BGO Gemini
Encyclopedia
The Bulgarian Gay Organization Gemini was the primary organization in the LGBT rights movement in Bulgaria
, based in Sofia
.
It was legally registered in 1992 by an HIV-positive gay couple and since then has grown to become the main LGBT organization in the country. Bulgaria's entrance into the European Union
has created new opportunities for gay
, lesbian
, bisexual, and transgender
rights for Bulgaria and Gemini. In 2006, it hosted the International Lesbian and Gay Association
(ILGA) European Conference in Sofia. The theme was "We Are Family - Our Families in Europe and the European Family".
The organisation ceased operations in 2009.
District Court on September 9, 1992. It first launched a hotline, run by volunteers who gave advice to all who called with questions about HIV
/AIDS
and LGBT issues. From 1997 on, with the support of UNAIDS, Gemini provided social support and informational materials about HIV/AIDS.
In 2001, Gemini was jumpstarted and expanded its focus to more general LGBT issues. In that year it held the first legislative workshop in Bulgaria to discuss the situation of LGBT people in the country. The meeting, supported by the Open Society Institute, was attended by judges, politicians, journalists, policemen, and leaders of NGOs. It helped to establish ties that would lead to a grassroots movement for the decriminalization of homosexuality and other advances in LGBT rights.
The next important step Gemini took was participating in the Balkan Triangle Project, which lasted from 2001 to 2004. Collaborating with COC Nederland
and ACCEPT
Romania, Gemini aimed to establish itself as the national advocacy organization for the human rights of LGBT Bulgarians, and did so successfully.
Arguably one of the most important advances Gemini accomplished took place in 2002. It organized its first large-scale advocacy campaign: to amend the Bulgarian Penal Code to no longer consider homosexuality a crime. In September of that year, Gemini succeeded and Article 157 of the Code was modified so that gays and lesbians could live their lives openly.
The next year, Gemini gained a valuable ally: General Boyko Borisov
. The Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior, the highest ranked person in Bulgaria who later became the mayor of the capital city, became the first public supporter of Gemini and its community. Also in 2003, Gemini worked with Population Services International on reducing the transmission of HIV in high-risk groups.
However, the most significant step towards equality that Gemini took in 2003 was collaborating with other human rights organizations in drafting the Bulgarian Law for Protection against Discrimination. This national law protects LGBT from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, as well as gender and sexual identity, in the field of employment.
In 2004, Gemini organized the first lesbian and gay international conference in Bulgaria, entitled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination.” The conference increased the visibility of LGBT issues in Bulgaria dramatically, making headline news daily for over a month. In the same year, Gemini also hosted the Annual Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Youth and Students Organization.
Gemini launched the first Bulgarian gay radio broadcast in 2006. The show enjoyed widespread popularity and was aired live every Sunday. In October of the same year, Gemini took an important step towards international recognition by hosting the International Lesbian and Gay Association
’s annual European conference. Two years earlier, Sofia had been elected by 221 representatives of national European member organizations. The conference, focusing on European families, was attended by delegates of ILGA member organizations, as well as other human rights activists.
2006 was also a year in court for Gemini. In coalition with 67 human rights organizations, Gemini brought a member of Parliament to court for his discrimination against and harassment of gay people. Gemini also brought three other lawsuits before the Bulgarian Anti-Discrimination Commission that year: against the Municipality of Varna, Sofia Central District Police Station and a national daily newspaper. Gemini won two of the cases and came to an agreement concerning the third one.
Later Gemini continued with several projects, focusing on enforcing the anti-discrimination law in schools and workplaces. It has organized a Pride event for Saturday, June 28, 2008. Shortly after that Gemini discontinued its work and is currently non-operational.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, based in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
.
It was legally registered in 1992 by an HIV-positive gay couple and since then has grown to become the main LGBT organization in the country. Bulgaria's entrance into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
has created new opportunities for gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual, and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
rights for Bulgaria and Gemini. In 2006, it hosted the International Lesbian and Gay Association
International Lesbian and Gay Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
(ILGA) European Conference in Sofia. The theme was "We Are Family - Our Families in Europe and the European Family".
The organisation ceased operations in 2009.
