2019 - ELLA Summer Mallorca Program by Mallorcagaymap

30.08 - 06.09

ELLA SUMMER 2019

ENG

INDEX

ÍNDICE / INDEX PROGRAMA ELLA SUMMER / PROGRAM ELLA SUMMER Bienvenidas / Welcome .................................................................................................. 5 Mapa de Palma / Map of Palma .................................................................................... 6-7 Playa ELLA & La Dama de ELLA / ELLA Beach & La Dama de ELLA .................... 8-9 Viernes 30.08 / Friday 30.08 .......................................................................................... 10 Sábado 31.08 / Saturday 31.08 ..................................................................................... 11 Domingo 01.09 / Sunday 01.09 ..................................................................................... 12 Lunes 02.09 / Monday 02.09 ......................................................................................... 15 Martes 03.09 / Tuesday 03.09 ....................................................................................... 16 Miércoles 04.09 / Wednesday 04.09 ............................................................................ 17 Jueves 05.09 / Thursday 05.09 ..................................................................................... 18 Números de interés / Useful numbers ......................................................................... 20 Próximos Festivales ELLA / Upcoming ELLA Festivals ........................................... 22-23

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY / ELLA COSTA RICA Entrevista / Interview Kristin Hansen............................................................................ 24-28 Presentación / Introduction ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY ....................................... 31-33 Entrevista / Interview Liza Castillo | Costa Rica......................................................... 34-37 Laws on sexual orientation in the world map / Mapa: Ley sobre orientación

Entrevista / Interview Myrtille Danse | Costa Rica...................................................... 44-47 Entrevista / Interview Monica Loaiza & Clarena Orozco | Colombia ...................... 50-54

sexual en el mundo .......................................................................................................... 38-39 Entrevista / Interview Beatriz Cravioto & Erika Carillo | México .............................. 40-43

Welcome to the 7th edition of the ELLA International Lesbian Festival!

WELCOME

WELCOME We can’t wait to receive you on the beautiful island of Mallorca and share with you what we have in store for this year’s summer edition of the ELLA Festival! We'll kick off this exciting adventure at the Palau de Congressos for the opening ceremony of the Festival with performances by renowned jazz vocalist from New York Sheela Gathright and her band, and Claudia Pannone, lead singer from Buenos Aires of the former Gotan Project band. We have no doubt that this will be a week to remember! In fact, we have made sure of this, by putting together a programme ﬁlled with an even greater variety of activities and excursions, and an incredible line up of speakers, performers and artists, including: Monica Benicio, Brazilian activist, architect and widow of murdered human rights activist and Rio de Janeiro Counsel Member Marielle Franco and Daniela Sea, Trans Non Binary activist, musician, DJ, and actress on the internationally renowned series The L-Word. As always, we make sure that you can enjoy a week of sun, learning and inspiration in a friendly, safe and intimate atmosphere. The ELLA Festival was created so that lesbian, bisexual and trans women can feel free to be themselves and can connect with like-minded women. The ELLA Festival is about so much more than fun and sun - it is a celebration of our community. We remain dedicated to promoting visibility and empowerment for lesbian, bisexual and trans women, and our delighted to see our community is growing! This past year we have set up a team in Costa Rica, where we are working with Hivos Latina America and local representatives from the lesbian community to set up community events and prepare next year’s ELLA Festival that will take place in San José. And that is not all! We will also host an ELLA Festival in Mexico and also one in Colombia in 2020, and continue to develop ideas that will help us grow and connect a worldwide communi-

Be free. Be yourself. Feel #ProudtobeELLA. Proud of you! Kristin Hansen, CEO & Founder

ty of lesbian, bisexual and trans women. Let’s get this amazing adventure started!

Palma 1

6 3

La Dama de ELLA C/ Fábrica 41

30.08: Palau de Congressos, Felicia Fuster 7

31.08: Restaurante Pesquero, Paseo Marítimo

31.08: Boat Party, Av. Gabriel Roca

ELLA BEACH

05.09: KAELUM, Av. Argentina 3

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

ELLA BEACH / CAN PERE ANTONI De día, te invitamos a reunirte con nosotras en la PLAYA ELLA - Playa de Can Pere Antoni, Sábado y Domingo, de 12h00 a 18h00 (Passeig del Portixol, al lado del Beach Club Assaona) - el punto de encuentro oficial del Festival. Un espacio para practicar deporte, tomar el sol, relajarte y disfrutar de nuestra zona chill-out. El acceso a la PLAYA ELLA es GRATUITO. During the day, you are invited to come with us to our very own beach, ELLA Beach - Playa de Can Pere Antoni, Saturday and Sunday, from 12h00 to 18h00 (Passeig del Portixol, next to the Beach Club Assaona) - the ofﬁcial meeting point of the Festival. A space where you can do sports, sunbathe, relax and enjoy our chill-out zone. Access to ELLA PLAYA is FREE.

ACTIVIDADES / ACTIVITIES Dj’s, música, animación, zona chill- out, volley playa, fútbol playa, kayak, paddle surf, baile y muchas sorpresas más... Algunas actividades deben ser reservadas a parte (paddle surf, kayak) Dj’s, music, animation, chillout area, beach volleyball, beach soccer, kayak, paddle surf, dance and many more surprises…

Some of the activities are to be booked extra (paddle surf, kayak)

Puedes ir caminando hasta la playa por el paseo marítimo dirección Es Portixol. La playa se encuentra justo delante del edificio del Palau de Congressos de Palma. Si quieres ir en autobús puedes coger las Líneas 15 o 28. También puedes ir en taxi

ELLA BEACH

CÓMO LLEGAR / HOW TO GET THERE

desde Palma, te costará entre 5 y 10€. You can walk to the beach along the paseo marítimo towards Es Portixol. The beach is located right in front of the Palau de Congressos (Palma). If you want to go by bus you can take Lines 15 or 28. You can also go by taxi from Palma, which will cost you between 5 and 10 euros.

PUNTO DE ENCUENTRO EN PALMA / MEETING POINT IN PALMA Para aquellas que no quieren estar en la playa, o bien en los días en los cuales la Playa ELLA está cerrada - Lunes 02.09, Martes 03.09, Miércoles 04.09 y Jueves 05.09 - , el punto de encuentro en Palma es LA DAMA DE ELLA - C/ Fábrica 41, Palma Allí podrás disfrutar de una amplia selección de bebidas, gins, cócteles, y podrás disfrutar de comida y tapas mediterráneas. For those of you who do not want to be at the beach, or on the days where the ELLA Beach is closed - Monday 02.09, Tuesday 03.09, Wednesday 04.09 and Thursday 05.09 -, the meeting point in Palma is LA DAMA DE ELLA - C/ Fábrica 41, Palma There you will be able to enjoy a wide selection of drinks, gins, cocktails, and savour

typical mediterranean food and tapas.

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

VIERNES 30 AGO / FRIDAY 30 AUG HORARIO / TIME: 20h00 - 03h00 PTO. DE ENCUENTRO / MEETING POINT: Rooftop of the Congress Palace of Palma (Palau de Congressos), Felicià Fuster 2, Palma ACTUACIONES / LINE UP : Sheela Gathright, Claudia Pannone, DJ Blues, DJ Pamela, DJ Caro de Andrés, Meet & Greet Daniela Sea (The L-Word) Daremos el pistoletazo de salida a estos 7 días de ensueño invitándote a un cóctel y unos canapés en la fantástica terraza rooftop del Palau de Congressos, uno de los mejores locales de la capital, con espectaculares vistas a la Bahía de Palma. ¡Te esperamos para celebrar juntas el comienzo del ELLA Summer Festival! Catering y barra libre de 20h-21h30 We will kick these 7 amazing days off with a cocktail and canapés on the beautiful rooftop of the Palau de Congressos, one of the best venues of the capital, with spectacular views over the Bay of Palma. See you there to celebrate the opening of the ELLA Summer Festival!

