top2.gif - 6.71 K


www.cybersocket.com

International Lesbian & Gay Association
Meets in Rome


By Rex Wockner
International News Report

ilgacandle.jpg - 6.38 K The International Lesbian and Gay Association, a consortium of hundreds of gay organizations from around the globe, staged its annual conference in Rome in conjunction with the recent World Pride Rome 2000 celebration.

According to spokesman Harold Kooden, "Since the conference was only for three days, it focused primarily on maximizing ILGA's work in the regions, networking, and furthering its influence in world conferences."

New member groups attended from Latvia, Pakistan, Albania and the Philippines.

Kooden said ILGA is "progressing with our efforts for reinstatement as a non-governmental organization in the United Nations."

ILGA lost UN consultative status in the mid-1990s after anti-gay U.S. politicians revealed that not all of ILGA's member groups oppose sexual contact between adults and persons below the world's varying ages of consent, which range from 12 to 21.

The UN demanded that ILGA prove it is pedophile-free, which the association has been unable to do because of the internal politics of some of its hundreds of member organizations.

Kooden said finances "are still a constant problem for ILGA."

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
ILGA's 'End of the Century' Message

Gay Amnesty International Activists Form Network

Voice of America Broadcasts Gay Cause to China

Related Sites:
International Lesbian & Gay Association


GayToday does not endorse related sites.

"Our work is still being done by volunteers and only two staff people who are not paid full-time," he said.

For more information: ilga@ilga.org.

bannerbot.gif - 8.68 K
© 1997-2000 BEI