Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület

The Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület ("Lesbian Association Labrys") is an organization that deals with the social relationships of lesbian and bisexual women in Hungary .

Foundation and naming

The association is the country's first lesbian organization. It was officially registered in 1999, but there have been regular monthly discussion evenings since 1996. She works to ensure that women are free to choose their partner and their lifestyle and can live out their identity in all areas of life without fear.

The term labrisz ( labrys ) comes from the Greek and means double-sided ax. It is a symbol of ancient matriarchal societies and, in mythology, a weapon of the Amazons and a cutting tool used in everyday life in ancient times. Today it is mainly known as a lesbian symbol.

aims

A central idea of the Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület is public opinion on discrimination female sexual minorities to raise awareness as well as prejudices and stereotypes break down. One of the most important goals is that lesbian and bisexual women can accept themselves and confess publicly. The organization works to ensure that the dialogue is conducted in a broader public. For example, a program for secondary schools was developed.

History and activities

Discussion evenings ( Labrisz-estek ) on various topics are offered monthly for lesbian and bisexual women . These are mainly used to break taboo topics and to support lesbian women in their self-realization.

The Labrisz book series was initiated in 2000. The following volumes have been published so far:

• Leszbikus tér / erő : a collection of essays on topics such as history, politics, feminism , identity, or coming out
• Szembeszél. Leszbikusok a szépirodalomban : poems and short stories
• Előhívott önarcképek. Leszbikus nők önéletrajzi írásai : Letters and diary entries from lesbian women, biographical writings "from the beginning" to the present, from Australia, America as well as Western and Eastern Europe
• Together with the association Háttér Társaság a Melegekért , the books Összefoglaló a melegek, leszbikusok és biszexuálisok disziminációjáról Magyarországon, 2001 and A szexuális orientáció az Európai , in which the legal situation in the EU and in which the gay community from Hungary was published is pictured.

In autumn 2000, the “Melegség és megismerés” program was started with the support of the EU ( PHARE ). The aim was to create a social environment in schools in which students and teachers respect every kind of otherness and in which no one is discriminated on the basis of their homosexuality or bisexuality. In this interest, discussions on these topics were offered in school hours. As part of the program, the Már nem manual, which contained various educational materials, timetables and personal writings, became taboo. Kézikönyv tanároknak a leszbikusokról, melegekről, biszexuálisokról és transzneműekről .

The organization regularly participates in the organization of the women's program at Meleg-, Leszbikus-, Biszexuális- és Transzneműfesztivál . In autumn 2005 she organized the first all-day lesbian culture festival in Hungary, the LIFT - Leszbikus Identitások Fesztiválja . Film screenings, workshops , literary programs , a herstory exhibition and a party were offered. The festival helped to make lesbian activities visible through creative means and to fight against stereotypes. It is planned to hold the festival annually.

An important task is to set up a lesbian archive, in which records of the internal life of the organization, its history as well as publications, books, sound recordings and video works are collected. This is for information and research into lesbian culture and history in Hungary.

A free brochure is published once a month with information on programs and cultural events for lesbians. It is distributed in bars, at events or by post.

Members of the Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület also founded the Budapesti Leszbikus Filmbizottság ("Budapest Lesbian Film Committee"). The first film with the title Mihez kezdjen egy fiatal leszbikus a nagyvárosban? was supported by Balázs Béla Stúdió and had great success in 2000 at the V. Meleg és Leszbikus Film- és Kulturális Fesztivál (“5th Gay and Lesbian Film and Culture Festival”). The second film A rózsaszín görény is a thriller. It was shown at the festival in 2003 and was also invited to lesbian film festivals in Berlin and Paris . A year later, the short film Nagyfilmek a kisvilágból (“Big films from a small world”) was shown. In 2005 and 2006 the documentaries Elsőbálozók , Zarándoklat a Kecskerúzs földjére (2005) and A fásli, a zokni és a szőr (2006) were released. The latter film was also registered for the 2007 Hungarian Film Week .

In 2006, under the name Bárcsak Randevúk, free talks were held every two weeks, where personal experiences as well as possibilities and strategies of a lesbian lifestyle were exchanged. Since autumn of the same year there have been open hours for interested parties twice a week in the association's office.

Web links

• Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület. Retrieved December 4, 2008 (Hungarian, English). 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ program of the festival; English, Hungarian ( Memento of the original from March 20, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.