Photo credit: Bergen Municipality/Katarina Lunde
For a year in Queer World West! A few weeks ago, we shared that Skeiv Verden Vest was awarded the Laksov Prize for his efforts in promoting and safeguarding fundamental human rights for LGBTQ people. The award is a great recognition, and also includes NOK 50,000 that will be used to strengthen the work of Queer World West.
No sooner had the excitement subsided than Queer World West's beloved Nader Turkmani was awarded Bergen Municipality's Gender Equality and Diversity Award for 2020 for his tireless efforts on behalf of LGBTIQ refugees in Bergen. The award winner says: "Bergen Municipality has put forward ambitious plans to be a sanctuary for LGBTI+ refugees, and Nader has been a key person in ensuring that we have largely succeeded in this. Among other things, he has trained hundreds of newly arrived immigrants in Bergen about gender and sexuality diversity and the legal position of queer people in Norway." We are so proud of our talented colleague, who was instrumental in starting Skeiv Verden Vest.
Just when we thought it couldn't get any better: the city council in Bergen has, with Queer socialists Bergen in its final budget decision, turned what was a cut into a strengthening of Queer World West.
Thank you very much Bergen municipality for your recognition and support. It means a lot, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make Bergen a safe harbour for everyone under the rainbow.
