Athens to host European conference LOATKI+police, in parallel with Athens Pride

Nearly 100 uniformed members of the European LGBT community from 17 countries EU will take part in the Athens Pride events on June 16-18. Among them are 15 Greek policemen.

The European LGBTI+ Police Association – EGPA Conference will take place on June 16-17 at the Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens in Gazi. About 100 police officers from 17 EU countries, representing thousands of EGPA members, will arrive in Athens specifically to attend the conference, as well as to participate in the march that traditionally ends the event.

The general name of the conference is “Building Bridges” (“Κτίζοντας γέφυρες”). Organizers said Greece was chosen because it belongs to an EU country where prejudice against sexual diversity in general remains strong despite significant progress in recent years. Characteristically, on the map of the Rainbow Europe 2022 observatory, Greece is located approximately at the bottom of the rankings, with 52% in terms of respect for human rights and unconditional equality.

“Greece is the only country in Europe that does not recognize an LGBT+ police force,” says Michalis Lolis, the first Greek who dared to say he was a “gay cop.”

“Building bridges” is interpreted as the desire of the European LGBTI+ Police Association to bridge the gap and root loyalty.

Support of authorities and VIPs

The conference is held under the auspices of the City of Athens and Mayor Kostas Bakogiannis, who will host a reception in honor of the foreign delegates on the night of Friday 17 June. The Greek government will be represented by Minister Akis Skertsos and Minister of Civil Protection Takis Theodorikakos, head of the Greek Police.

The event will be supported by the security service in the person of Stylas Konstantinos, as well as MEPs, scientists and university professors from the fields of law, medicine, the humanities, etc. Since the speaker program is being finalized until the last minute, the guest list remains open.

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