GAYTEN LGBT Centar za promociju prava seksualnih manjina Center for Promotion of LGBT Human Rights

Organization:
E-mail: gayten@gay-serbia.com
Web site: www.gay-serbia.com

HISTORY:
Gayten-LGBT, Center for Promotion of LGBT Human Rights was formed in May, 2001 and officially registered as an NGO at the Ministry of Justice in October, 2001. Gayten-LGBT developed from a former gay and lesbian lobby - Arkadija, founded in 1990 and officially registered in 1994.
Given that Arkadia founders agreed upon immediate discontinuation of their programme scheme , there came an intense need for organized activities in the area of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender existence, rights and culture. Gayten -LGBT activists have been participating in a long term project "Campaign Against Homophobia". Until recently, there has been no organization in Serbia, which would incorporate the issue of rights and culture of bisexual and transgender population into its programme. The central idea of Gayten-LGBT activists is to support , develop and maintain the atmosphere of tolerance and ethics of difference. We do accept a concept of feminist and queer theory and movement for distinction between sex and gender while at the same time, we also pledge ourselves to self-determination of gender and psycho-sexual identity.

The Organization Name:
The inspiration came from Gethen, the name of imaginary world of androgynous beings, created by Ursula Le Guin in her book "The Left Hand Of Darkness", where she opened a new dimension in redefinition of sexes within the human society. In her vision of the world of Utopia- Gethen, Ursula LeGuin created the human community of androgynous people, with no physical and psychological sex differences. The author tackles the question of what actually remains when the sex and the gender disappear in a quite unique and simple matter. She opines that the Humanity remains only… Therefore, The Gethens portray the third gender, the beings of fluid and changeable identity, who above all depend on their own personal choices. Gehten knows for no exploitation and destruction of nature , nor the citizens manipulate or abuse each other. The wars have never been waged in its known written history.

The main principles of work are non-hierarchic, with respect of other ethical principles (solidarity, empowerment, transparency, antimilitarism, non-conflict communication….). It is important to point out that Gayten-LGBT works on cooperation among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population, with full respect of the differences and uniqueness that exist in these groups. It is the only organization in Serbian which includes human rights, needs, problems, programs of bisexual and transgender population, as well as gay and lesbian. Gayten-LGBT is, among other activities, (with Labris) the organizer of the first public celebration of the Pride Day of LGBT in Yugoslavia As a recently founded organization, Gayten-LGBT does not have its own premises yet, but this issue is currently in the process. The Gayten-LGBT projects are so far supported by: The Open Society Fund, Belgrade, BN-GLGFN, Germany.

THE GUIDING IDEA:
Gayten-LGBT is an organization that promotes the right to a different sexual orientation, as one of the basic human rights and on dismantling all forms of discrimination and violence towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population in all segments of social structure. Also, Gayten-LGBT works on the lowering the heterosexism predomination and creating legal regulation based on equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their sex, secured by individual rights and freedoms.

THE MAIN GOALS:
1. Promotion and development of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (in further text:LGBT) population
2. Support and affirmation of LGBT identity/identities sensitization and education of professionals, institutions and public on LGBT rights
3. Work on visibility of LGBT individuals, integration in society and promotion of LGBT rights
4. Lobbying at social, academic, cultural and artistic institutions for involvement and advocating for elimination of discrimination of LGBT persons
5. Participation in creating legal regulation and social climate directed to abolishing all forms of violence and discrimination of LGBT persons.
6. Involvement in creating and expanding the group network of organizations which work on LGBT rights promotion, both national and abroad.

STRUCTURE OF GAYTEN-LGBT:
-Legal department
-Psycho-social department (researches, theory, workshops, SOS phone-line)
-Data base, archive, information center and library
-Educational, cultural and artistic department
-Publishing
-Logistic and organizational department

Activities and strategies:
-Lobbing of social, scientific, cultural institutions and media.
-Conducting researches on LGBT issues.
-Data base, archive and library.
-Organizing lecturing, training programs, workshops and LGBT phone line.
-Organizing and conducting education on LGBT issues
-Support Network for LGBT throughout the country
-Networking with local and international LGBT organizations
-Special programs for LGBT with special needs (disabled and with HIV)
-Legal proposals
-Organizing campaigns, seminars, courses, conferences, speaker's platforms
-LGBT art, creativity and various cultural activities.
-Publishing (newsletters, books, leaflets) and Internet presentations

