NELFA PRESS RELEASE
A refreshed crew for the rainbow families movement in Europe! NELFA elected a new Board at its Annual General Meeting in Lisbon (17 March).
The Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations, NELFA, is full of energy after an inspiring AGM, in Portugal’s capital city. Active volunteers from different countries joined the Board, the Executive committee was re-elected. The new Board consists of President Dominique Boren (apgl, France), Vice-President Giuseppina La Delfa (Famiglie Arcobaleno, Italy), Treasurer Giovanni Fantoni (Famiglie Arcobaleno, Italy) and Secretary Björn Sieverding (LSVD, Germany). The further members are: Eleni Maravelia (FLG, Spain), Daniel Martinovic (Dugine obitelji, Croatia), Susana Cárdenaz (Galehi, Spain), Veneta Limberova (Deystvie, Bulgaria), Marcos Jornet (Son Nuestros Hijos SNH, Spain), Juan Bastón (SNH, Spain), Anu Kantola (Sateenkaariperheet, Finland), Esteban Jiménez (Famiglie Arcobaleno, Italy) and Jesús Santos Homobono (Galehi, Spain).
Dominique Boren, NELFA-President says, ‘The AGM approved a new action plan. It includes the work assignment to encourage much more rainbow families, especially in Eastern Europe and the Balkans – to come out, to stand for their rights and to raise their voices against all forms of discrimination. NELFA wants to help in establishing new, strong organisations for LGBTIQ* parents and their children, to connect them with our existing network. We must join forces, especially in regard to the upcoming EU elections in 2019.’
Giuseppina La Delfa, Vice-President of NELFA adds, ‘We recently welcomed a new member from Bulgaria, the Youth LGBT organisation Deystvie. And our next NELFA conference in 2019 will probably take place in Croatia. This already illustrates our strategic thrust. We steadily search for new allies to improve the well-being of our children. We need more recognition, protection, equal treatment and – step by step – a change of the social climate!’
The next NELFA AGM will be held in Helsinki, Finland (08-10 March 2019). The whole weekend in Lisbon was hosted by our full member ILGA Portugal and co-organised with the European Network of Parents of LGBTI+ Persons (ENP) and its national leg AMPLOS. See pictures of the major conference “We should speak out: LGBTI & Family rights” on 16th of March, with many NELFA delegates from all over Europe: http://bit.ly/2FSIJTk.
About NELFA:
NELFA is the European platform of LGBTIQ* families associations, bringing together LGBTIQ* parents and parents-to-be from all over Europe. NELFA currently represents 30 organisations in 19 European countries with more than 20,000 members. NELFA is a member of ILGA-Europe, Transgender Europe and COFACE Families Europe. Website: http://www.nelfa.org. Leaflet: http://bit.ly/2rJW0us. Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Fcn5c5.
Further contacts:
Dominique Boren (NELFA President): +33 630 49 66 62
Giuseppina La Delfa (Vice-President): +39 393 39 63 733
PHOTO: Paula Myöhänen
