“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               First Panel: 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               Second Panel: 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               Third Panel: 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              Fourth Panel: The empirical context
Adaptation of children in LGBT families: Risk and protective factors (Nancy Papathanasiou)
Lesbians choosing motherhood: Research findings on children growing up in lesbian families (Zacharenia Karathanasi).

Discussion

18.30    Dinner

Saturday 9 June

10.00               Fifth Panel: 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               Sixth Panel: 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               Seventh Panel: 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