International Lesbian and Gay Association is an international organization bringing together lesbian and gay groups from around the world.

In the past it had among its membership organizations which defended pedophilia (see NAMBLA), and as a result had its consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC rescinded. Its leadership has since expelled all pro-pedophile organizations, but its quest to regain consultative status has so far been unsucessful: on May 3, 2003, ECOSOC voted to again decline consultative status to ILGA. ILGA may re-apply in 2005.

Currently, the only specifically homosexual NGO at ECOSOC is the Australian Coalition of Activist Lesbians, which gained consultative status in 1999.

Relationship to pedophilia advocacy groups

In 1993, the ILGA was an organization of about 300 gay and lesbian organizations throughout the world, including NAMBLA, Martijn and other pederast/pedophile groups, as well as gay and lesbian groups that had pederast/pedophile sub-groups.

In the summer of 1993, the International Lesbian and Gay Association gained consultative status in the United Nations, as a Non-Governmental-Organization, joining 3,000 orgs throughout the world.

In October of 1993, pressure from American right-wing groups and politicians began to be exerted on ILGA to kick out its pedophile organization members. The US Mission to the UN asked ILGA to "disassociate itself from NAMBLA and other affiliate organizations" whose "objectives are not consonant with the UN's human rights activities".

In November of 1993, the executive committee declared that ILGA "condems pedophilia", contrary to some past resolutions on the matter, and asked NAMBLA, Martijn, and Project Truth to resign voluntarily from ILGA. None of the groups agreed to do so. On the 15th of November, NAMBLA issued a press release reaffirming its membership in ILGA.

In January 1994, the American Senate, on the motion of the right-wing senator Jesse Helms, unanimously decided that the USA had to withhold funds of more than 118 million dollars due to the UN and its sub-organizations unless the President of the USA could certify to the Congress by 30 September 1994 that no agency of the United Nations 'grants any official status, accreditation or recognition to any organization which promotes, condones or seeks the legalization of pedophilia or which includes as a subsidiary or member any such organization'. (From the VSG release)

On June 23, 1994, at the Annual Conference, NAMBLA, Martijn and Project Truth were expelled from ILGA, on the motion of the executive committee, and it was decided that 'groups or associations whose predominant aim is to support or promote pedophilia are incompatible with the future development of ILGA'.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the event that sparked the contemporary gay and lesbian movement, the NAMBLA Bulletin was released in a brown paper format to rally support for NAMBLA and so-called "boy love" organizations within the gay community. Due to the pressures facing NAMBLA, its members organized a group called the Spirit of Stonewall (SOS), which gathered the endorsement of some figures and organizations in the gay movement. Despite threats of arrest, 50 NAMBLA members and 200 supporters, including Harry Hay, marched under the banner of SOS.

In October 1994, the executive committee of ILGA suspended the membership of VSG, one of the largest gay groups in Germany, due to it's vocal solidarity with NAMBLA and its refusal to purge pedophile members. Its membership was suspended until the next Annual Conference of ILGA in June 1995 when the matter could be dealt with in accordance to ILGA's constitution, namely, expulsion.

On April 25, 1995, 'Verein für sexuelle Gleichberechtigung" (VSG) wrote a bulletin in regard to its suspended ILGA membership.

On September 16, 1995, on the motion of the United States, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) suspended ILGA's consultative status and sent the matter to it's Non-Governmental Organizations Committee in order to assess whether or not ILGA was in compliance with the Helms amendment, and do decide whether to restore status, or cancel it.

In October 1995, VSG issued a press release explaining why it was resigning from ILGA, declaring that ILGA had become a discriminatory organization that betrayed its own purpose.

On May 3, 2003, ECOSOC voted to again decline consultative status to ILGA. ILGA may re-apply in 2005.