LGBT Parenting – challenges and opportunities for more inclusive societies the Greek and European perspectives
The speakers come from Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Switzerland, UK, Spain and Greece.
Friday 8 June
10.00 Registration
10.30 Welcome Speeches by: Irene Petropoulou – OLKE, Constantina Kosmidou – GRUNDTVIG, Anne Staldford – GRUNDTVIG
11.00 Plenary Session: LGBT parenting
Rainbow parenting in Europe and the world: Observable patterns, emerging trends and lessons to be learnt (Silvan Agius – Policy Director, ILGA)
LGBT parenting in Lithuania – mission (im)possible? (Vilma Gabrieliute – Educator, Human Rights Activist)
Discussion
13.00 Lunch & Coffee Break (Venue Hall)
14.00 Plenary Session: My story by…
Telis Raptis (Athens Pride)
Stacy Mandaltsi (President – Lesbian Group of Thessaloniki)
Petros Sapountzakis (Teachers Against Homophobia)
Discussion
15.15 Coffee Break
15.30 Plenary Session: Art and Religion: Compatible with LGBT Community?
Cinematographic record, understanding and fictional synthesis of families consisting of LGBT parents and children. The example of the Thessaloliki International LGBTQ Film Festival (Nikos Xatzitrifon – President, Sympraxi: Partnership for Gender Issues)
The stereotype of “homosexual danger” in the Catholic Church’s official discourse. A Christian stigma in a strong Christian country: the example of Italy. (Anna Zoli – PhD Student on Behaviour and Social Relation Sciences, University of Macerata / Italy)
Discussion
16.30 Coffee Break
17.00 Plenary Session: The empirical context
Adaptation of children in LGBT families: Risk and protective factors (Nancy Papathanasiou – Clinical Psychologist)
Lesbians choosing motherhood: Research findings on children growing up in lesbian families (Zacharenia Karathanasi – Kindergarten Teacher, MSc)
Discussion
18.30 Dinner
Saturday 9 June
10.00 Plenary Session: Legal Situation in EU and Greece
Overview of the legal landscape for LGBT families in Europe – Challenges, achievements and opportunities (Angelo Berbotto – Lawyer / Secretary of NELFA)
Same-sex families in Greece: From social fact to legal recognition (Dr. Lina Papadopoulou – Assistant Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Discussion
11.30 Coffee Break
11.45 Plenary Session: Rainbow families
Rainbow families in Spain (Dr. José Ignacio Pichardo – Assistant Professor, University of Madrid)
Coming out: Mother to daughter relationships (Maria Falia – Conservator of works of art, Lesbian Group of Thessaloniki)
Everyday Stories (Eva Filanthropopoulou – Psychologist, MA)
Discussion
13.00 Coffee Break
13.15 Plenary Session: The future for LGBT families
International Family Equality Day 2013 (Maria Von Känel – Board Member of NELFA / Vice-President of the Swiss Rainbow Families Association)
Closing Remarks (Constantina Kosmidou & Irene Petropoulou – GRUNDTVIG)
14.15 Lunch Break
15.00 Closed Meeting for GRUNDTVIG Partners: Future Meetings (Anne Staldford – GRUNDTVIG)
15.30 Departure from the Venue Hall
18.00 Athens Pride Parade