On May 20th, 2025, the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) proudly participated in the 12th European IDAHOT+ Forum in Valletta, Malta — a significant edition in which, for the first time, a dedicated space was created for LBTI women within the official programme. Our Advocacy Director, Ilaria Todde, contributed to both a main panel and a thematic parallel session, bringing to the table the lived realities, urgent needs and ongoing work of LBTI communities across Europe and Central Asia.

Main Panel: Countering the Anti-Gender Movement –: Protecting Equality and Inclusion in Europe

In the high-level session on strategies to confront anti-gender movements, Ilaria Todde addressed the institutional and policy-making audience with a clear message: we need more political courage and sustainable funding.

She stressed that:

“Banning Budapest Pride is not just about LGBTI rights – it’s about freedom of expression, the very cornerstone of democracy.”

Todde urged international institutions such as the European Commission to take concrete legal action, citing past examples when swift responses were possible and effective.

She also highlighted the existential threat to civil society organisations caused by attacks on their funding:

“Without salaries, how can we continue our services? How long can we hold authorities accountable? Not very long.”

Pointing to far-right strategies seen globally — from Trump-era defunding to pressure on EU-level financing — she underscored that the framing of minority funding as “undeserved” is a calculated political tactic.

“This is not an attack on us — it’s an attack on democracy.”

In response to a question on alliances between feminist, LGBTI, and anti-racist movements, she drew on findings from EL*C’s RESIST research (covering over 250 testimonies across 9 countries), showing that collective resistance is becoming a survival strategy, rooted in joy, solidarity and mutual support.

Her message to institutions was clear:

“Don’t give up already. Don’t comply in advance. Don’t abandon us.
You would be abandoning democracy.”

♀️ Parallel Session: Ensuring Justice and Equality for LBTIQ+ Women

In the afternoon session dedicated to LBTI women, Todde presented the work of the EL*C in response to the specific challenges faced in the region: lesbophobia, political backlash, and chronic underfunding.

She referenced the historic adoption of the PACE resolution on LBQ women, thanking Beatrice Fresko-Rolfo (also present in the panel) for her role in advancing that work. Todde described EL*C’s ongoing efforts in advocacy, capacity-building, media visibility, and solidarity campaigns — including regranting initiatives:

“We’ve already distributed €1.3 million to grassroots projects and expect to match that again by the end of 2025 — even while facing global funding cuts like those triggered by Trump.”

Addressing tensions between feminist and LBTI spaces, Todde was frank:

“This is not new — the ‘lavender menace’ is part of our history. But now we have experience, we lead spaces, and more feminists understand the need to stay united.”

She urged stakeholders to not fall for narratives amplified by the media, and instead to invest in relationships and value existing allies.

“The context creates tension — but we can choose not to believe it.”

She also referenced the EL*C’s active collaboration with feminist organisations on policies such as the Istanbul Convention and the Violence Against Women Directive, and spotlighted good practices, such as funding partnerships with women’s shelters that work inclusively with LBTI survivors.