A Historic Step for Dyke Visibility and Rights
Rome, April 3, 2025 —
The word “lesbian” breaks into the Italian institutions. Today the Italian Senate (Sala Caduti di Nassirya) became the stage for a groundbreaking moment in Lesbian Herstory: the official presentation of the IV European Lesbian* Conference (April 23–26, 2025) in Rome and the announcement of the first-ever Italian Dyke March, set to take place on April 26th to mark International Lesbian Visibility Day.
Organized by EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community in collaboration with over 50 Italian lesbian, transfeminist collectives and allies, these events mark a historic moment for lesbian visibility and political resistance in Italy and Europe.
Confronting Backlash: Why Rome, Why Now?
At a time when the Italian Government is intensifying its attacks on the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, lesbian mothers, and women’s autonomy, the presence of these initiatives in the capital stands as a powerful affirmation of collective dignity, rights, and intersectional solidarity.
“We chose Rome for this fourth edition of our Conference because it is a frontline city for lesbian rights in Europe today,” remarked Ilaria Todde, Advocacy Director of EL*C. “Our visibility is revolutionary. Through the Conference, we will build lesbian networks, advocacy strategies for justice, and solidarity across borders to resist backlash and advance our collective power. Dykes rise against fascism”.
“At the end of April, the EL*C Conference will bring to Rome the most outstanding lesbian activists from across Europe and Central Asia—fearless leaders who continue to fight in an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world, defending women, LGBTI people, and civil society at large.” said Silvia Casalino, Executive Co-Director of EL*C.
Speakers at the press conference included representatives from Italian political parties and institutions, such as Marta Bonafoni (Partito Democratico), Alessandra Maiorino (Movimento 5 Stelle), Benedetta Scuderi (MEP, Verdi), Marilena Grassadonia (Sinistra Italiana), Francesca Druetti (Possibile), and Riccardo Magi (+Europa).
The First Dyke March in Italy: Taking the Streets
The event also introduced the first Dyke March in Italian history, organized on the 30th anniversary of the first Dyke March led by the Lesbian Avengers in Washington in 1993.
“We march as lesbians, in all our identities and intersections, to reclaim space, power, and voice in a country that has long rendered us invisible,” said Natascia Maesi, on behalf of the organizing committee. “This is not just a march, it is an antifascist, anti-racist, transfeminist, and climate-just movement calling for rights, recognition, and justice for all”.
The Dyke March will begin at 3:30 pm on April 26 , the International Day of Lesbian Visibility, from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, moving through central Rome to Via dei Fori Imperiali.
These initiatives arrive in response to the current government’s systematic attempts to attack lesbian rights and erase our families.
About EL*C
The EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community is a feminist and intersectional network of lesbian-led organizations working to advance the rights, visibility, and wellbeing of lesbian, bisexual, trans and non-binary people. EL*C combines advocacy, research, communication, and community-building to challenge lesbophobia and create safer, freer societies across Europe and Central Asia.
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Kika Fumero, Media Officer of EL*C
- Phone number: +34 666899735
- Email address: kika.fumero@lesbiangenius.org
Kazakhstan, March 2nd, 2025
For sisters!
My dears, how are you? Is everything okay? I am in a cell room with girls, we share everything, and it makes time passes more cheerfully and easily. Of course, I am under arrest illegally, the state is so afraid of us, our brave voices, our burning looks and our hot hearts! Do not lose heart and hold on, just like me. The spirit of freedom-loving feminists, lesbians, activists cannot be broken by anyone. Your love, courage, audacity, solidarity support me. We are frightened, they make us feel anxious, that is why it is so important not to break and fight back!
Fight, sister! In this dark time, only you have a flashlight from your phone / a torch that lights the way. Spring has come, it is important for us to clean up, sweep away the patriarchy!
I will go out on March 10 at 15:00, who is able, come to Lobachevsky, 10. Let’s hug first.
Police, NSC [1], Akimat [2] and those who are so afraid of me that they forced me to be in prison, and not with you on our day of struggle, I scream at you with my furious voice: you will never stop freedom of thought, fearlessness and love! We always win! Publish my letter in the media, in your own social media, give it to your friends.
