ILGA World Conference: Global LGBTIQ+ Gathering Kicks Off in Cape Town

The 2024 ILGA World Conference, one of the largest global gatherings of LGBTIQ+ activists and allies, has commenced in Cape Town.

ILGA World is a federation of over 2,000 LGBTIQ+ rights organisations from more than 160 countries. The conference is expected to draw around 1,400 delegates from the region and worldwide.

The event serves as both a platform to address critical issues affecting the global LGBTIQ+ community and an opportunity for ILGA World to elect new leadership and select the next conference host city.

The conference holds particular significance amid rising global conservatism and the growth of well-funded anti-rights and anti-gender movements actively working to undermine hard-won LGBTIQ+ rights.

This is the first time South Africa has hosted the conference in 25 years, marking a welcome return to Africa. Local organisations Iranti and Gender Dynamix are co-hosting the Cape Town conference.

The event kicked off on Monday morning at the Century City Conference Centre with a series of pre-conference discussions addressing issues affecting women, interfaith and trade union partnerships, communications, and the intersex community.

Topics covered included how the digital divide impacts the LGBTIQ+ community and an interfaith panel discussion on fostering unity and deconstructing faith-based barriers. There are also a number of parallel side events being held across the city by local LGBTIQ+ organisations.

Several leading figures are attending the event, including Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, South Africa’s Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Jessica Stern, the US Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons; and Graeme Reid, the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

The conference stirred some controversy ahead of its start when several member groups called for ILGA World to remove an Israeli organisation from the list of candidates vying to host the next event, citing Israel’s human rights violations against Palestinians.

ILGA World subsequently removed the bid from consideration and has suspended the organisation pending a review of its constitution and policies.

Some concerns were also raised that the cost of registration might prevent smaller, less-resourced LGBTIQ+ groups from participating in the event. However, ILGA World says it has offered sponsorship opportunities and subsidised registration fees for South African attendees.

The first day concluded with the spectacular ABFAB drag show, featuring Cape Town’s celebrated drag talent, which had delegates on their feet, cheering and applauding.

The ILGA World Conference will continue for the rest of the week, with the official opening ceremony and keynote speeches scheduled for Wednesday.

 

*MambaOnline is an official media partner of the ILGA World Conference.