Current LGBT rights discourse in Eastern Europe and Africa

With the growing success of the LGBT rights movement in industrialized nations is often celebrated as a series of civil and human rights victories; in majority of the countries worldwide, LGBT persons' are frequently denied basic human rights. LGBT community members remain one of the most vulnerable groups worldwide and are often political, social and economic scapegoats; on a global scale LGBT "issues" are frequently politicized and manipulated to push political, social and economic agendas.

This discussion will focus on the current discourse and realities regarding human rights and the lives of LGBT persons in Armenia, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The panelists will discuss the manifold perspectives and narratives around LGBT issues on a global scale, and analyze the similarities and differences amongst different national and local movements and their role in global LGBTI movement.