Note: Gayten-LGBT, as a recently founded organization, so far managed to complete the following

:Previous activities of activists Gayten-LGBT 1.1.2001 - 31.12.2001
COWN (Coming Out With Nick) - June, 2000, organization Cultural Center REX, which contained:
- Exhibition: "100 Years of Gay Rights in Germany" - Rainer Herrn, Goethe Institute, New York
- Exhibition: "COWN", Various artists from Serbia and Montenegro
- Speaker's platform: "Coming Out of a Shadow"
- Speaker's Platform: "Biological Theories of Homosexuality"
- "Hissing Sonnets"- theatrical performance (LGBT art and sensitivity)

Media
Members of Gayten-LGBT gave more than 15 interviews for national and foreign media, which includes articles numerous magazines (The Advocate, The Sidney Star Observer, Tetu, Gully, Pride…).
Activists of Gayten-LGBT participate in creating and maintaining of Gay-Serbia web site (www.gay-serbia.com).

Special activities
In December, 2001, a special radio show "Gayming", dedicated to LGBT population started on Radio 202.

Artistic and Cultural Manifestations
In November, 2001, activists of Gayten-LGBT held 2 art exhibitions in Šabac, Serbia.
In December, the first drag-queen show "Viva la Diva", The Women Studies
In December, drag-queen show "Viva la Diva", on the promotion of Queer Studies Reader

Educational activities
In December, seminar on Theory of sexuality, The Women Studies

Workshops
8 workshops on LGBT identity and empowering

Publications
Posters, Flyers, Stickers (for International LGBT Pride Day), Two Pamphlets ("Against racism and homophobia and for LGBT Pride Day) Rainbow flags Cooperation with other organizations Gayten-LGBT is cooperating with ILGA, IGLYO and IGLHRC, and co-works with Amnesty International and International Youth Parliament, Community Aid Abroad - Australia.

GAY PRIDE 2001
- in June 2001 we gave a public statement regarding the International LGBT Pride Day (Gayten - LGBT and Labris)
Gayten-LGBT is (with Labris) the organizer of the first public celebration in Yugoslavia of the Pride Day of LGBT, June 2001, and also of the press conference and speaker's platform after the brutal violence we experienced on 30th June (attempt to celebrate the Pride Day of LGBT), at the Center for Decontamination of Culture, Belgrade, in July 2001.

- in June 2001 we organized the celebration of LGBT Pride. According to our estimates 200 people and NGO representatives (Gayten - LGBT and Labris)
- in July 2001 we gave a public statement for the press regarding the violent breakup of our LGBT Pride celebration in Belgrade (Gayten - LGBT and Labris)
- in July 2001 we organized a press conference regarding the violent breakup of our LGBT Pride celebration (Gayten - LGBT and Labris)

COOPERATION OF GAYTEN-LGBT WITH OTHER G&L GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
- we issused a public statement related to frequent organized violance against LGBT and Roma population
- in April 2001 we gave a Protest Rally - "Against Homophobia and Racism"
- in December 2001 we gave a statement regarding the International Day of Human Rights
- in December 2001 we held a promotion of the Queer Studies Learning Book in Labris' space
- we organized 18 meetings that were attended by representatives of other gay and lesbian organizations in Belgrade.
- we had 6 gay and lesbian workshops

During our meetings we exchanged information about each groups' activities, the status of gays and lesbians in Serbia, and we discussed common actions and projects.

Contacts and ways of participation in the activities of Gayten-LGBT:
If you have energy, willingness, and courage to do something in order to change your own position in the society (Serbia and Montenegro and the rest of the World), and thereby to contribute to the global social changes, DO CONTACT US. Participate in creating a better world where it would be safe to love each other… You may also form and cordinate your own Gayten-LGBT group in your own place, therby conducting manifold activities and promoting different programmes.

We welcome all your constructive ideas and proposals. You may contact us: gayten@gay-serbia.com.
If you are particularly interested in some of our activities and if you need any kind of information or help, please contact us: gayten@gay-serbia.com.