SECOND FORUM FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY

Porto Alegre, 26 - 31 January 2005

Bulletin of the LGBT South-South Dialogue

CONTENTS:

* Foreword

* Invitation to the Second Social Forum for Sexual Diversity

* Activities at the Second Social Forum for Sexual Diversity

* LGBT Preparations for the Fifth World Social Forum and the Second Social Forum for Sexual Diversity

* General Information on the World Social Forum

FOREWORD

The World Social Forum, and its processes, especially the Americas Social Forum (ASF), made plenty of room to include diversity in methodology, contents and participation. At the ASF, the First Social Forum for Sexual Diversity (SFSD) was held, making it possible to address specific and related issues. In conferences, panel discussions, roundtable debates and seminars, the SFSD focused on sexual diversity with the same direct depth as in all the topics programmed for the ASF.

The issues that were covered, through some 30 specific activities comprising the First Forum for Sexual Diversity, highlighted workplace analyses, civil rights, legislative proposals, international norms, the LGBT movement’s perspectives and future, the conceptualization of sexual rights themselves, and challenges in moving them forward, among others.

Among the success and contributions achieved by the First Social Forum for Sexual Diversity within the ASF, special mention should be made of the way that the LGBT movement took its place as one of the social movements. At its Assembly, LGBT issues were once again examined as well as within society at large. These matters proved to be of general interest and shared responsibility for the ASF as a whole.

INVITATION TO THE SECOND SOCIAL FORUM FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY

In August, the invitation came out for the Second Social Forum for Sexual Diversity (FSDS), to be held in Porto Alegre (Brazil), from January 26 through 31, 2005, during the Fifth World Social Forum, with an eye to expanding the arena of debate and creation to further proposals and initiatives geared towards full recognition of sexual rights and diversity as the backbones of social change.

Following up on the outcomes of the first Forum, this second FSDS proposes to expand analyses and foster critical thinking, especially in regard to issues involving neoliberal globalization and its inter-relationships, such as exclusion due to sexual orientation, sexism, classism and other forms of discrimination.

This is an opportunity to contribute ideas challenging the heterocentric, androcentric, racist one-way thinking and support diverse practices, which are part of the multi-colored foundation of a world of equality for all.

It is also proposed to debate, among all social movements present, the importance of recognizing, in discourse and practice, sexual diversity as a key component for the equality that we all long for and, on this basis, to continue exploring more deeply to develop alterantives and proposals for social justice.

Sexual diversity is directly related to the building of that “other world that is possible”, proposed by the World Social Forum, which has to do with the development and implementation of inclusive, pluralistic approaches, that will enable all persons and collective groups to express and enjoy their rights and citizenship fully.

Convener: The LGBT South-South Dialogue
Co-conveners: The Latin American Network of Women Transforming the Economy (REMTE), World March of Women, FEDAEPS, National LGBT Network of Ecuador, and others.

SOME ACTIVITIES OF THE SECOND SOCIAL FORUM FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY

The SECOND SOCIAL FORUM FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY is registered as an activity within the terrain “Defending diversities, plurality and identities”. This ongoing initiative will last throughout the WSF and will have its agenda and activities going for the entire WSF. The FSDS will also contribute to the other ten terrains of the WSF.

Some activities have already registered to contribute to building that “other world that is possible”. In the selection listed below, we have identified only the networks and organizations that have registered some activities, although they are organized jointly with others.

Within the Terrain: “Social struggles and democratic alternatives – Against neoliberal domination”

· Gender and diversities: progress and challenges at the WSF (LGBT South-South Dialogue)

· Feminism, Peace and Demilitarization (World March of Women)

Within the Terrain: “Defending diversities, plurality and identities”

· Cultural: Video Show on Diversity (FEDAEPS)

· Connections between Sexual Diversity and Alternatives to Globalization (LGBT South-South Dialogue)

· Sexual Rights and Diversity (FEDAEPS)

Within the Terrain: “Human rights and dignity for a just, egalitarian world”

· Global prospects of LGBT struggles (LGBT South-South Dialogue)

Within the Terrain: “Ethics, cosmo visions and spiritualities – Resistances and challenges for a new world”

· Defending women’s knowledge against free trade (FEDAEPS and ECUARUNARI)

· Change the economy, change society: proposals from feminism (REMTE)

Within the Terrain: “Sovereign economies by and for the peoples – Against neoliberal capitalism”

· HIV-AIDS and Free Trade (FEDAEPS)

Within the Terrain : “Peace, Demilitarization, and the struggle against war, free trade and debt”

· Feminism and the anti-globalization movement (World March of Women)

· Assembly of the World March of Women: global action 2005 (World March of Women)

Within the Terrain: “Communication: anti-hegemonic practices, rights and alternatives”

· Building an information agenda for social movements (Information Minga of Social Movements)

We invite you to add your initiatives to this initiative.

LGBT PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIFTH WORLD SOCIAL FORUM AND THE SECOND SOCIAL FORUM FOR SEXUAL DIVERSITY

The World Social Forum (WSF), which began in 2001, has become the broadest arena for bringing together social initiatives, developing critical thought and building alternatives to the neoliberal order, under the shared conviction that “Another World is Possible”.

The ample, diverse, inclusive nature of the event and the process makes it possible for greater visibility and putting forward the different initiatives for participation and development of proposals reflecting the vitality of our movement. It poses challenges for social transformation on every scale. One of the main challenges of the Social Forum for Sexual Diversity, in keeping with the overall WSF proposal, is to generate happenings that will encourage reflections, as well as proposals and strategies that will make it possible to propose alternatives to neoliberal globalization.

In different countries, support for the WSF and the FSDS has generated great commitment from organizations. For this reason, organizations and networks are preparing for the fifth edition of the WSF with initiatives that will contribute to the overall purposes of the FSDS within this space. For further information, please contact the national chapters of the World Social Forum and the national offices of the cooperating networks convening the Second Social Forum for Sexual Diversity.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

For more information about the fifth edition of the World Social Forum, its methodology and participation, please visit the website: http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/

To subscribe to the Newsletter of the Social Forum for Sexual Diversity:

Contact:

LGBT South-South Dialogue;
Baquerizo Moreno 166 & Tamayo;
Quito; Ecuador

E-mail: dialogo@fedaeps.org

Tel.: (593 2) 222 - 3298 / 290 4242

Fax: (593 2) 252 4481

The LGBT South-South Dialogue is an international network oriented toward strengthening the full citizenship of persons who have been subject to discrimination due to their sexual orientation, and toward developing alternative proposals in the context of globalization.