International Coming Out Day: Movie Screening of "Out in the Dark"

International Coming Out Day: Movie Screening of "Out in the Dark"

On the occasion of the International Coming Out Day on October 11th, 2017 at 6 PM the National LGBT* rights organization LGL, in collaboration with the Embassy of Israel in Vilnius, will organize the movie screening of “Out in the Dark” in Vilnius. An Israeli drama “Out in the Dark” (2012), centered on the love affair between two men on opposite sides of the Middle East conflict: Palestinian student Nimer and Roy, an Israeli lawyer. The film has been accredited with 25 awards throughout its creation, which includes the Audience Award at the Berlin Jewish Film Festival in 2013, along with the FilmOut San Diego in 2013.

Have you noticed the Lithuanian showers outside your window already? As the autumn season is rapidly approaching, the “gay cannibals“ are coming out of their closets and gathering at dark and warm places for LGBT*-themed movie screenings. On the occasion of the International Coming Out Day the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL in cooperation with the Israeli Embassy (Izraelis Lietuvoje) in Vilnius cordially invites to the movie screening of “Out in the Dark“ (2012) at the movie theater “Pasaka”. The story line in the movie is evolving around the main character Nimer, a Palestinian student, who falls in love with Roy, an Israeli lawyer. Because of their relationship, Nimer finds himself in between the Palestinian society refusing to accept him for his sexual identity, and an Israeli society that rejects him for his nationality. Nimer must choose between the life he thought he wanted and his love for Roy.

What is in common between LGBT* challenges in the Middle East and Lithuanian realities? The International Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 11th and seeks to emphasize the importance of coming out in our communities. Scientist from various countries – including the Great Britain – have concluded that people, who have LGBT* acquaintances in their close circles, are much more open for our communities. However, is Lithuania really coming out? Or maybe we are just not ready to talk openly about LGBT* issues with our closest ones yet?

After the movie screening we are organizing a discussion “Is Lithuania Really Coming Out? Between Euphoria and Disappointment” at the restaurant “La Boheme”. The moderated discussion will feature incredible speakers, who have contributed to the visibility of LGBT* people in Lithuania through very different measures. It is the Member of the Lithuanian Parliament Aušrinė Armonaitė, one of the authors of the photo book “Lithuania Is Coming Out: 99 LGBT Stories“ (Lith. “Lietuva atsiskleidžia: 99 LGBT istorijos“) and director Romas Zabarauskas, actor, TV presenter and performer Dominykas Vaitiekūnas and LGL‘s Board Member and bisexual activist Aliona Nova. The discussion will be moderated by the LGL‘s Policy Coordinator (Human Rights) Tomaš Ilja.

The International Coming Out Day is particularly important for the Lithuanian LGBT* community. Various sociological surveys indicate that only 12 % of Lithuanian population know at least one lesbian, gay or bisexual person and only 3 % know a transgender person. 45 % of the Lithuanians would feel comfortable if they had to work with an LGBT* colleague. The International Coming Out Day will contribute to more inclusive and more accepting social environment in Lithuania.

The movie screening and the discussion is free of charge. Take your friend and celebrate the International Coming Out Day together with us. The movie will be screened with the English and Lithuanian subtitles. Before the movie screening we are organizing a “Coming Out” photo booth, and after the movie screening we will be inviting our guests to the following discussion (in Lithuanian).

The public event of the movie screening on the social network “FaceBook” can be seen here.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Israeli Embassy in Vilnius (Izraelis Lietuvoje).

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