ŠKUC LL LESBIAN SECTION
Introduction and
presentation
Lesbo Magazine
REPORT: SEXUAL
ORIENTATION
DISCRIMINATION IN SLOVENIA
separat
in pdf file (first nine pages in Slovene)
EQUAL CITIZENSHIP
- The final document from the seminar of lesbian
NGOs from former Yugoslavia
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PRESENTATION
... Introduction
... Political Action
... Educational Action
... Lesbo Magazine
... ŠKUC-Vizibilija Publishing
... Web-Site
... Radio program Lezbomanija
... Lesbian Library & Archive
... Bar Monokel
Introduction
With its culturally and politically engaged projects, it attacks
the dispersion of lesbophobia and homophobia, it socializes into
the ideals of an enlightened, inclusive, solidary and egalitarian
society. It participates in wider anti-government, political and
cultural efforts, aiming at breaking the massive walls of civil
apathy, political ignorance, ideological terror and mind exploitation
and is as such in public and common interest.
Lesbian Section ŠKUC-LL was established in 1987 within the framework
of the feminist group Lilit as the first lesbian organisation
in the former socialist Eastern European states. In 1988 it became
an autonomous section within the association ŠKUC (The Students'
Cultural Centre, which is one of the leading organisations for
the promotion of non-profit artistic activity in Slovenia, formed
in 1972). At the end of the eighties, lesbian activism is a constituent
part of the new social, civil-rights movements and alternative
culture, oriented toward the establishment of modern political
culture and civil society: on the one hand it articulates political
demands and on the other it socializes forms of lesbian culture,
gatherings and alternative thinking. This period is noted for
intensive networking and making ties with related groups at the
international and regional level, as well as breaking through
into the media sphere, organizing social and discussion evenings
and art events (Lesbian Film Week in 1988 in ŠKUC-Gallery in Ljubljana).
In the first half of the 90's the lesbian section ŠKUC-LL, which
together with gay-men group Magnus establishes the political association
Roza klub, is a cofounder of various cultural and social projects:
it launches the film festival, which grew into the annual Days
of Lesbian and Gay Film in Ljubljana; it assists in establishing
the gay & lesbian magazine Revolver and legendary Sunday disco
nights Roza disko in club K4; it is a cofounder of LGBT info and
help line GALfon.
After 1997 the section ŠKUC-LL turns again to autonomous activism,
based on lesbian politics, culture and society. It opens projects,
which are on-going.
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Political Action
The advocacy of equal opportunity, the promotion of civil and
human rights, the introduction of anti-discriminatory legislation,
the abolishment of institutionalised discrimination and homophobia,
the improvement of the social status of gay-men and lesbians.
Political activism is formed through public engagement, dialogue
and pressure tactics, it is aimed at state as well as international
institutions the general public and the media. The cooperation
with international GLBT movement (International Lesbian and Gay
Association) and conceptually related activist initiatives within
the local framework (UZI-Office For Interventions; CNVOS-Centre
of Non Governmental Organizations of Slovenia, etc.).
Educational Action
The opening of academic doors to gender and sexuality studies:
lesbian and gay studies in Časopis za kritiko znanosti, the cooperation
with the University of Ljubljana and related academic spheres;
tutorial work. Publishing of educational booklets (Safe Sex for
Women; Homophobia; Employment; Same-sex Parenthood, Human Rights,
etc.) and research studies (international research Discrimination
on the basis of Sexual Orientation).
Lesbo Magazine
Political, cultural and social magazine, the successor of fanzine
Lesbozine (1987-1988) and bulletin Pandora (1993-1996). It has
been published since 1997 as a non profitable, free publication.