Catering and open bar from 20h00 - 21h30

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

SÁBADO 31 AGO / SATURDAY 31 AUG

ELLA PLAYA + ACTIVIDADES / ELLA BEACH + ACTIVITIES

HORARIO / TIME: 12h00 - 18h00 PTO. DE ENCUENTRO / MEETING POINT: Playa de Can Pere Antoni, Passeig Portixol, Palma ACTUACIONES / LINE UP : Ildiko Virag, DJ Mo, DJ Pamela ACTIVIDADES / ACTIVITIES: 12-18h: Volley Playa, Fútbol Playa, Gincanas / Beach Volley and Soccer, Team Games

CENA ELLA FESTIVAL / DINNER ELLA FESTIVAL

HORARIO / TIME: 20h00 - 22h00 PTO. DE ENCUENTRO / MEETING POINT: Restaurante Pesquero, Paseo Marítimo, Palma

FIESTA EN BARCO /

BOAT PARTY

Fiesta en barco exclusiva para ELLA, con Dj’s, shows, copa de bienvenida y picoteo de medianoche / Exclusive Boat party for ELLA, with DJS, shows, welcome drink and midnight snack. HORARIO / TIME: 22h00 - 03h00 ACTUACIONES / LINE UP : DJ Pamela, DJ Blues, Claudia Pannone “The Boat House”, Av. Gabriel Roca, Palma / Palma Marina Harbour (in front of the auditorium), meeting in front of the restaurant “The Boat House”, Av.Gabriel Roca, Palma. 22h30: Salida del barco. Llevar chaqueta / Departure of the boat. Bring a jacket.

22h00: Palma Marina (delante del Auditorium). Nos vemos delante del restaurante

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

DOMINGO 01 SEPT / SUNDAY 01 SEPT

ELLA PLAYA + ACTIVIDADES /

ELLA BEACH + ACTIVITIES

HORARIO / TIME: 12h00 - 18h00 PTO. DE ENCUENTRO / MEETING POINT: Playa de Can Pere Antoni, Passeig Portixol, Palma ACTUACIONES / LINE UP : Nicole Faraday, DJ Pamela, DJ Mina ACTIVIDADES / ACTIVITIES: 12h00-16h00: Volley Playa, Fútbol Playa, Gincanas / Beach Volley and Soccer, Team Games 16h00-18h00: Vibra Alto / Meditation in Motion by Julieta Sagües Mole

FIESTA VIP EN CASA DE CAMPO /

ELLA VIP GARDEN PARTY

HORARIO / TIME: 20:00 - 03:00 h ACTUACIONES / LINE UP: Daniela Sea, Claudia Pannone, DJ Blues, DJ Pamela, DJ Mo, DJ Mina 19h00: Punto de encuentro para el transfer: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma) / Meeting point for transfer: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma) 20h00-03h00: Fiesta VIP con cena y bebida incluida (vino, cerveza, refrescos) / VIP Party with dinner and drinks included (wine, beer, soft drinks). 03h00: Transfer de vuelta a Palma / Transfer back to Palma

Parking disponible para las personas que vengan en coche directamente. Contáctanos en: mail@ellafestival.com para recibir la dirección completa y reservar tu parking. / Parking available for guests driving directly to the event. Please contact us at: mail@ellafestival.com to receive the complete address and reserve your parking space.

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

LUNES 02 SEPT / MONDAY 02 SEPT

ELLA EXCURSIÓN EN VELERO / ELLA SAILING TOUR

HORARIO / TIME: 15h00 - 19h30 Disfrutaremos de una tarde en el barco de vela más antiguo de la flota española solo para nosotras con el cual navegaremos a lo largo de la costa de Palma y sus alrededores. Dj, sol, bebidas, paddle surf, kayak, snorkel ... barra libre y picoteo incluidos / We will enjoy an afternoon on the oldest sailing boat of the spanish fleet just for us with which we will sail along the coast of Palma and surroundings. Dj, sun, drinks, paddle surf, kayak, snorkel... open bar and snacks included. 14h20: Punto de encuentro / Meeting point: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma). 14h30-14h50: Caminamos al Puerto de Palma / Walk to the harbour of Palma. 15h00-19h00: Tour exclusivo en barco de vela, con música, barra libre (refresco, agua, cerveza, vino y sangría) y picoteo. / Exclusive sailing tour for ELLA, with music, open bar (soft drinks, water, beer, wine and cava) and snacks. 19h00-19h30: Vuelta al puerto y caminamos hacía La Dama de ELLA / Back to the harbour and walk to la Dama de ELLA.

ELLA CONFERENCIAS / ELLA TALKS

HORARIO / TIME: 20h00 - 22h00 DIRECCIÓN / ADDRESS: A conﬁrmar / To be conﬁrmed - Palma Conferencias inspiradoras por mujeres abiertamente lesbianas. Traducción women. English - Spanish simultaneous translation available. PONENTES / SPEAKERS: Daniela Sea, Mima & Marta.

simultánea inglés - español disponible / Inspiring conferences by openly lesbian

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

MARTES 03 SEPT / TUESDAY 03 SEPT

DEIÀ POR NAMA / DEIÀ BY NAMA

HORARIO / TIME: 10h30 - 18h15 Excursión al pueblo de artistas “Deià” seguida por una demostración de cocina por la reconocida chef internacional Bonnie Han y almuerzo en su restaurante Nama / Excursion to the artist’s village “Deià” followed by a cooking demonstration by renowned international chef Bonnie Han and lunch at her restaurant Nama. 10h30: Meeting point: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma) 10h45-11h15: Parada en Son Marroig / Stop at Son Marroig 11h30-13h15: Visita de algunos talleres de artistas del pueblo / Visit of local artists ateliers in the town 13h15-17h00: Demostración de cocina por la chef Bonnie Han y almuerzo en el restaurante Nama / Cooking demonstration by chef Bonnie Han and lunch at Nama 17h15-18h15: Vuelta a Palma / Bus ride back to Palma

ELLA CONFERENCIAS / ELLA TALKS

HORARIO / TIME: 20h00 - 22h00 DIRECCIÓN / ADDRESS: A conﬁrmar / To be conﬁrmed - Palma Conferencias inspiradoras por mujeres abiertamente lesbianas. Traducción simultánea inglés - español disponible ) / Inspiring conferences by openly lesbian 16

women. English - Spanish simultaneous translation available. PONENTES / SPEAKERS: Clínica IVI, Marta Márquez

