Religion, Sexuality and Activism: How Can they Coexist?

16:00 – 17:30, Arkadija

The intersectionality between religion, sexuality and activism is often undermined. Many claim that the main opposition to LGBTI+ equality is religious-based discrimination while, on the other hand, many activists oppose this claim by saying that they themselves are religious and that these two worlds can coexist. Many religious queer people often suffer for not being able to find a place in their religious community, while simultaneously being judged within the LGBTI+ community for being religious. With the increase in religious fundamentalism in many parts of the world, the advancement of LGBTI+ human rights can no longer be taken for granted, and new ways of preventing religious fundamentalism from harming the LGBTI+ community need to be found. This panel will bring together religious LGBTI+ activists, in order to discuss the ways of how one can accept their two identities – having faith and being queer, and how they can mutually empower one another and combat discrimination within the queer community.

Speakers:

• Rev. Wielie Elhorst, European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups
• Nik Jovcic-Sas, LGBTQ+ Activist and Eastern Orthodox Theologian
• Hassen Hnini, Coordinator of Buraq and member of European Queer Muslim Network
• Stefan Šparavalo, Association “Da se zna!”
• Dragana Stojanović, Associate Professor, Faculty of Media and Communication in Belgrade, Activist, Haver Srbija (Moderator)