This conference is directed towards lesbian and gay communities and NGOs, their leaders, policy makers and researchers, students and others interested in LGBT issues and human rights. This event is a part of the trans-national cooperation TRACE and the project ATVIRI that are co-funded by the European Commission and Lithuanian Government.

Aim of the Conference – to broaden the public discourse on homophobia and discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and to discuss the challenges of democracy and social inclusion of LGBT people in an Enlarged Europe. Particular attention will be paid to the issue of homophobia and discrimination in the new member states of EU and the Baltic States in particular.

Conference Themes:

- Voices to be heard: Individual Experiences of Discrimination and Exclusion

- Silent Sexualities at Work

- Homophobia and Education

- Homosexuality, Social Capital and Civil Society

- Lessons Learned and Prospects for Social Inclusion

The selected conference papersthat meet the requirements of publishers will be published in the academic journal until the end of the year of 2006. Conference language is English.

Send your abstracts (250 words) and the registration form until October 10, 2006 to: a.zdanevicius@smf.vdu.lt

Conference is free of charge, the participants will be provided with food and accommodations. Travel expenses should be paid by the participants themselves.

Contact:Ms. Skirmante Cesiene, Sociology Departament, Social Research Center at Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaicio 52-309, LT-44244 Kaunas, Tel/fax: +370 37 327 822, E-mail: s.cesiene@smf.vdu.lt

More information about this conference will be available at www.atviri.lt