Lesbo magazine aims at sharpening the critical and intellectual
blades and at damage-control. It promotes stories, politics and
views, arts and attitudes, practices and theories about the resistance
and radical fights against homophobia and any other exclusive
orientations. It breaks identity consolidations wherever they
limit the diversity as an existential right; therefore it opens
the issues, which are usually closed down by the social consensus:
non-monogamy; underground; trans-gender and trans-sexuality; gender
technology; pornography as activism; political manifestations;
the catholic church and lesbianism; lesbian motherhood; lesbian
trade unions; gay and lesbian studies; lesbian motifs in art;
lesbians in cyber space; closet and scenes.
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ŠKUC-Vizibilija Publishing
A literary collection which promotes lesbian issues. Since 1998
it has published literary and theoretical texts from the fields
of lesbian studies, gender studies and sexuality, predominantly
those aimed at demolishing and deconstructing the concepts of
indisputed reality through radical criticism and revolutionary
diction Already published are works of film theory (Teresa de
Lauretis), history of gender and sexuality (Kelley Hays-Gilpin,
Margaret W. Conkey, Janet D. Spector, Roberta Gilchrist, etc.),
history of literature (Lillian Faderman), lesbian-feminist criticism
(Monique Wittig) and art creativity (Jeanette Winterson etc.).
Web-site
Running since 1997: A presentation of projects and products of
ŠKUC-LL, the electronic database of information, links and photo-gallery:
www.ljudmila.org/lesbo. A lesbian virtual space on-line.
Radio program Lezbomanija
Radio program about lesbians, gays and trans-others on Ljubljana's
Radio Student, 89.3 Mhz UKV Stereo. Once a month (Saturdays at
2 p.m.). In its beginning in July 1998, it was a part of a cultural
editorial and later on joined the project MultiKulti. Since 2000,
it has been a member of the international network of feminist
radio stations of AMARC. News and information; analysis and commentary
of media and political realities and discourse about homosexuality;
reviews and cri-tics of cultural events; interviews; opinion polls;
presentations of current GLBT projects. Music: alternative rock,
trip-hop, drum'n'bass, ambiental.
Lesbian Library & Archive
The Lesbian Library & Archive was established on May 1st 2001.
It is a place for the systematic collection of literature and
documentary material, related to LGBT issues and to the field
of gender and sexuality. It covers theory, prose and poetry, periodicals,
comics, media archive, audio-video collection, photo archive,
archive documents, etc. Although the LGBT contexts are the most
represented in the library fond, the library detects many other
focal points of differentiation on the level of sexuality, body
and gender. The catalogue of the library is accessible on-line:
www.ljudmila.org/lesbo.
Within the Lesbian Library & Archive a project of developing
the Slovene GLBT bibliography is running (available on the website).
Lesbian Library & Archive is - along with Škratova's reading-room
of KUD Anarhiv, the library of Peace Institute, Stripburger and
the Institute of Contemporary Art - connected into the Network
of Autonomous Libraries in Ljubljana.
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Bar Monokel
In September 1993, section ŠKUC-LL, together with other urban
subcultures and scenes, art and cultural vanguards, squatted the
ex-Yugoslav army barracks on Metelkova and Masarykova street in
Ljubljana and gained its first club-places. The lesbian bar Monocle
in Metelkova City is a place, where on approximately 50 square
meters and with the help of sociable, cultural, musical, gallery
and discussion aids the illusions of spending nights clubbing
regardless of sexual or any other orientation quickly become reality.
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LESBO MAGAZINE
Lesbo is a Slovene political, social and cultural non-profit
making quarterly. Its founder and publisher is the lesbian group
ŠKUC-LL. The editor-in-chief is Nataša Velikonja, the design editor
is Barbara Predan.
Lesbo magazine aims at sharpening the critical and intellectual
blades. It promotes politics, stories and views, arts and attitudes,
practices and theories about the resistance and radical fights
against homophobia and any other exclusive orientations. As such
it participates in wider civil, political, social and cultural
efforts aiming at breaking the massive walls of civil apathy,
political ignorance, ideological terror and mind exploitation.
... Summary 15/16
... Summary 13/14
... Summary 11/12
... Summary 9/10
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