Queer Easter 2001

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Wednesday, 2001-04-11

"Lichtenberg. We are supposed to get off at Lichtenberg, arenīt we? Yes!" Thomas and Agneta woke up quick from the seat on the S-bahn, grabbed the heavy suitcases and ran off the train just before the doors where closing. The humid air suddenly struck them, but it was an improvement from the air inside the train. It was wednesday, just before easter and they where on the way to meet other gays and lesbians from other organisations within IUSY. A big seminar, as their friend Linas had told them, just only with queer people. 

We are supposed to take the train to Werftpfuhl, said Agneta who was the older one. Thomas just nodded towards a sign saying "RB".

It must be that direction, Thomas gasped as he still was a bit stressed and trying to lit a fag at the same time.

Down the stairs in a hurry, along the old tunnel, up the stairs and finnaly on the platform.

Look, the train. Thomas gasped with a even heavier breath, instantly smoking his cigarette. Agneta is very surprised how he managed to carry all bags and smoke a cigarette at the same time, but she bared in mind that Thomas is gay, and gay men can do many things at the same time. 

The seats wasnīt to comfortable, and the conductor knew where Werftpfuhl where, but the train stopped one station in advance, in Werneuchen. They had to take a bus for the last part. The train just left the station when Thomas fell into a deep sleep. 

Agneta was just as tired as Thomas from the trip but liked to sit down and think about her expectaions of the seminar. She of course thought it would be nice to meet a nice girl to talk to, and to get to know better but she also looked forward to all the seminars about situation for gay and lesbians in Europe and the world. But she really thought about the "Media Working Groups". Working with media? Is that to send a statement to the press? Maybe. She wasnīt too sure about that. "Party in Berlin and gay tour", what a odd topic for a seminar, but she really looked forward towards that night. She closed her eyes and thought about her last night out. 

The bus stopped right outside the trainstation in Werftpfuhl. It was nice to feel some fresh air. The busdriver smoked all the way and Thomas was very tempted to join him. It didnīt take long after Thomas stepped outside the bus and his hand instinctivly reached into the pocket and grabbed the package of cigarettes, took one out and started to smoke. Agneta just shooked her head. 

After crossing the road and passing through the park they reached the big, old house. It looked really empty from the outside, and the pouring rain helped the imagination a bit, what if this is the wrong dates? What if this is the home of a old grinch? Thomas smoked a bit faster just to relax. This was his first time ever outside his country. He missed the IUSY- festival in Malmö this summer. 

Agneta was the brave one. She firmly pressed the handle and opened the big, heavy wooden door. They heard laughter and they smelled life. To the right was a big informationboard that said "welcome to queer easter". Black with just pink dots and papers on. Agneta smiled a bit, and relaxed. She was in queerdom. 

Are you here for the Queer Easter? asked a nice boy who presented himself as Ken. Agneta nodded and Thomas blushed. Ken introduced them to a room with two others and said that the seminar started in 10 minutes in the big hall. 

Welcome to Queer Easter! Agneta didnīt pay so much attention to what she was saying more to what she looked like, the woman who told the group her name was Beatrice. They found out a lot of technicalities about schedule, where to eat and what activites that was going to be held. Then everybody got into a game, just to getting to know each other more. Of course it was great fun and they met people from so many countries, Croatia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Netherlands and of course from Germany. And guess if they where surprised to hear that people where coming all the way from India. They all played game until it was time to go to bed. 

 

Thursday, 2001-04-12

Thomas woke up with a shock. Someone was singing in the room! He looked up and saw Ludwig, one of the team members. Ludwig did his best to make everyone wake up and be cheerful at the early morning it was. 

After a nice breakfast and greetings to the friends arriving late they started off with a energizer. It was one of the many namegames that Beatrice knows, she is a true game-fairy. 

Beatrice started to discuss about heterosexuality, and who sets the standards for normal. Thomas said it was heterosexual people, and the group agreed. Beatrice asked why and Thomas put his forehead in thinking position and said:

It must be because its heterosexual men who has the power in our society. Beatrice nodded and the group agreed. Richard took over with a workshop about symbols, gay symbols. Agneta rememberd many of them from the pride parade in Heteroville where she normally lives, but the Canadian Bear flag was compleatly new to her. 

During lunch both Agneta caught the eye of Petra, a sweet woman sitting right across in the diningroom. Thomas saw that and nodded. Yes, he thought she was good looking too. 

What do you want to have? Work with internet together with Garibaldi and Ken so you could document the whole seminar. Work with slides and sound together with William to create something on marriage and adoption? Work with photos together with Richard so you make something about queers and violence? Work with sculpture together with David and Cleopatra and create something? Agneta and Thomas had a hard choice. Agneta settled for Photo and Thomas for Internet. 

Every night there is a surpriseparty. This night is a softy evening wich ment a lot bra candels, and a lot of madrasses so you could be comfortable while being comfy. 

Friday, 2001-04-13

Agneta woke up by the "Fashion Police". It was Richard who was dressed as a police man, waking everyone with a cheerful smile. Also Garibaldi joined in with a camera. 

The softy evening must have been very sucessful since almost all the other slept over. Thomas was very frustrated that he had to wait for the others all the time. Finnaly they got started with the task Richard handed out last night. Everyone started to describe the situation in their home country, what the life of a homosexual are like. Agneta found out that Netherlands doesnīt allow blood donations if you are a male homosexual. 

Thomas walked up to the internet room. It was a new group and a new meeting but it worked out just fine. He started to write answers to the easterbunny, a questioncolumn that was going to be on the site. Suddenly Garibaldi said it was time for picnic. But Thomas found that odd since it had been raining and snowing during the morning, and it wasnīt that warm. Garibaldi took his group down the long and royal staircase to enter the diningroom, where half of the seminar was sitting on blankets on the floor. Someone even painted a lovely tree with a rainbow above. It was like sound of music but much better. 

It wasnīt sound of music they watched the same evening, but the "funny bunny" a movie made last year, and also a video from last year. It was fun! Thomas had seen "Beautiful thing" but not "Like it is" so he enyojed some parts of the evening.

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