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

MIÉRCOLES 04 SEPT / WEDNESDAY 04 SEPT

EXPERIENCIA EN UNA BODEGA ORGÁNICA / EXPERIENCE IN AN ORGANIC WINERY HORARIO / TIME: 10h30 - 18h15 Excursión a la exclusiva bodega de vino “Can Axartell” para una cata de sus vinos orgánicos seguido del almuerzo en el restaurante gourmet vegetariano / vegano Bellaverde en Puerto Pollença, con la cocinera internacional Svenja Galle / Excursion to the exclusive wine bodega “Can Axartell” for a taste of their organic wines followed by lunch at the gourmet vegetarian / vegan restaurant Bellaverde in Puerto Pollença with international chef Svenja Galle. 10h30: Meeting point: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma) 11h30 -13h00: Visita a la bodega Can Axartell y cata de vinos orgánicos / Visit of the facilities of Can Axartell winery and organic wine tasting 13h00 - 13h30: Transfer a Puerto Pollença / Transfer to Puerto Pollença 13h30 -17h00: Comida en restaurante Bellaverde / Lunch at Bellaverde restaurant 17h15-18h15: Vuelta a Palma / Bus ride back to Palma

ELLA CONFERENCIAS / ELLA TALKS

simultánea inglés - español disponible ) / Inspiring conferences by openly lesbian

ELLA FESTIVAL 2019

JUEVES 05 SEPT / THURSDAY 05 SEPT

EXCURSIÓN A RAIXA + FIESTA DE CIERRE / EXCURSION TO RAIXA + CLOSING PARTY HORARIO / TIME: 10h30 - 18h15 Visita guiada a Raixa, una maravillosa mansión en el campo con jardines del siglo XIII, seguida de una comida en Es Taller, en Valldemossa / Guided visit of Raixa, a marvellous country mansion with gardens, parts of which date back to the 13th Century, followed by lunch at Es Taller in Valldemossa. 11h00: Meeting point: La Dama de ELLA (C/ Fábrica 41, Palma) 12h00 -14h00: Visita guiada de Raixa y sus jardines / Guided visit of the gardens and Raixa’s Mansion 14h00 -17h00: Comida en restaurante Es Taller en Valldemossa / Lunch at restaurant Es Taller in Valldemossa 17h15-18h15: Vuelta a Palma / Bus ride back to Palma

ELLA CLOSING PARTY HORARIO / TIME: 22h00 - 04h00 DIRECCIÓN / ADDRESS: KAELUM CLUB. Avenida Argentina, 1. Santa Catalina, Palma ACTUACIONES / LINE UP : Dj Pamela, DJ Blues, DJ Mina 20h00 - 22h00: Pre-fiesta en la Dama de ELLA. Primero tomaremos unas copas y unas tapas en la Dama de ELLA, para después ir todas juntas caminando hasta Kaelum Club / Pre-party at La Dama de ELLA. First we'll have a few drinks and tapas at La Dama de ELLA, then we'll all walk together to Kaelum Club. 18

22h00 - 04h00: Fiesta de clausura de ELLA Festival Mallorca en el Club Kaelum. Copas, buena música con nuestras djs, baile y mucha diversión / Closing party of ELLA Festival Mallorca at Club Kaelum. Drinks, good music by our djs, dancing and lots of fun.

NÚMEROS DE INTERES / USEFUL NUMBERS

NÚMEROS DE INTERÉS / USEFUL NUMBERS

URGENCIAS / EMERGENCIES

Emergencias / Emergency ...................................................................................................... 112 Policía Local / Local Police.......................................................................................................092 Policía Nacional / National Police...........................................................................................091 Recuerda marcar el 00 34 primero si llamas desde un teléfono extranjero. Remember to dial 0034 before any number if you are calling from a foreign number. ELLA INFO POINT PALMA ......................................................................................971 457 564 IB Salud / Health Center ....................................................................................... 971 202 222 Aeropuerto / Airport ................................................................................................. 971 789 099 Ambulancia SAMUR / Ambulance .........................................................................971 736 694

TRANSPORTES / TRANSPORTATION

Radio Taxi / Radio Taxi ............................................................................................ 971 755 440 Taxi Palma Radio / Taxi Palma Radio .................................................................. 971 401 414 Precio medio del trayecto / Average price: Palma - Aeropuerto / Palma - Airport .............................................................................18 € +/-

Palma - ELLA Beach / Palma - ELLA Beach .................................................................. 5 € +/-

A MOST SPECIAL EXPERIENCE IN VALLDEMOSSA

Cosy restaurant located in a former mechanics garage, away from the busy streets of Valldemossa town center, directed by chef NicolĂĄs Gago Aubert

~ Address: Santiago RussiĂąol 1, Valldemossa, Mallorca Opening Times: 13h-16h & 19h-22h Monday Closed

Bookings: Mail: estallervalldemossa@gmail.com Tel: +34 971 616 396

UPCOMING FESTIVALS

ELLA FESTIVAL MEXICO, 12 – 16 MARCH 2020 We are very pleased to announce that ELLA will be travelling to Mexico next year! The ﬁrst Latin American edition of the ELLA International Lesbian Festival will take place in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico from 12 -16 March 2020. The programme of the Festival will feature entertaining and educational activities for local and international lesbian, bisexual and trans women. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful town of San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as to take part in workshops and inspiring presentations and performances by Latin American activists and artists from the lesbian, bisexual, and trans community. Stay tuned for more details about the programme and information on how to participate on the event’s designated Facebook page www.facebook.com/ellafestivalmexico or on the ELLA Global Community website www.ellaglobalcommunity.org. ELLA WINTER IN DAVOS, 27 – 31 MARCH 2020 ELLA International Lesbian Festival will host its third winter edition in Davos, Switzerland from 27 March 2020 – 31 March 2020. After the success of our previous editions, we will continue our winter tradition in the

beautiful mountains of Switzerland! Join us for a refreshing experience where you will be able to enjoy the unique nature and snowy surroundings, winter sports, gastronomy and party in a cosy and sophisticated environment with likeminded women! More details about the Festival programme will be shared soon on www.ellafestival.com.

UPCOMING FESTIVALS

ELLA FESTIVAL COSTA RICA, 24 APRIL – 8 MAY 2020 Join us on this unique journey in one of the most stunning destinations in the world, where you will have the chance to experience a tropical adventure and get to know the diverse culture and community of local LBT women. The programme will include excursions for you to see the incredible beauty of the Costa Rican forests, beaches and wildlife, as well as a three-day Festival in San José powered by ELLA Talks, musical performances, workshops and other creative and interactive activities throughout the city. For more information read the story behind the creation of this Festival in the ELLA Global Community section of this ELLA Summer 2019 Programme, or visit www.ellaglobalcommunity.org or www.ellafestival.com. ELLA FESTIVAL COLOMBIA, AUGUST 2020 ELLA’s third Latin American destination next year will be in Colombia in August 2020!

Further details will be shared soon on www.ellafestival.com.

KRISTIN HANSEN

INTERVIEW WITH KRISTIN HANSEN /

CEO & Founder of ELLA Festival and ELLA Global Community

How did you come up with the idea setting up the ELLA International Lesbian Festival? The lack of existing offers for lesbians is what motivated me to organise the ELLA Festival. These women need a space where they are able to meet and be themselves without having to worry about the judgement of others and feel comfortable. It also needs to be a safe space with a nice, friendly atmosphere which is what the ELLA Festival offers. I arrived in Mallorca 14 years ago as a foreign and young lesbian woman who didn't speak any Spanish. I arrived alone with only my dog as companion, and I was very worried that I would be alone forever, because I did not know where the other women ‘like me’ were. I was lucky to meet a few women with similar ideas in the ﬁrst months, however I still felt I had to lie about my sexual orientation to my colleagues at work, as I didn’t feel I would belong, and I felt embarrassed to express myself. I was afraid of their judgement. One day, I was sitting in my garden with a glass of wine thinking how I could improve the situation of women like me, not just for myself! My ambition was to create a social environment in which women could connect and feel comfortable to be who they wanted to be. I wanted women to feel proud of themselves. I wanted lesbian and bisexual women to be conﬁdent enough to be visible and seen. This is why ELLA was created.

