We have received word from Profesor Waldemar Matías, one of the organizers of the event that due to illness and lack of economic support, the conference has been cancelled until further notice.

Larry La Fountain

lawrlafo@yahoo.co.uk

The 7^th ILGCN (International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network) is presenting the WORLD HOMO CULTURAL CONFERENCE which will take place in San Juan from September 24-27, 2004. The same is dedicated to the memory of Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) a gay, African-American organizer ofer of the legendary March on Washington in 1963, where Martin Luther King made his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Background 

Pride Parades all over the world, most conspicuously that of Sao Paulo, Brazil (1.5 million) and Madrid, Spain (800,000), have demonstrated the numerical strength and the positive visibility of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Transsexual Questioning (GLBTTQ) community. The resounding success of the Second Symposium of Homoculture Studies, held in Brasilia June 16-20, 2004, was the most outstanding academic and activist event in Brazil and in Latin America, according to Dr.  Luiz Mott.  

The symposium aims to attract a most active participation of academics, activists, students, artists, writers, musicians, philosophers, and world humanists to engage in an open conversation and discussion of topics advancing the inclusion of all members of civilized society involved in maintaining peace and order, with an emphasis on love and caring for each other. Along these lines, proposals are requested on all matters pertaining to the realm of studies related to the GLBTTQ world community.

Professor Dr. Luiz Mott, a most distinguished scholar, educator, and leader in the Brazilian Homosexual Movement, has graciously accepted to be the keynote speaker of this transcendental event.  We are most happy to have this inspiring man to be with us.       

 In April 2003, Queer Zagreb, the successful first stage of the ILGCN Queer Zagreb World Conference took place, drawing participants from Europe, North America, and Australia.  In September 2003, Colin de la Motte-Sherman headed another most productive conference in Berlin, the 2^nd stage of the 6th ILGCN conference, which also drew distinguished scholars and activists from the GLBTTQ community.  At this meeting, the delegates unanimously supported a proposal to hold a stage of the 7^th ILGCN World Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico  --  the very first such ILGCN event in the United States.

Topics

All areas related to the GLBTTQ world are welcome for exploration in this interdisciplinary, international, cross-cultural open dialogue. Many people have suggested the following topics, but they are not limits of creative possibilities such as:

            -Bayard Rustin

            -unsung leaders of GLBTTQ movement

            -GLBTTQ role models for children           

            -same-sex marriage

            -grassroots organizations & leadership

            -the world without homophobia

            -GLBTTQ families & issues

            -safety of children in school and the community

            -Lesbians and world society   

            -homophobia, invisibility & silence

            -gays and the business community

            -AIDS - education & prevention

            -activism in today's world

            -historical roots

            -2004 US elections

            -legislation & lobbying

            -politics & political parties

            -AIDS & the world today

            -the closet & its limitations

Languages of the symposium are English, Spanish and Portuguese.

In addition to papers, there will be an exhibition of art work and published books. Participants are encouraged to share their work with others in the group.

Sponsors

This symposium has a very distinguished group of sponsors:

Pedro Julio Serrano - Puerto Rico Para Tod@s - activist and community leader - pedrojulio@prpararodos.org

Mario Rodriguez - President, Puerto Rico Rainbow Foundation, Editor of OrgulloBoricua.net and Nuevos Tiempos mario@orgulloboricua.net

Colin de la Motte-Sherman - activist,  international journalist,  Berlin coordinator of the ILGCN - eratonet@web.de

Bill Schiller - distinguished journalist, coordinator of ILGCN World Homo Cultural Conference, Chairman, Tupilak Homosexual Cultural Workers in the Nordic Area bill.schiller@sr.se

Professor Waldemar Matias - college professor, writer, educational consultant, activist lifelonged@hotmail.com

E-mailing proposals

All proposals should be e-mailed within the text of an e-mail by August 20, 2004 to Professor Waldemar Matias at the email lifelonged@hotmail.com.  They should consist of : (1) title of the presentation, along with a 10-line summary; (2) name of presenter, with a brief biography (academician?, activist?, journalist? etc.);  (3) a couple of lines of how the presentation should  help the symposium achieve its aims; (4) e-mail address, telephone (zip included, country), surface mail address.

About Puerto Rico

The following sites should offer basic information about life & entertainment there.

www.Escape.toPuertoRico.com

www.explorapuertorico.com/epr/

Arrangements have been made with the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau for participants' hotel accommodations.  Some Puerto Rico coordinators have volunteered to house several guests at their homes. Information regarding travel to and from Puerto Rico will be made available very soon.