The purpose of the ILGA-Europe Annual conference is two-fold: firstly, this is a unique opportunity for LGBT activists across Europe to get together and discuss common problems and challenges, as well as celebrating achievements and sketch future projects, strategies and tactics. Secondly, this is also ILGA-Europe’s Annual General Meeting when ILGA European members approve the activity of the executive board of the past year, elect the new board and discuss organizational issues. During this year’s conference the delegates voted on the second ILGA-Europe Strategic Plan (2008-2011).
During the conference’s workshops, plenary panels and sessions a variety of subjects were discussed: addressing the rights of LGBT people at the UN level, mental health needs of LGBT people, inclusion of trans issues in lobbying and advocacy work, reacting to religious right, making trade union LGBT friendly, developing advocacy strategies, reconciling sexuality and spirituality, and many more issues.

In many ways, this year’s conference was a great success. Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe states: “This was a very successful and positive conference. We had great speakers from various international, European and national institutions. The EU officials delivered great news that the European Commission included in its next year’s legislative action plan a proposal for a directive which will address the hierarchy of the EU anti-discrimination laws and will introduce a ban on discrimination because of sexual orientation in areas other than employment. We heard from the various national officials about their work and commitments towards equality and human rights for LGBT issues. We also held a European launch of the Yogyakarta Principles, a groundbreaking international document, giving the human rights issues for LGBT people a new perspective and impetus at universal level.”

The mere list of keynote speakers was itself a symbol of strength, including:
Belinda Pyke, European Commission, Director, Equality between Men/Women, Actions Agianst Discimination, Civil Society; DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Michael Cashman, MEP, Chairperson of European Parliament LGBT Inter Group
Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Rapporteur of Yogyakarta Principles Expert, United Nations
Hans Ytterberg, The Ombudsman against Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, Sweden
Apart from the presentation and discussion of the new EU directive, the plenary panels and sessions focused on the way in which governments and equal bodies could play a crucial part in implementing the national and international commitment to advancing LGBT-rights as human rights. Among other positive developments, Ben Baks from the Dutch Government LGBT programme announced that the Dutch government will provide financial support during the next three years towards a pan-European project on tackling hate crime. Moreover, Belinda Pyke also provided useful insight into how the European and national NGOs can play a crucial role in supporting legislative proposals and provide valuable intervention to and testimonies of discrimination.

These positive developments all happened in a Lithuanian context. This in itself could be considered a symbolical success, given that Lithuania is generally regarded as one of the two most homophobic countries in the EU. However, we at LGL, the conference organizers and participants were subjected to some of the well-grounded hostility against LGBT, both on an official and on a non-official level. Our wish to organize a Rainbow Event in the Town Hall Square before the opening reception of the conference on October 25, involving hoisting a 30 meter long rainbow flag, was banned by the mayor of Vilnius; the court subsequently overruled LGL’s attempt to reverse the decision. Moreover, in the evening of the first day, a smoke bomb was thrown into Club Soho, where many of the participants were partying. Moreover, on the second day a small group of 9 anti-gay protesters had gathered outside hotel Conti, the venue of the conference, displaying banners that read “Go Home” and “Lithuania will be non-gay zone”, while asking passers by to sign a petition calling on the Lithuanian parliament to ban “homosexual propaganda”.

Though these incidents were all bad news, they also served to underline what we are working for, both on a political and social level. Moreover, and from a Lithuanian point of view, the presence of Lithuanian MP Ausrine Pavilioniene as one of the speakers at the opening reception of the conference provided some inspiring symbolism. And once again, so did the mere fact that we could see the conference through, and declare it a success.