History
BGO Gemini was established as an NGO in the SofiaSofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
District Court on September 9, 1992. It first launched a hotline, run by volunteers who gave advice to all who called with questions about HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and LGBT issues. From 1997 on, with the support of UNAIDS, Gemini provided social support and informational materials about HIV/AIDS.
In 2001, Gemini was jumpstarted and expanded its focus to more general LGBT issues. In that year it held the first legislative workshop in Bulgaria to discuss the situation of LGBT people in the country. The meeting, supported by the Open Society Institute, was attended by judges, politicians, journalists, policemen, and leaders of NGOs. It helped to establish ties that would lead to a grassroots movement for the decriminalization of homosexuality and other advances in LGBT rights.
The next important step Gemini took was participating in the Balkan Triangle Project, which lasted from 2001 to 2004. Collaborating with COC Nederland
COC Nederland
COC Nederland is a Dutch organization for LGBT men and women. COC originally stood for Cultuur en Ontspanningscentrum , which was intended as a "cover" name for its real purpose...
and ACCEPT
ACCEPT
ACCEPT is the primary nongovernmental organization advocating for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Romania. It is based in Bucharest and also acts as the Romanian representative at ILGA-Europe...
Romania, Gemini aimed to establish itself as the national advocacy organization for the human rights of LGBT Bulgarians, and did so successfully.
Arguably one of the most important advances Gemini accomplished took place in 2002. It organized its first large-scale advocacy campaign: to amend the Bulgarian Penal Code to no longer consider homosexuality a crime. In September of that year, Gemini succeeded and Article 157 of the Code was modified so that gays and lesbians could live their lives openly.
The next year, Gemini gained a valuable ally: General Boyko Borisov
Boyko Borisov
Boyko Metodiev Borisov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Prime Minister of Bulgaria since July 2009. Previously he was Mayor of Sofia from 8 November 2005 until his election as Prime Minister....
. The Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior, the highest ranked person in Bulgaria who later became the mayor of the capital city, became the first public supporter of Gemini and its community. Also in 2003, Gemini worked with Population Services International on reducing the transmission of HIV in high-risk groups.
However, the most significant step towards equality that Gemini took in 2003 was collaborating with other human rights organizations in drafting the Bulgarian Law for Protection against Discrimination. This national law protects LGBT from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, as well as gender and sexual identity, in the field of employment.
In 2004, Gemini organized the first lesbian and gay international conference in Bulgaria, entitled “Preventing and Combating Discrimination.” The conference increased the visibility of LGBT issues in Bulgaria dramatically, making headline news daily for over a month. In the same year, Gemini also hosted the Annual Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Youth and Students Organization.
Gemini launched the first Bulgarian gay radio broadcast in 2006. The show enjoyed widespread popularity and was aired live every Sunday. In October of the same year, Gemini took an important step towards international recognition by hosting the International Lesbian and Gay Association
International Lesbian and Gay Association
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association is an international organization bringing together more than 750 LGBTI groups from around the world. It continues to be active in campaigning for LGBT rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and...
’s annual European conference. Two years earlier, Sofia had been elected by 221 representatives of national European member organizations. The conference, focusing on European families, was attended by delegates of ILGA member organizations, as well as other human rights activists.
2006 was also a year in court for Gemini. In coalition with 67 human rights organizations, Gemini brought a member of Parliament to court for his discrimination against and harassment of gay people. Gemini also brought three other lawsuits before the Bulgarian Anti-Discrimination Commission that year: against the Municipality of Varna, Sofia Central District Police Station and a national daily newspaper. Gemini won two of the cases and came to an agreement concerning the third one.
Later Gemini continued with several projects, focusing on enforcing the anti-discrimination law in schools and workplaces. It has organized a Pride event for Saturday, June 28, 2008. Shortly after that Gemini discontinued its work and is currently non-operational.
See also
- LGBT rights in Bulgaria
- Human rights in BulgariaHuman rights in BulgariaAlthough Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, its compliance with human rights norms is far from perfect. Although the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a theoretical weakness. Conditions in...
- LGBT rights in EuropeLGBT rights in EuropeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights are widely diverse in Europe per country. Seven out of the ten countries that have legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe; a further fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions or other forms of recognition for same-sex couples...