From the beginning, ELLA has dedicated its efforts to being a social enterprise by giving visibility and support to lesbian women. I realised that there were no existing services in the leisure and tourism industry that were tailored to the needs of lesbian women. We know that life as a lesbian can be difﬁcult in the face of prejudice, discrimination,

last year, the non-proﬁt organisation ELLA Global Community. What impact does ELLA FESTIVAL have at the national and international level? We promote visibility and empowerment of lesbian, bisexual and trans women. More

KRISTIN HANSEN

myths and taboos, and this is why we set up the ELLA Festival, ELLA Travel, and since

and more women come out of the closet feeling empowered and confident about who they are. The ELLA International Lesbian Festival receives a lot of support and encouragement, as well as many expressions of requests for collaboration from women’s initiatives in different countries as far as Mexico and Colombia, where we will host ELLA Festivals in March and August of next year respectively. This shows that there is a high demand, or need, better said, for lesbian, bisexual and trans women to connect and build a community where they feel safe and can be themselves. Most importantly, the impact we seek to have is on lesbian, bisexual, and trans women themselves. Every year at the ELLA Festival, we see a wonderful community of women growing, connecting with each other, and feeling relaxed and confident with the safe and familiar space we offer. As our community grows, so will the number of women who feel confident to assert their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Now that we have founded a non-profit organisation, ELLA Global Community, and that we have a dedicated team in Costa Rica implementing a program of monthly community activities as well as preparing the ELLA Festival in San José for next year, we are aware that we are offering something unique because of the positive reactions and interest that we have received from the local civil society and the lesbian community in Costa Rica. ELLA Global Community also signed a partnership with the renowned international aid organisation Hivos from the Netherlands earlier this year. Their support demonstrates that ELLA holds an exciting future and can achieve great impact for lesbian, bisexual and trans women around the world. I see it as a movement that is slowly expanding amongst women, for which we are also facilitate connection and provide support to the community of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women even more around the world.

currently developing a social mobile application called the QTELLA app, that will

level? I believe that things are changing little by little at the level of social acceptance, and ELLA Festival contributes to the fact that lesbian, bisexual and trans women are more

KRISTIN HANSEN

ELLA FESTIVAL started in 2013 in Spain. Have things changed since then at the social

visible and more understood. But at the social level Spain is still a traditional and conservative country and work therefore remains to be done in making people from the LGBTI community feel fully accepted and respected. What is new for this year’s edition of the Festival? A very important event at the 7th edition of the ELLA International Lesbian Festival in Mallorca is the ELLA Talks, a series of inspiring conferences provided by openly lesbian, bisexual and trans women. We have an incredible line up of truly brilliant activists, artists, entrepreneurs and leaders, and I am excited to see the impact the ELLA Talks will have on the Festival participants. I hope they will feel inspired and filled with confidence that they too can be successful, as a lesbian, bisexual or trans woman. This is the main reason we have created ELLA Talks – to promote visibility and empowerment by providing positive references of successful lesbian women. Speakers will include Monica Benicio, Brazilian activist, architect and widow of murdered human rights activist and Rio de Janeiro Counsel Member Marielle Franco, Daniela Sea, Trans Non Binary activist, musician, DJ, and actress on the internationally renowned series The L-Word, Jayne Ozanne, Founder of the Ozanne Foundation, British evangelical and activist for LGBT inclusion in the Church, Marta Marquez, President of Galehi, the Spanish LGBT Association for Homoparental Families, Faika El-Nagashi, politician and member of the Austrian Green Party, as well as Nicole Faraday, British award-winning actress known for her role in the television series Bad Girls. What would the ultimate achievement be of the festival? To make lesbian, bisexual and trans women feel 100% free to express themselves and affirm her identity without fear or judgment from society. We will not stop until the LGBTI 27

community has achieved equality and social acceptance in all countries. Next year we will be expanding the ELLA International Lesbian Festival to Costa Rica,

KRISTIN HANSEN

Mexico and Colombia, which is like a dream come true. When I founded ELLA Global Community last year, I would have never imagined the organisation would expand so fast and as far as Latin America. In Costa Rica, we work with national and international organisations and institutions, civil society organisations, LGBTI activists and the private sector to develop the programme of the ELLA Festival of San José, which will take place from 24 - 26 of April 2020. In Mexico, we are working with a local women’s collective and women entrepreneurs from the UNESCO World Heritage town of San Miguel de Allende to create the first ELLA Festival in Mexico which will take place from 12 – 16 March 2020. The Latin American editions of ELLA Festival will feature entertainment and educational activities, including workshops and inspiring presentations and performances by Latin American activists and artists from the lesbian, bisexual, and trans community. As part of ELLA Global Community both Festivals will be free and open to the public. You and your wife live in a small village in Mallorca, with your daughter. How have you experienced being part of a diverse family where you live? Where we live we are not the only family that is diverse, but there aren’t many like us. My wife and I realised there aren’t many support network or resources out there for diverse families and decided to start hosting monthly meetings for homoparental and diverse families in Mallorca. Our first meeting was at the end of July, giving the opportunity for diverse parents and couples to connect and share their challenges as well as what we all have in common, in a relaxed environment. This is one of the activities that ELLA Global Community will make possible here in Mallorca and we hope to build a community of diverse families where we can offer support and friendship to each other. Do you have a dream that remains to be fulfilled? Beyond ELLA’s projects and activities, my dream is to end all discrimination towards and inequality of lesbian women and the entire LGBTI population. This is what has motivated me all these years organising the festivals and events of ELLA, and I am very proud to have founded the non-profit organisation ELLA Global Community, which will allow me to promote the visibility and empowerment of lesbian, bisexual and trans women in the long

term, and beyond the tourism and leisure sector. I believe all women deserve to feel free and respected, and able to assert their identity without fear.

c/ fรกbrica 41b palma ladamadeella.com el punto de encuentro de ELLA en Palma

ELLA Global Community is our non-proﬁt organisation that was created by ELLA to develop activities with social impact, build community, and promote visibility and empowerment

for

lesbian,

bisexual

and

trans

women

Europe

and

the

world.

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY INTRODUCCIÓN / INTRODUCTION

ELLA Global Community was founded in 2018 from the desire and need to provide the opportunity for lesbian, bisexual and trans women to connect in a safe space where they can be themselves and feel empowered to advocate for their rights and lead successful lives. Activities include organising community events, workshops and inspiring conferences such as ELLA Talks, and hosting the ELLA International Lesbian Festival in countries where discrimination against these women still prevails as a result of patriarchy, tradition, religion, and/or other socio-political restrictions and challenges. We are currently working in Costa Rica, as well as in Mexico and Colombia, where we will host our ﬁrst ELLA International Lesbian Festivals in Latin America in Spring and Summer 2020. In addition to our community-based approach, we also strongly believe in innovation as a powerful tool to facilitate connection and access to resources and support for lesbian, bisexual, and trans women around the world. We are developing a social application that will help us build a truly worldwide ELLA community. For more news on latest developments of the app, and ELLA Global Community activities

and events, keep an eye on the organisation’s website www.ellaglobalcommunity.org

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY / COSTA RICA

Since last summer ELLA has been making headway in Costa Rica thanks to the efforts of ELLA Global Community’s local team on the ground and our partner, Hivos Latin America! In Costa Rica, ELLA Global Community aims to generate momentum and give support to local initiatives that work to promote visibility as well as empower lesbian, bisexual and trans women, providing them with a safe meeting space, and raising awareness about their challenges and aspirations to advocate for non-discrimination and inclusion of the LGBTI community. Our adventure in Costa Rica started in April last year, when a simple trip to explore the possibility of hosting a future ELLA Festival and tour turned into an ambitious and not-for-proﬁt initiative that will support the local lesbian, bisexual and trans community. We are now working in collaboration with public and international institutions, organisations, and local representatives of the lesbian community, as well as with companies and initiatives that promote employability and social inclusion of LGBTI people. Earlier this year we also signed a partnership with Hivos Latin America, an international aid organisation from the Netherlands known for its pioneer work in Latin America and the Caribbean in the defense and promotion of human rights, women’s and LGBTI rights, as well as for people living with HIV.

