100 Nations Meet in Copenhagen to Celebrate and Fight for Homosexual Rights

COPENHAGEN - This week, thousands of people from across the globe will arrive in the Danish capital Copenhagen to take part in the most important international event for homosexual, bi-sexual and transgender men and women - World Outgames 2009. On the agenda is one of the largest and most important conferences on homosexual rights the world has ever seen.

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Nearly 100 nations will be represented, and up to 200,000 participants, tourists and Copenhageners are expected to take part in World Outgames 2009 from July 25 - August 2. Apart from focusing on human rights for nine days, a large number of theme festivals and an extensive cultural and sports program will make Copenhagen the place to be.

“By hosting World Outgames, Denmark will send a signal to the rest of the world that it should maintain focus on the right to love whomsoever one wishes, irrespective of gender and sexuality. From Northern Europe to South America, in Eastern Europe and the Far East, there are human rights battles to be fought - particularly for homosexuals. We hope that World Outgames and the thousands of people from around 100 different countries will be able to spread the message to the world,” says Uffe Elbaek, director of World Outgames 2009.

The heart of World Outgames is a major international human rights conference being held in close cooperation with Amnesty International and IBM focusing on the necessity that all people, irrespective of gender and sexuality should have equal rights.

“It is important for Copenhagen that issues concerning homosexual rights and tolerance can be discussed without prejudice. World Outgames enables us to pay tribute to the diversity and openness that is such an innate part of the city. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming participants and spectators,” says Lars Bernhard Jorgensen, CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen.

A great variety of cultural activities will take place in Copenhagen during the event. Cities such as Melbourne, Tel Aviv, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Antwerp will contribute with music, entertainment, dance and much more. Sporting events throughout the city will include some 30 disciplines - such as ice hockey, beach volleyball and triathlon in Copenhagen’s harbor area. Apart from the cultural program and the sport events, the city will be awash with a large number of free activities.

Also, a gay cruise with 2,600 passengers will be docking at Copenhagen during World Outgames, and a mass blessing has been arranged at Copenhagen Cathedral offering gay couples special recognition by the Church to commemorate the 20th anniversary of legally recognized same-sex civil unions in Denmark.

Facts and additional information about homosexual rights in Denmark: www.visitcopenhagen.com/factsheetWOG Read more about World Outgames: www.copenhagen2009.org/ Official program: www.copenhagen2009.org/program Download photos: www.copenhagen2009.org/photo For further information contact: Uffe Elbaek, director of World Outgames: phone +45-25540394 / uffe@copenhagen2009.org Camilla Kjaersgaard, Senior Press Officer of Wonderful Copenhagen: phone +45-61558014 / ckj@woco.dk For last minute accreditations contact Erik Farso at erik@copenhagen2009.org

Source: World Outgames

For further information contact: Uffe Elbaek, director of World Outgames: phone +45-25540394, uffe at copenhagen2009.org; Camilla Kjaersgaard, Senior Press Officer in Wonderful Copenhagen: phone +45-61558014, ckj at woco.dk; For last minute accreditations contact Erik Farso at erik at copenhagen2009.org