Hi Vesna, sorry - I was a bit busy here that's why I am only now replying to your e-mail from three days ago.
I do feel triggered with this call for a certain "openness", I hope you take this reply in a best possible way!
I totally do! [...]
Theoretically, I agree with you -- but -- some of the locations that are considered "open" are only so to certain groups of people...
(e.g. Germany, Holland, Scandinavia... UK!?)
Yes. I agree that it is always a compromise and a safe place for one, might be an insecure place for someone else. This turns more into a general discussion now (which is good) but also when looking at this particular case I would consider the upcoming RIPE meeting in Belgrad not necessarily "risky" for the LGBTQ+ community - but I don't consider myself qualified enough to judge. IIRC the government's opinion on this was basically "we have bigger issues going on and would therefore like to postpone the pride event" which is disappointing but not a type of attitude we have heard from other governments. [...]
It is a difficult challenge to offer equal opportunities for wide variety of particpation... and I am glad that we are now considering many of the aspects; I am hoping this will lead to better events, and more justice in the world!
This is a good discussion and I am glad it came up and where it is going with very good suggestions today (e.g. from Hank). So let's keep the discussion alive and we all will learn from it. Thank you all Sascha