In the past year we have had the privilege to meet and work with outstanding activists, artists, mothers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from all walks of life from the lesbian, bisexual and trans community in Costa Rica. In addition to the amazing nature and

wildlife that the country is known for, Costa Rica has a vibrant LGBTI community and a wealth of artists and culture to offer. You can ﬁnd out more about some of the inspiring women in the following section of this programme which is dedicated to interviews we have conducted with women activists and entrepreneurs in Latin America.

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY

ELLA GLOBAL COMMUNITY / COSTA RICA

ELLA Global Community took part in the first edition of the LGBTQ film festival NÕS Film Fest in San José, which ran from 17 until 31 May 2019. Thanks to our alliance with this important cultural activity, ELLA screened the first Costa Rican short film about women who love women entitled Lobas (‘Wolves’) by the renowned filmmaker Patricia Howell. Thanks to our experiences, and in continued consultation with our partner Hivos and our local team we have developed an exciting programme of community events and workshops for lesbian, bisexual, and trans women in the lead up to next year’s ELLA Festival of San José in April 2020. The programme of the Festival, which will include an incredible line-up of arts, music, panel debates, workshops and a full day of ELLA Talks conferences, will put lesbian, bisexual and trans activists, artists, business leaders, representatives from national and international institutions, and civil society organisations at the forefront, making their demands and achievements visible at a national and regional level in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Festival will be free and open to the public, including children. If you wish to support our activities in Costa Rica, please visit ELLA Global Community’s website on www.ella-

globalcommunity.org for further information on our projects there, and make a donation.

LIZA CASTILLO

LIZA CASTILLO /

Project Coordinator, ELLA Costa Rica

You are an architect and specialist in mobility and urban design, and former Vice Minister of Transportation of Costa Rica. Can you tell us a little bit about your professional journey towards achieving such an important position in your career? My professional journey began before I graduated, when I had to leave my home as a result of having communicated to my parents that I was a lesbian woman. My family was very affected by this news, and due to its deeply rooted conservative values was not able to deal with the situation differently. This obliged me to move to the city in search of work while finishing my university degree. I found several jobs for which English was the key to finish my studies. I then worked for about 5 years as an architect in a construction firm that developed holiday properties on the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Subsequently, understanding the importance of sustainable life in cities, I ventured into the public transport industry, advising and managing corporate social responsibility policies, promoting service improvement, staff training and organisational reforms to promote the modernisation of operational processes. I had the wonderful experience of accompanying public-private negotiations to promote public transport reforms in Costa Rica during my tenure as Vice Minister of Transportation and Road Safety. Today I work as an openly lesbian consultant and I am the founder of the Womeninmo34

tion Network, an initiative that promotes the inclusion of female leaders in the transport and mobility agenda, the promotion of the UN sustainable development goals and women's empowerment.

Since I was a child, the arts moved my soul - music, drawing, and painting. When I decided to study architecture, I wanted to change the world, I wanted to design and build spaces where people could connect with the soul, with well-being, with our environment and our natural ecosystems.

LIZA CASTILLO

What motivated you to choose architecture as your career?

As an openly lesbian woman, what have been the main challenges in your professional and personal life in Costa Rica? My main challenge was reconnecting with my parents. After 15 years, I now have a wonderful relationship with my family, in its different nuclei, full of compassion and respect. Thanks to my inner truth, so far I have never had to face a negative employment situation due to my sexuality. I have always communicated my reality to my colleagues and I have never had problems in this regard. A challenge I did face was protecting my son and partner from the gossip of the yellow press when I was Deputy Minister. What practices and hobbies do you do in real life to help you maintain your determination in assuming your identity as a lesbian woman in Costa Rican society? I practice yoga and meditation. I am certiďŹ ed as a yoga teacher and continue to learn in depth about this wonderful way of life. I constantly travel to see nature to breathe and to connect with the rivers, the sea and the mountains. I have also been an athlete all my life and I love playing soccer. Now as a mother I practice parenting with love and empathy. You are part of the Association of Homoparental and Diverse Families of Costa Rica. Can you tell us about your experience of having had a diverse family, and how the issue of diverse families is received today in Costa Rica? What advice would you give to parents and children of diverse families? Having Saul (my son) has been a beautiful gift of life, his love and essence have come to transform the way I see life. In Costa Rica as in the rest of the world, radical groups have been raising their voices, violating peace, fostering differences and hate. Given this situation, groups such as Homoparental and Diverse Families bring together loving with other families that share their reality, building the truth from their ďŹ rst steps. Love is what builds families and nonviolent communication is the key.

families and support groups so that both we as mothers and our children can connect

LIZA CASTILLO

Tell us about your experience when you came out of the closet. How was this received by your family and in your professional settings? My experience was very complex. When I was 19 years old I had to leave my house to build my reality, freeing myself from guilt and looking for other spiritual channels. What remains to be done to improve rights and daily life for lesbian, bisexual and trans women in Costa Rica today? In Costa Rica there are movements and groups of lesbian women who constantly ďŹ ght for our rights. We are promoting equal civil marriage, creating support networks for families, promoting an environment of peace. Today we need to support and work with families, bring support to LGTBQ populations in rural areas, promote awareness

campaigns and safe living spaces.

able and excluded populations, such as LGBTI people in many cases? What is the current situation in San José, capital city of Costa Rica, in terms of accessibility and

LIZA CASTILLO

In your opinion, what role can urban mobility play in promoting the inclusion of vulner-

mobility? Urban mobility as a concept puts people at the center of design. Our challenge today is to understand diversity and plan our cities and the way in which we move in an inclusive way. The role of urban mobility is essential, it must guarantee security and accessibility. A few years ago Costa Rica underwent a paradigm shift, changing from a car-centric approach to more equitable public policies that promote the development of quality public transport and the improvement of our public spaces. Our governance is very complex and very resistant to change, but thanks to the support of new leaders and organised civil society groups, public works, laws and policies have been implemented that are leading us towards more sustainable and inclusive cities. What has been your motivation to join ELLA's movement? What do you hope to contribute to the organisation of the Festival? I believe in the construction of living spaces and the need to be part of a network, work with families, with communities, with different sectors of society. I believe that love and peace always prevail in the face of hatred and fear. ELLA is a global network that seeks to strengthen local communities by connecting them to global realities, share their experiences and promote sorority. I hope to contribute my professional skills to build safe spaces and support networks, and expand the project regionally. In your opinion, what can the ELLA Festival of San José in 2020 bring to lesbian, bisexual and trans women? What are your expectations of the Festival? ELLA San José festival will be the ﬁrst of many events where we will meet as lesbian women in all its diversities, enjoy and co-create a common agenda that drives a message

of peace, female empowerment and promote a regional support network.