I support you with all my strength, the patriarchy cannot withstand our feminist and queer LBQT-onset. Is it possible to stop time, the singing of birds, the flow of a mountain river?
Anger has become our sister and it helps us in difficult times. As the author, one of the authors, more precisely, of the slogan “Shal, ket[3]!” I feel its epicness and relevance. Patriarchy, go away!
I want to live in Kazakhstan, where women’s rights, LGBTIQ rights are protected and we are not persecuted for our activism, which is regarded by the state as political. Kazakhstan should not live using the laws of the russian federation, because they suppress freedom, dignity and human rights. We are a secular, legal, democratic state! Let’s live by the laws. I grew up on my native land, this is my land, my steppe, my mountains, my stray cats.
I love and hug you very much,
the unconquered rainbow batyrka[4] Zhanar
[1] National Security Committee
[2] Akimat in Kazakhstan is the local government executive body responsible for implementing policies, managing public services, and overseeing regional development.
[3] Old man, go away!
[4] Strong woman
PRESS RELEASE
Zhanar Sekerbayeva, Board Member of EL*C, Sentenced to 10 Days of Administrative Arrest
February 28th, 2025 – The EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) condemns the unjust arrest of Zhanar Sekerbayeva, feminist activist, co-founder of the Kazakhstani association Feminita, and Board Member of EL*C, who has been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention in Kazakhstan. This politically motivated arrest is an attempt to silence her activism ahead of March 8, preventing her from organizing and participating in public events for International Women’s Day.
Zhanar’s detention follows her participation in a peaceful protest in May 2024 demanding life imprisonment for Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former minister convicted of brutally murdering his wife. Feminist activists in Kazakhstan have been at the front of efforts to hold perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable, pushing for stronger legal measures and an end to impunity in femicide cases.
Targeted Repression Against Feminist Activists
Authorities did not issue a summons before arresting Zhanar—she was detained while training at the gym and later sentenced under Article 488, Part 7 of the Administrative Code, which penalizes alleged violations of public assembly regulations. She was taken into custody directly from the courtroom.
This is not the first time Zhanar and her colleagues have faced state repression for their activism. The Kazakh government continues to criminalize peaceful feminist activism, suppressing fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
However, what makes this case even more alarming is that during the court hearing, LGBT issues were explicitly mentioned, despite the protest not being focused on LGBTI rights at all. This demonstrates the institutional LGBTphobia embedded in the Kazakh legal and political system, where feminist and lesbian activists are frequently targeted. This is part of a broader pattern of state repression against LBTIQ* rights in Kazakhstan, where feminist organizations such as Feminita have been denied legal registration for years, and activists are systematically harassed, fined, and criminalized for their work.
According to Silvia Casalino, EL*C executive co-director, “Zhanar Sekerbayeva’s arrest is yet another flagrant attempt to silence feminist and lesbian activists in Kazakhstan. Criminalizing those who demand justice for femicide exposes the deep-rooted misogyny and institutional LGBTphobia at play. We stand in unwavering solidarity with Zhanar and all those fighting for gender equality—no government should fear those who simply seek justice“.
Call to Action: Demand Zhanar’s Immediate Release!
EL*C stands in full solidarity with Zhanar Sekerbayeva, Feminita, and all activists fighting for gender equality. We urge on the international community, human rights organizations, and feminist movements to demand her immediate release and to hold Kazakh authorities accountable for their repression of feminist and lesbian voices.
🚨 Join us in raising awareness and demanding justice!
🗞 For media inquiries, please contact:
- Kika Fumero, Media Officer of EL*C
- Phone number: +34 666899735
- Email address: kika.fumero@lesbiangenius.org
‼️ The European Commission plans to withdraw the proposed Directive on anti-discrimination. Sign to demand its reconsideration and keep working towards EU protection against discrimination in all areas of life.
In a disheartening step backward for equality, the European Commission is considering the withdrawal of the proposed Directive on anti-discrimination—a pivotal measure designed to safeguard equal rights throughout the EU. This directive represents a commitment to combat discrimination in various sectors of public life, including access to healthcare, education, housing, and social benefits. It is particularly vital for protection against discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and is a baseline to further expand comprehensive protection to all groups at risk of marginalisation across all areas of life.
