights, examines and tracks the ethical responsibility of museums in displaying photographs on atrocities.