ORIENTATION SEXUALSEXUAL ORIENTATION LAWS I

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IN THE WORLD WORLD - 2019 - 2019

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Russian Federation

Estonia Latvia

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Ukraine

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Romania

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Georgia Kyrgyzstan

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Turkey

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Somalia

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New Zealand

BEATRIZ CRAVIOTO & ERIKA CARILLO

BEATRIZ CRAVIOTO & ERIKA CARILLO / Founders of Happy Marmalade & Sappho Mexico Project Coordinator ELLA Mexico

You run a family business of home-made jams called Happy Marmalade. Can you tell us how you came to create a company with such an original concept? Erika: I never really imagined having this company, I am an anthropologist by profession and I was more focused on academia than business. I started with my mother, I had always prepared jellies and jams which the whole family and friends loved. At the age of 50 she became unemployed, and because of the social conditions in Mexico it was a better option to start a company of her own than to seek a new job. The concept of Happy Marmalades was to make fun of the organic food trend such as free chickens and milk from happy cows. So we thought why not make "happy jams"? We had a lot of fun setting up the company. At the beginning I was very little involved, but now it has become my main activity. Today we have 7 employees and established ourselves as a social enterprise, employing women with vulnerable situations, such as single mothers and women who are over 50 years old. You also run an association called Sappho & Co Mexico, dedicated to promoting the visibility, rights and empowerment of LGBT women, which are very similar objectives to those of ELLA. What motivated you to set up this association? Beth: My main motivation behind setting up Sappho & Co was the search for recognition of lesbians in society, both in the heteronormal and in the LGBT community since spaces for lesbians are barely available, are of poor quality or non-existent. As well as all the basic needs that lesbians have and that we cannot solve in many cases because there 40

are no specialised services for us, or that service providers are not trained to serve a lesbian girl or a lesbian couple in a respectful and adequate manner. The empowerment of lesbian women within society is also an important issue as our society still sees us or our stereotype in a very inferior light.

challenges you faced when setting up your company? In Mexican society we still have a long way to go regarding the issue of gender equality. There are still many differences in treatment and challenges regarding the acceptance of a woman in the business world. Today male partners still try to compete with women-run businesses. We have experienced several cases of harassment and intimidation, and our business is often not taken seriously simply because it is run by women. As an openly lesbian couple, what have been the main challenges you faced within your professional and family surroundings?

BEATRIZ CRAVIOTO & ERIKA CARILLO

How are women entrepreneurs seen in Mexican society? What were the main

In our present family environment we are an accepted and beloved couple, but as professionals we have the challenge of being mindful of our behavior when required, and being careful to whom mention our sexual preference and the nature of our relationship since this can affect our business interests. Tell us how your experiences were of coming out of the closet. Were they different or similar? Beth: For me it was a very complicated situation since my parents did not accept it and tried to persuade me by all means, even making me feel guilty for their suffering. They took me out of school, they withdrew their ďŹ nancial support, they forbade me to leave my house and receive calls. But I never gave in, and always normalised it. I never silenced it, and with the passing of time my parents accepted it, although not entirely since my dad is still hoping that one day I will marry a man and have children so I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t "be left alone". Erika: In my case it was very open and relatively "simple." My relationship with my family was always good, but distant. At 22 I lived alone, my parents were divorced, and we were all independent. From when I was 24 to 29 years old I had a job that led me to travel and live in several cities, so I saw my parents only once or twice a year. One day, without anticipating it, my mother saw a picture of me with my girlfriend at the time, she asked me who it was and without more ado I said "my girlfriend". We talked, my brother was there too, so I took the opportunity to tell them both that I had been dating girls for a couple of years. My brother was not surprised and congratulated me on my girlfriend, my mother only said that if that made me happy she was happy too. That was all. It took always treated her as family. With my father it was something similar, but he took it more naturally, he even helped my mother understand it, gave her books and talked to her a lot. He passed away three years ago.

her a bit to take in the idea, but now she is very good at it, she loves Bea a lot and has

BEATRIZ CRAVIOTO & ERIKA CARILLO

What remains to be done to improve rights and daily life for lesbian, bisexual and trans women in Mexico today? Beth: I think there is a signiďŹ cant awakening in Mexico in terms of acceptance, respect and empathy for the LGBT community, but this is just the beginning. Much remains to be done both on the social level, as with the LGBT community itself, to continue promoting safe, inclusive spaces, as well as equal rights and empathy for LBTQ women. There is still a lack of information on issues such as homoparental families, as well as on simple freedom and the right to leave the closet. There are advances in the legal issue, such as egalitarian marriage, for example, but in social issues it is important to educate Mexican society, especially the older generations that are usually more conservative. In your opinion, what role can entrepreneurship play in advancing the rights and empowerment of lesbian women? It plays a very important role since setting the example is one of the most powerful incentives to motivate other women to start their own business and not be limited by their sexual preference since one does not contradict the other. In addition to giving visibility and position to women at the business level regardless of their sexual preference, it promotes the mainstreaming and equality of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights in terms of salaries, working hours, and management positions. What incited you to join the ELLA movement? How did you find out about the Festival and our activities? Beth: A year ago we traveled to Greece and among the tourist activities we found the Sappho Women's Fest, which was a big surprise since it coincided exactly with the dates of our trip. We decided to venture and cross the world to get to the festival, which turned out to be like paradise for the simple fact of being on an island where there were only women from different parts of the world. It was a sensation we had never experienced, but it felt like home. Why doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this exist in Mexico? Erika and I wondered. So it occurred to us to organise it ourselves. We started with the idea of doing it with Sappho & Co., but researching on the internet we found ELLA and we liked everything about it. It was like "seeing" the future

of what we wanted to achieve in Mexico. Very nervously we sent an email to Kristin to ask about the collaboration and when we met her on Skype we knew we had chosen the perfect ally.

There are several independent initiatives including cultural centers, bars, parties, travel agencies, but there is no organisation like Sappho & Co. Our organisation is a pioneer in this regard. In your opinion, what can the ELLA Festival of San Miguel de Allende in 2020 contribute or bring to the lesbian movement? What are your expectations of the Festival? The LBTQ girls are eager to have their own spaces, as well as to break stereotypes and raise their voices to defend our right to be and love freely. We currently have a little more

BEATRIZ CRAVIOTO & ERIKA CARILLO

Is there a similar movement or community of lesbian women in Mexico?

freedom, but unlike the community of LGBT boys, the services and spaces available for women are minimal. We are tired of not having options. There are still many girls who do not dare to come out of the closet openly because the lesbian stereotype in Mexican society is mostly seen as negative: we are free, independent women who love other women, in a society where machismo is still very present. This is revolutionary. Our expectations for the ELLA Festival in Mexico in 2020 are to generate the feeling we had at the Sappho Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fest in Lesvos, Greece, where we felt free and part of a family. To make it possible for the Mexican girls to have a space for cultural and social

interaction, and good quality entertainment.

