On October 10th, the Bar Le Bachibouzouk in Vevey had a special event of inclusion and social transformation for the dissemination of the GATE LGBTQIA+ project. It was an afternoon and evening rich in discussions, learning, and conviviality, bringing together a diverse and engaged audience around a common cause: promoting equality and inclusion.

A Project to Transform Spaces and Mindsets

The event was organized as part of the European project GATE (Gender Awareness and Transformation for Equality) LGBTQIA+, an initiative dedicated to creating tools and resources that foster a more inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ people. During the evening, attendees were able to discover and explore the educational materials produced by the project, including:

• A guide for organizations and institutions, offering concrete recommendations to enhance LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
• A set of cards featuring activities and discussions designed to raise awareness and engage collectives on these crucial issues.

These tools -together with many other supporting materials like infographics, Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Topics, etc. – are available for free download in our website. They generated great interest among attendees, who left with concrete ideas to initiate change in their own environments.

An Exhibition to Raise Awareness on Micro-Violence

One of the highlights of the evening was the exhibition dedicated to the Campaign on micro-violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals. This artistic campaign aimed to shed light on these subtle everyday aggressions, which, although often overlooked, have a profound impact on those who experience them.

Visitors gained insight into these realities through testimonies and concrete examples, sparking discussions on ways to combat these forms of violence and create more respectful and inclusive environments.

An Engaging and Insightful Round Table

The evening also featured a round table discussion with experts on LGBTQIA+ issues and the fight against micro-violence. The discussions addressed various topics, including systemic discrimination, strategies for making spaces safer, and the roles individuals can play in this transformation process. The people who participated in the round table were:
– Loïc Valley (modérateurice)
– Em Shmid
– Davide Hall
– Alia Kress
– Gaé Colussi

The exchange with the audience was dynamic and inspiring, offering everyone the opportunity to ask questions and share personal reflections.

A Festive Closing with Queer Karaoke

To end the evening on a joyful and uninhibited note, a Queer Karaoke session was held. In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, participants expressed themselves through music, celebrating diversity and inclusion together. It was a moment of sharing and fun!

A Successful and Hopeful Event

This gathering in Vevey was a great success, highlighting the importance of continuing to educate, raise awareness, and transform our spaces, even a bar, to be more inclusive and respectful of all identities.

Thank you to everyone for your participation and commitment! Together, let’s keep up promoting and creating a more just and equal world.

Stay tuned for future events and find the GATE project resources at www.gateprocess.org.