In 2008, the Commission proposed a Council directive aimed at extending equal treatment protections beyond the workplace. However, the proposal has been stalled for years due to a lack of unanimous agreement among EU member states, with only a few countries such as Czechia, Germany, and Italy blocking it before the Commission ultimately announced to withdraw the proposal. As a result, millions of people remain vulnerable to systemic discrimination, and a hierarchy of protection has emerged, where some forms of discrimination are addressed more comprehensively than others.
This move comes at a time when far-right forces are gaining momentum, posing a significant threat to democracy, equality, and human rights across the continent. Instead of taking decisive action to protect groups at risk of marginalisation—including LGBTI+ people, older and younger people, persons with disabilities, religious minorities and those at the intersections of discrimination, including racialised people—the European Commission has chosen inaction, sending a dangerous message that equality is negotiable.
At a time when human rights protections should be strengthened, the EU cannot afford to retreat. By signing this petition, you join the call for European leaders to reaffirm their commitment to a Union of Equality. Demand that they reject any regression in anti-discrimination laws and work towards strengthening protections for all citizens.
This campaign is run by AGE Platform Europe, EL*C, ENAR, ERGO Network, IGLYO, ILGA-Europe, OII Europe, and TGEU
The U.S. government has taken yet another step in its crusade against human rights and marginalized communities. With his new “radical transparency memorandum,” Donald Trump has ordered the mass publication of information on federal projects, contracts, and grants, including those supporting LGBTIQ+ rights, gender equality, and social justice.
For EL*C and other organizations defending the rights of lesbians, trans people, racialized communities, and other vulnerable groups, this decision is a declaration of war. “By exposing financial records, supporting documents, and, most alarmingly, personal data of those involved in these projects, Trump is putting us directly in the crosshairs of hate, violence, and political persecution,” remarks Dragana Todorović, executive codirector of the EL*C.
Global Threat: A Direct Attack on Lesbian Activists
This attack is not limited to the United States. In an increasingly hostile European context, where the far right is gaining ground, the leak of this information significantly heightens risks for activists and organizations across the EU.
🔹 Lesbians, trans people, racialized communities, and other groups persecuted by Trump will become even more vulnerable to violence and harassment.
🔹 Far-right governments and anti-gender groups will gain access to critical information about our networks, strategies, and resources, facilitating repression and criminalization of activism.
🔹 A climate of censorship will rise, jeopardizing the funding and sustainability of our projects.
This measure is not “transparency”—it is a politically motivated witch hunt disguised as accountability. It is a direct invitation to the far right to attack us using public information that was previously protected.
We Defend Ourselves—We Will Not Be Silenced
At EL*C, we do not accept this attack without a fight. We urgently call on the international community to resist this assault and protect those on the frontlines of human rights defense.
We demand that European institutions, donors, and political allies reinforce the security of funded projects and ensure the protection of activists at risk.
As hate spreads, we keep on fighting for our rights and protecting our community. We resist. And we will not be silenced.
No to political persecution. No to this witch hunt.”
The world is shiting, and so is the landscape for lesbian activism. With ongoing political and financial crises shaking the NGO sector, our work faces increasing challenges—from rising anti-gender and anti-LGBT+ rhetoric to funding cuts that threaten grassroots initiatives.
This session is a space for EL*C members to come together, share experiences, and strategize for the future. We’ll discuss what’s happening across Eastern and Western Europe and Central Asia, and, more importantly, how we can respond and keep our movements strong.
During these two hours, we plan to cover:
✅ Understanding political trends and their impact on our work.
✅ Finding new funding opportunities and securing resources for lesbian-led activism.
✅ Strengthening cross-border solidarity and cooperation.
✅ Developing powerful narratives to counter disinformation and anti-lesbian rhetoric.
This session is about more than just discussion—it’s about action. Join us to craft and sharpen our tools for resilience, resistance, and transformation.
📅 Date & Time: 27 February 2025, 18:30 CET
📍 Where: Online via Zoom
📝 Registration: 🔗 (link below)
European NGOs are being attacked by actors in the EU and the US, wanting to defund those who work for environmental and social justice and for an equal and democratic society. At this critical moment, the support of EU institutions is essential for our survival and resistance.