MYRTILLE DANSE

INTERVIEW: MYRTILLE DANSE / DIRECTOR HIVOS LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

You are the Latin America Director of a renowned Dutch international development foundation called Hivos which, amongst other topics, has been fighting LGBTIQ rights for over 50 years. What have been one of the most significant achievements or projects that Hivos has been a part of in Latin America? It’s difficult to select just one, as we have contributed in the whole region to the decriminalisation of LGBTIQ rights, special safety measures for LGBTIQ activists in countries where their rights are heavily violated, training of authorities, public officers and staff of the private sector to decrease discrimination first and eventually create more inclusive public services (health, education, registration) and inclusive work spaces. In multiple countries we contributed to changes in legal frameworks that now allow, amongst other changes, gender registration and same sex marriage rights. But if I would have to pick one, than it would be the request for the advisory opinion of the Costa Rican Government to the Interamerican Court for Human Rights on same-sex marriage and transgender rights. In January 2018 the Court resolved that same-sex couples should be recognised and guaranteed “all the rights that are derived from a family bond between people of the same sex” and that the governments must guarantee access “to all existing forms of domestic legal systems, including the right to marriage, in order to ensure the protection of all the rights of families formed by same-sex couples without discrimination”. The 44

ruling of the Inter-American Court is of obligatory compliance by all the members of the Organisation of American States and ensures that the LBGTIQ population have their conventional rights guaranteed without any discrimination.

position? I feel proud that the work of Hivos contributes to improved quality of life for LGBTIQ persons all over the world. Being a lesbian myself adds value to my interaction with our

MYRTILLE DANSE

What has your experience been as a lesbian woman with such a high-level professional

partners as we both understand both at a private as well as a professional level what needs to change to create a more inclusive and just society. And it helps in my interaction with local and international authorities to explain the need for change in the region referring also to the personal discrimination I encounter. One example of this is that the legal parental rights of my partner for our children is not recognised by Costa Rican law. This causes all kinds of inconvenient situations in which we have to create additional legal documents and agreements with public entities for her to act as the adult supervisor of their needs. What are the main challenges the LGBTIQ populations face in Latin American society, and how has Hivos tried to tackle these? Discrimination, exclusion and violence. In countries where LGBTIQ rights are still criminalised, we have developed public campaigns and lobby towards local and international authorities to force the respect and enforcement of international basic human rights. We have developed safety strategies to protect LGBTIQ activists and LGBTIQ population in vulnerable circumstances. We have worked together with the local LGBTIQ movements in the whole Latin American and Caribbean region to develop training and awareness raising strategies towards the local populations, local authorities and the private sector. And in more progressive countries, we have strengthened the capacity of the local LGBTIQ movement so they are better able to support their LGBTIQ population in getting access to social services, developing personal and professional skills, and develop strategies to improve their quality of life by improving their opportunities in ďŹ nding

work and receiving a fair income.

MYRTILLE DANSE

As a Dutch woman, you have lived for more than 15 years in Costa Rica and other Latin American countries. Could you share with us what you find most unique about this part of the world? At ﬁrst sight, it’s the beautiful and very diverse nature. If you just take Costa Rica as an example its territory is divided in four micro climates which results in a combination of cloud forest, dry forest and rainforest. You have to make a bigger effort to see animals than would probably be the case in some African national parks. But you can easily spot sloths, snakes, hundreds of different species of birds. And I remember of course the moment I saw a puma in a national park in Costa Rica, and when I swam with small sharks, turtles and sea lions in the Galapagos. The region has impressive mountain ranges such as the Andean region with high peaks full of snow but which are also the natural habitat for the condor, alpaca and vicuña. And of course the impressive amazon region, the lung of the world. Another thing I enjoy is the cultural diversity, which is reflected in music, gastronomic diversity, clothes, languages. Last but not least, I love the friendly attitude of Latin Americans. They are joyful, know how to enjoy life and take the day as it comes. Carpe diem! In your opinion, is the current political climate in Costa Rica favourable to drive change and obtain equal rights for the LGBTIQ community? Yes very much. The ruling of the Interamerican Court I mentioned before is a very important legal tool that is now being used by the current Costa Rican government to legalize equal marriage, gender registration, and some other basic LGBTI human rights. In May next year these rulings will become legal rights. But besides the legal changes, you can also notice a change in society, such as young people who join international women’s day march and Gay Pride to express their wish for a more inclusive society. Private initiatives are being developed to create awareness within the population that equal marriage is not something that will affect you and your religion, your own well being, etc. But it is something that you can accept so life for other people becomes easier. I like that message very much. How did you get to know about the ELLA Global Community movement, with whom you have recently signed a partnership? I met Kristin and Marion from ELLA in May 2018 during their ﬁrst visit to the country. I felt 46

inspired by their positive energy and their experience in organising events for LBT women. They are very complementary to the type of activities we have been organising with the local LBT movement here. I offered them our local capacity, experience with the LBT movement and other actors in the region, as well as our reputation.

already of scaling it up to other countries in the region and hopefully also to other regions where we both work or want to work. What are your hopes for this innovative partnership, and any project ideas that you have for the future with ELLA that you would like to share with the community?

MYRTILLE DANSE

We established a partnership to pilot the ELLA Festival ﬁrst in Costa Rica, and dream

My expectation is that our collaboration will help local LBT people to get in contact with each other and also to organise local events during the year which responds to their needs but also aspirations. Besides that, I hope that this collaboration also helps to increase the visibility of LBT community in other countries, and to show its diversity. This may contribute to the acceptance of LBT people as everyone else will become more aware that it can be your sister, cousin, neighbor, colleague etc. What is it what most caught your attention about ELLA Global Community? The different look and feel of the initiative. We normally work with LGBTIQ movement fighting for human rights. And this movement is very necessary and plays an important role in contributing to change in very difficult and often violent environments. The ELLA Global Community adds a different look and feel to this. It appeals to the desires of LBT women, and this opens up a whole new range of opportunities to develop initiatives for LBT people and to create this bigger, more visibleánd diverse LBT community that can contribute to a better integration of this community in society. The second factor that I find appealing of this initiative is the opportunity to establish international support structures of women who live in more inclusive societies whom can help with funds, knowledge, convening power or other mechanisms, to improve the living conditions and support LBT women who live in less inclusive societies. What are your expectations for the ELLA Festival in San José? We have designed a plan to organise events on a monthly basis in Costa Rica. We call them activations and the aim is to activate all kinds of LBT women. Young women and older women, living in the city and in villages, working for the private sector and students, mothers and single women, etc. These events will respond to the diverse needs and desires of these groups and in that way we make them ready for the big event in April 2020. The Festival In San José will offer a program in which we combine successful tours, fair etc, with events organised by the local LBT movement such as concerts, workshops and movies. We expect to attract every day at least 3000 people at the Festival. And that’s just the start, as we hope to repeat this festival annually.

components of the European ELLA festivals such as the ELLA Talks, DJs, gastronomy

LUXURIOUS ADULTS-ONLY RESORT IN A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WITH BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

INTERVIEW CLARE AND MONI

INTERVIEW: CLARE AND MONI /

Clare, CEO and Founder of Gymkhana Life & Monica, Strategic Technology Management Specialist Project Coordinator ELLA Colombia

Tell us a little about your life. Where do you live and what do you do? We are Moni and Clare, 37 and 36 years old respectively, we were born in the coffee region of Colombia. Moni is from Manizales and I am from Armenia. After leaving the University we each tried to find jobs and were presented with the opportunity to move to Medellín, a thriving city full of opportunity, kind and enterprising people. In 2008 I created my first Facebook account and joined a ‘girl-meet-girl’ group, where I met Moni virtually. I must admit at the time I did not believe in starting a relationship online, even less so if there was no profile picture and I did not have the slightest idea of what kind of person I would find behind a Facebook account. Less than eight days later I invited Moni, without even knowing what she looked like, to go out dancing at the Viva Discoteca, which at the time was one of the best LGBT discotheques in Medellín. I went with my colleagues and she arrived with her friend, and I had to communicate with her via whatsapp to agree on an area in the club where to meet. I got nervous without even knowing if it was a woman who would wait for me, but finally when we met it was literally passion and love at first sight. We danced all night and at dawn we went to my apartment. This was the second crazy decision! In the afternoon of the next day I noticed that Moni’s foot was purple, and it turns out that she had fallen down the stairs at the Viva Discoteca. She had not noticed the pain because she had so much fun dancing. We went to the emergency service together and I could have left her there in the taxi, but since that night we never separated again. We moved in together straight away but we

are not married yet, although here same-sex marriage is already legal. It is a typical lesbian story! We met and eight days later we moved in together to stay together forever.

ship. We have two house projects, one we live in and the other one is being built. Moni holds a Master in Strategic Technology Management, with extensive experience in the educational sector, as well as administration and educational planning, and works for a State University called SENA. She has been an ambassador and sponsor at different Blockchain events in the city, she is preoccupied about cryptocurrencies and technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

INTERVIEW CLARE AND MONI

We have been together for over eleven years, in a stable, loving and respectful relation-

I am a specialist in Tourism Product Design and Innovation, with over three years of experience in sub categories (LGBT, Wellness, Luxury, Ecotourism, Systems B) in the tourism sector. I have worked in the LGBT sector with an LGBT tourism operator calledOut in Colombia Travel SAS, owned by an American named Sam Holdren, with whom we designed a portfolio of services for the LGBT community from the US to Colombia. With the support of Procolombia we also participated in a call to operate the first LGBT Fam Trip that was held in Colombia this year in February to promote the destinations of Cartagena and Barranquilla to more than twelve international businessmen, agencies and tour operators from countries such as Germany, USA, Spain, Mexico, Chile, Italy, who were invited by our Government and Procolombia. At Out in Colombia Travel SAS we were in charge of the entire operation and to show Sam Holdren the several destinations and LGBT tourist offer of those two cities. I have experience in organising trips for foreigners who come to visit Colombia, I have had to get involved in all the processes inform clients about the company and destination, organise client profiles to know their travel tastes, send a detailed proposal about itineraries and costs, make strategic alliances with quality suppliers and services in the tourism sector such as chain and boutique hotels, multimodal transport companies, guides and bilingual drivers, and tours for the LGBT community. We both work with agile technologies and modalities, such as Google Cloud and collaborative work platforms, to be more proactive with our projects and deliverables. We have a small office at home where we can devote time to projects that arise. In our free time, Moni and I spend time together, and sometimes apart to tend to separate activities. Moni is very athletic; she runs and is part of a basketball team at University. I like to watch series on Netflix and like to spend time with friends in outdoor spaces and times a year to spend quality time as a couple.

go hiking. Moni loves to read and I riding my motorcycle. We travel at least two or three

INTERVIEW CLARE AND MONI

How are women entrepreneurs seen in Colombian society? There are not many women entrepreneurs but they are increasing in numbers and gaining recognition in our society. This is thanks to their known planning, administration and leadership skills, as well as the exceptional talent that always characterises them, being authentic and empowered as women and as Colombians. What were the main challenges you faced in setting up your company? In Colombia there is a lot of paperwork for the creation of any company, regardless of gender or sexual preference, however in our lifetime we have set up a few businesses in different sectors, and as the latter is in the tourism sector that I am so passionate about, I have not found any barriers. In more general terms, Colombian women entrepreneurs do not encounter many barriers because here entrepreneurship is strongly encouraged and there are many sources of ďŹ nancing, training, and more and more foreign investment is coming, as well as incubators that arrive from all countries to promote and support them. As an openly lesbian couple, what have been the main challenges you faced within your professional and family surroundings? When I came out of the closet, my family apparently accepted it very well and easily digested it. For Moni it was a more complicated issue because her parents were more conservative than mine. It took them time to accept it, but once that stage was overcome, we have received unconditional support and love from both families. Our fathers, mothers and siblings are all still alive and we live in our separate homes in MedellĂn. We are all very independent but very united and integrated at the same time. In the professional environment it has been easy for Moni and I, we have been open with our colleagues and coworkers where we have worked have been very respectful of our sexual orientation and our relationship, just as we have been respectful in being honest

with them.

similar? Our experiences were different. Moni had a difﬁcult time accepting herself, but once she took the step of facing her family and circle of close friends and seeing their support grow over time, she felt more comfortable and open with her lifestyle. As for me, I came out of the closet to my mother during my adolescence, and from then onwards I have been openly lesbian with everyone around me, with conﬁdence.

INTERVIEW CLARE AND MONI

Tell us how your experiences were of coming out of the closet. Were they different or

What remains to be done to improve rights and daily life for lesbian, bisexual and trans women in Colombia today? A lot remains to be done, we are still at the very beginning. There are good laws in Colombia that protect us but we must educate the community in general so that there is more inclusion, acceptance, diversity and respect. In your opinion, what role can entrepreneurship play in advancing the rights and empowerment of lesbian women? Improve the quality of life of women, families and LBT communities, promote the visibility of women entrepreneurship and empowerment in the context of macho culture, boost the economy of the country, motivate by example, create an LBT Tourism HUB. Promote gender equality, equity, respect for human rights, women education, development and professional training, carry out good practices. However, these advances are slow, insufﬁcient and uneven. The following quote is from the Report on Progress of Women in Colombia 2018 by UN Women: “Colombia has a historic opportunity: it has invested in the educational advancement of women, it has a generation of women with great talent, capacity and collective drive to participate in the economy and democracy. Likewise, the country has built the legal and institutional structure for the equality and empowerment of women, and has reached an exemplary peace agreement for its gender perspective; however, to achieve the substan-

tive equality of women in Colombia, more strategic actions are still required. ”

INTERVIEW CLARE AND MONI

What incited you to join the ELLA movement? How did you find out about the Festival and our activities? Our main motivation to join the ELLA movement, through ELLA Colombia, is to promote and position Colombia as an emerging LBT destination. In fact, we found out about ELLA because we follow the RRSS of FITUR Gay and ITB Berlin, as well as lesbian magazines such as Mirales, and Lesbicanarias, and ‘There is a lesbian in my soup’ blog, amongst others. We started to become interested in what ELLA is achieving in Spain. Moni has always seen me more as an entrepreneur than as an employee and I honestly have more of an entrepreneurial spirit, so she encouraged me every month that I should write to ELLA. One and a half months ago I became unemployed and I thought that ELLA may be interested in the Colombian market and in empowering more Latin American women with their movement, and here we are. Is there a similar movement or community of lesbian women in Colombia? · Colombia Diversa (Bogota) · Corporación Femm (Bogota) · Estamos Listas: the movement that will make history in local elections (Medellín) In your opinion, what can the ELLA Festival in Colombia 2020 contribute or bring to the lesbian movement? What are your expectations of the Festival? · Promote and position Colombia as an emerging LBT tourist destination · Promote and defend the human and legal rights of LBT people in Colombia · Work to positively transform perceptions about LBT people in Colombia · Promote the organisation and political impact of the LBT community in Colombia · Position ELLA Festival Colombia as the ﬁrst and only LBT festival in the country

· Propose a sustainable, fair and productive urban culture

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