These threats are not simply propaganda. At this very moment, environmental NGOs and activists are subject to a heavy offensive by right-wing representatives in the European Parliament, who are demanding limitations on their funds. As social and environmental activist, Chloé Mikolajczak, pointed out, EU operating grants available for NGOs working on environmental issues account for €15.6 million annually, or 0.006 per cent of the EU’s annual budget, while, as reported by Politico.eu, the largest companies lobbying for corporate interests spent €120 million on EU lobbying in 2022.
As the election of Donald Trump clearly showed, far-right politicians and anti-rights groups are backed by billionaires, giant corporations, and capitalist superpowers. Dragana Todorović, Executive Co-Director of EL*C, reinforced this message, stating: “Public funding for social justice movements is not a luxury; it is a necessity for a democratic society in which lesbians claim their rightful place.”
To please far-right parties in Europe, members of the EU Parliament from the EPP (center-right) group are following Trump’s example and declaring to the press that they also want to limit funds coming from the Commission’s justice and health departments. This will directly affect all civil society working to advance equality, support non-discrimination actions and protect democracy, including the lesbian movement.
“The chronic underfunding of lesbian organizations is not new, and this backlash will push us further into invisibility,” warned Silvia Casalino, also Executive Co- Director of EL*C. “We are being told that our rights, our struggles, and our lives would be expendable. And we refuse to be erased.”
In the current political climate, the European Union must step up its efforts to protect CSOs at home and globally, and it should fill the gap left by Trump’s reckless actions and general defunding of LGBTI rights, sexual and reproductive rights and women’s rights. This weekend, EL*C and many other organisations in Europe and across the world received abrupt orders to stop working on projects already awarded by the US State Department. The loss of funds will seriously undermine the work of EL*C and the Global Lesbian* Coalition. Following Trump’s executive order, the indispensable work of many of EL*C’s member organizations will be impacted as US embassies have brutally terminated projects across Europe, Central Asia and the world.
Lesbians and trans persons will suffer because of the current political backlash where control over women’s bodies and the self-determination of gender identities are becoming the battlefield of geopolitical struggles, machoistic policy-making, and pro-Nazi politics. EL*C is ready to work with environmental NGOs as well as feminist, anti-racist, disability rights and LGBTI partners who want to fight against this dangerous backlash. We invite everyone who wants to fight with us to the next EL*C conference, which will be held in Rome, Italy between April 23 and 26, 2025. In a country run by Donald Trump’s best friend in Europe, together we will say:
Dykes Rise Against Fascism!
REGISTER NOW AND JOIN US IN ROME!
♦ Media Contact:
Kika Fumero, EL*C Media Officer
Phone number: +34 666 899 735
Disclaimer: EL*C uses the term “lesbian” as a broad inclusive term, that includes all lesbian, bisexual and queer women (both cisgender and trans) and non-binary and intersex persons who feel connected to the lesbian identity and lesbian activism. This includes all LBTI women and non binary persons that identify or are perceived as lesbians, bisexual and queer women.
The “Resourcing Lesbian Movements” grant-making program, funded by EL*C in collaboration with the EU, is set to make a significant impact on human rights across Europe. This initiative aims to resource 31 lesbian projects through financial support and capacity development. These grants directly address the chronic underfunding and lack of resources that have historically hindered the lesbian movement.
By enhancing lesbian visibility, promoting intersectional inclusion, and enriching cultural diversity, each grant empowers LBTIQ+ organizations to bolster lesbian activists and movements in their national context, thereby promoting and protecting human rights throughout the region.
This article spotlights five projects in Poland, Hungary and three different regions in Italy. EL*C’s grant has created new centers and hotlines to address violence against lesbians, to support refugees and asylum seekers, provide self-defence and morale-boosting workshops, and trainings to reorganise and bolster established lesbian institutions. Each organisation is therefore ensuring their activists are adequately resourced, trained and skilled, and their communities are supported and able to access necessary services. Together, they are ensuring the lesbian movement is directing its efforts toward co-creating a European United that is free from discrimination and violence based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, age, disability or any other factor.
1. Fundacja Autonomia, Poland
Since 2007, Fundacja Autonomia have been committed to community-building, educating and empowering Poland’s LGBTIQ+ community, while simultaneously working with the media, legal and civil society institutions to sculpt a polish society that is rooted in the inclusion, freedom and dignity of all citizens. Their perspective is always intersectional, their projects are local and nationwide, and they also implement projects in Belarus and Ukraine.
Fundacja Autonomia dedicated EL*C’s grant to offering WenDo Self-Defense and Assertiveness trainings for LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people. Through this they are strengthening community members as individuals, while also building a sense of solidarity with other lesbians of different ages and backgrounds. They also used the grant to fund another important service for individual health and well-being through the Feminist Queer Football Academy. By reclaiming a space in football for those who are excluded from the game for various reasons – especially by nature of their gender and belonging to discriminated groups – Fundacja Autonomia have formed intergenerational, strong and supportive lesbian communities on and off the pitch.
2. qLit, Hungary
The heart of qLit has been commited to building community for LBTIQ+ women in Hungary. Foremostly a magazine, first published six years ago, they now also work to activate community and tackle social isolation through activities and events (namely hiking, table tennis and pub quizzes, amongst others). Their extensive efforts to weave community have been primarily self-financed and challenging considering the Hungarian government’s consistent clampdowns on LGBTIQ+ rights and identities. The qLit team greatly benefited from EL*C’s grant as it was placed into necessary team-building and well-being activities, addressing their burn-out and improving their future capacity and resilience. They also sought organizational realignment by introducing more structured workflows and routines.
Due to the spaciousness the grant provided qLit team, they were able to launch new initiatives for the community, such as successfully organizing bike tours and a football tournament for Hungary’s lesbian community. The organization also used the grant to expand their visibility by attending other Pride events in Europe, spreading the word about qLit and the situation for LGBTQ+ people in Hungary, while also forging new international solidarity and opportunities for collaboration.
3. Associazione Lìberas, Italy
The youngest organisation to receive vital financial support from EL*C’s grant, Associazione Lìberas was officially established in 2023, when 22 professionals from various fields collaborated to form a cohesive feminist response to address the troubling phenomenon of gender violence in Cagliari, Sardinia.
Their main objective is to prevent and combat discrimination and violence of all kinds against women, lesbians, trans and non-binary people and their children. Their approach is intersectional, and they ensure to consider the different aspects that intertwine in lesbian lives, concerning gender identity, sexual orientation, physical characteristics, age, ethnicity, geographical origin, religion, socio-economic conditions, disability and neurodivergence.
Liberas used EL*C’s grant to build the first Feminist and Trans-Feminist Anti-Violence Center in Cagliari for women, lesbians and their children. It provides support in situations of violence within LBTIQ+ and non-binary relationships, in situations of lesbian violence, as well as for women survivors of male violence. With EL*C’s contribution they were able to rent an office and initiate online and offline communications for Cagliari’s Anti-Violence Center. They are also engaging in information and awareness-raising campaigns, and in training new workers and volunteers.
4. Lesbiche Bologna, Italy
It was becoming increasingly clear to Lesbiche Bologna, that there was a dearth of academic research, literature and information on violence in LBTIQ+ relationships. The organization, founded in 1998 (then as Arcilesbica Bologna club), has been focused on ending discrimination and violence against lesbians and contributed to the increased recognition and visibility of LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people on the political and cultural levels in Italy. Most notably, they directly work to reduce violence within the lesbian community – especially in domestic settings – through their Anti-Violence Center and Hotline. Their confidential and anonymous support line is monitored by trained anti-violence workers, who listen and accompany callers – those who are either experiencing or concerned about experiencing violence in their intimate relationships. Lesbiche Bologna’s team provide a potentially life-saving point of contact (through a feminist and lesbian-informed lens), information, advice, direction and connection to the correct support and services.
EL*C’s grant was put to instant use in funding their academic research and data collection on lesbian domestic violence in Italy. It was also able to provide remuneration to their Anti-Violence Hotline workers for the first time, historically, they have offered their time and services voluntarily. This compensation enabled them to enhance the training of their operators and to regulate the service, and expand hours of availability. Lesbiche Bologna saw an immediate increase in the quality of their interventions, bolstering their capacity to protect and support the lesbian community in Bologna and across the country.
5. Lista Lesbica Italiana, Italy
Italy’s first online lesbian community was born in 1996 in Bologna, where it began as a mailing list to connect and address their social isolation. It soon formed into a tangible community, with events, demonstrations and Pride gatherings. Lista Lesbica became a lifeline for lesbians all over Italy; a place of connection, exploration and self-actualization for almost three decades.
This foundational organization have placed EL*C’s grant into providing reception services and on-going support to lesbian and other LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers. To ensure better inclusion and integration of those seeking asylum, Lista Lesbica are supporting with language courses, legal services and vital psychological assistance. Their project has started in Milan, though the approach and methodology will be disseminated to three other cities in Italy.
EL*C’s grant has been necessary in launching these Trainings, Lesbian Services and Well-Being opportunities to promote and protect the rights and lives of the LBTIQ+ community. Notably, the grant has helped to support the community by expanding the skills and resources available to activists. The grant has therefore helped to create a more supportive environment for these defenders of LGBTIQ+ and women’s rights. With greater skill, dexterity and capacity, these activists and organisations can continue to bolster and support the LGBTIQ+ movement on the local, national, and Europe-wide levels.
Disclaimer: EL*C uses the term “lesbian” as a broad inclusive term, that includes all lesbian, bisexual and queer women (both cisgender and trans) and non-binary and intersex persons who feel connected to the lesbian identity and lesbian activism. This includes all LBTI women and non binary persons that identify or are perceived as lesbians, bisexual and queer women.
The “ Resourcing Lesbian Movements” grant-making program, funded by EL*C in collaboration with the EU, is set to make a significant impact on human rights across Europe. This initiative aims to resource 31 lesbian projects through financial support. These grants directly address the chronic underfunding and lack of resources that have historically hindered the lesbian movement.
By enhancing lesbian visibility, promoting intersectional inclusion, and enriching cultural diversity, each grant empowers LBTIQ+ organizations to bolster lesbian activists and movements in their national context, thereby promoting and protecting human rights throughout the region.
This article spotlights five projects committed to developing diverse and cohesive lesbian communities nationally and internationally. These organisations – based in France, Finland, Germany and Italy – work to create lesbian communities that focus on LBTIQ+ refugees, elders, and those who live outside urban centres. With EL*C’s grant, they are expanding their capacity to create inclusive, intersectional and intergenerational lesbian communities. Through their efforts, the lesbian movement is contributing to Europe’s overall capacity to create societies rooted in equality, dignity and protection for all.
1. Front d’Habitat Lesbien (FHL), France
In the wake of the pandemic, Front d’Habitat Lesbien (FHL) formed as a platform of solidarity, support and community for lesbian refugees and asylum seekers in Paris. They offer a range of integral services, foundationally in the form of housing and accommodation for those who find themselves in precarious situations as they seek asylum in France. FHL also offers practical support to community members by connecting them to mental and physical health services, trainings and education programs, providing support with legal procedures, and creating events to address social exclusion. FHL also collaborate with the authorities and other NGO actors, to support LBTIQ+ women and intervene in cases of discrimination in accommodation or employment.
Through EL*C’s grant support, FHL’s social worker has provided critical assistance to undocumented or asylum-seeking lesbians, facilitating their navigation of the French legal system. One now has a full-time job and is looking for housing, another is preparing to move to her new home, while another was successfully supported with her asylum claim and now awaits her documents for international protection. All are starting to root into French society, finding dignity, freedom and autonomy as a direct result of the designated and specified support of Front d’Habitat Lesbien.
2. Mummolaakso, Finland
Since its foundation in 1994, Mummolaakso (Granny Valley), has sought to improve the quality of life for lesbian elders in Helsinki, and throughout Finland. The organization’s name is a nod to Muumilaakso (Moominvalley), the fantastical land created by Finnish author and lesbian literary legend, Tove Jansson. Through a teeming programme of events, dances, cultural trips, recreation, discussions, and reading circles amongst others, Mummolaakso has dedicated the last 30 years to cultivating places of social interaction and inclusion for older lesbians, while simultaneously promoting intergenerational integration with younger LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people.
As a small volunteer-run organization, EL*C’s grant enabled Mummolaakso to gain new momentum and visibility. Most notably they were able to target budget resources to travelling and locating LBTIQ+ women in more rural areas, and therefore to forge community connections with lesbian elders living farther away from Helsinki.
The grant has expanded their capacity to collaborate across generations, deepening lesbian-focused discussion about age issues, generational differences and community opportunities in general. They have also held training events to better prepare the community for age-related planning. Mummolaakso has witnessed first-hand how improving their awareness of diverse generational experiences brings greater depth and perspective to their community. By providing a solid foundation that supports and uplifts the mental, physical, psychological, and social well-being of elders – the whole society benefits.
3. LesbenRing, Germany
Formed on International Women’s Day in 1982, LesbenRing e.V. represents the interests of lesbians in politics and society, while upholding a deep commitment to promoting mutual respect, non-violence and democracy for all in Germany.
The Berlin-based organisation work tirelessly for complete legal and social equality for lesbians: in family law, adoption law, descent law, refugee law, in the fight against lesbophobia and violence against lesbians.
EL*C’s grant has made 2024 a productive year for LesbenRing, notably in their organizational structures and visibility amongst the LGBTIQ+ community in Germany. Internally, the grant has enabled them to work with a strategy coach to better refine roles, responsibilities, financial forecasts and short- and long-term goals. This has givening their volunteer-led managing board a deeper and necessary level of professionalism.
In terms of visibility, the grant also enabled LesbenRing to hire a social media consultant, to expand their reach internationally and intergenerationally. Alongside a professional event organizer hired to increase their presence at Dyke Marches, this is part of a wider project to integrate, mobilize and create community alongside other vital LBTIQ+ organisations across the country.
4. Frauenliebe im Pott (FLiP), Germany
International collaboration is a focal point of community organising in the lesbian movement, and FLiP, Frauenliebe im Pott, e.V., a German NGO have been fostering partnerships with grassroots lesbian groups in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia since 2018, and Labrisz in Hungary earlier this year.
Active since 1992, with eighty members currently, FLiP are concerned with the social inclusion and political engagement of LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people. Through a range of activities – discussion groups, parties, cooking, sporting events – they focus on building robust, expansive and supportive connections between lesbians in Germany and notably, expanding this interconnectedness internationally.
With EL*C’s grant, four core members of FLiP travelled to Bostwana and Namibia in the summer, where they held partnership meetings with the Black Queer DocX (Botswana) and Women’s Leadership Centre and Y-FEM Young Feminists (Namibia). Together they strengthened their existing network and discussed new ideas for collaboration in political activism and lobbying strategies. FLiP will continue to facilitate face-to-face meetings where possible, and regular Zoom calls to continue to develop this mutual, cross-cultural and cross-continental exchange. A further function of EL*C’s grant is in documenting and communicating FLiP’s achievements over the past several years, thereby increasing their visibility and impact.
5. Associazione Lesbian Femminista (ALFI Nazionale), Italy
Founded in Naples, ALFI works to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people in all sectors of Italian society, and all regions of the country. Since their formation in 2017, they’ve focused on building community across social, economic and geographic distances, and they’ve also been key proponents of collaboration across the wider LGBTQ+ movement in Italy, notably in light of the current government’s targeting of lesbian families and queer identities.
EL*C’s grant has expanded ALFI’s online and in-person community-building programme, ‘V.O.I.C.E. : Visibility, Opportunity, Integration, Connection, Empowerment.’ Firstly, by expanding their communications campaign, then by travelling and connecting with lesbians living outside major cities, thereby addressing and helping to reduce their isolation and ostracization. They’re also actively utilising digital spaces, and have developed a Listening Line and Forum, which provides an invaluable space of solace, connection and support to lesbians throughout the country.
In the process of creating thriving community networks of LBTIQ+ women and non-binary people, each of these NGO’s has used EL*C’s grant to ensure they focus on the inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable groups within the lesbian* movement, namely greying populations, refugees and asylum seekers, and those who live outside of city-hubs. These five organisations have therefore improved their diversity and intersectionality, which has heightened their capacity to protect and promote LGBTIQ+ rights within their own national contexts. This more expansive understanding of the lesbian* community has enabled them to successfully create European collaborations and, as is the case with FLiP, create international collaborations too. The grant has therefore allowed them to spread awareness of European values concerning the rights of LGBTIQ+ people both within, and beyond, the continent.