We look forward to welcoming you at the EL*C 4th international lesbian conference in Rome, Italy between 23 and 26 April 2025. 

Going to Italy is a call to join the bold lesbian activists on the ground facing the ongoing governmental attack on lesbian rights in Italy, which culminated in 2023 with the removal of lesbian mothers from their children’s birth certificates. This conference is also a united stand against the growing discrimination faced by women, trans people and the wider LGBTI community, migrants, refugees, and Roma people. 

If you want to join us but need help covering travel, accommodation, entrance fees, or visa costs, consider applying for a scholarship. Please note that scholarship spots are limited due to available funding, yet EL*C will strive to secure as many opportunities as we can. Therefore, we recommend seeking funding in advance from your organization or other sources, such as benefit events or local embassies.  

We strongly encourage applications from LBTQI+ individuals with intersecting identities, including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities, those from low-income backgrounds, people with disabilities, trans and non-binary persons, migrants, refugees, neurodiverse individuals, or elders. 

The selected scholars will be announced at the beginning of October 2024. Additionally, please also consider that if you receive a scholarship for accommodation, you will share a twin room with another scholar.  

 Apply for a Scholarship 

Deadline for scholarship application: 8 Sept at 11:59 pm, Rome time.

TIP: Most people wait until the last minute. Apply early to avoid the rush and ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. 

In case you have questions, please contact us via e-mail: info@lesbiangenius.net 

The “Resourcing the Lesbian Movement” grant-making program, funded by the European Union and spearheaded by EL*C, is set to make a significant impact on human rights across Europe. This initiative aims to resource the movement through financial support and capacity development, addressing the chronic underfunding and lack of resources that have historically hindered the lesbian movement. 

By supporting projects that enhance lesbian visibility, promote intersectional inclusion, and enrich cultural diversity, the grant empowers lesbian organizations to strengthen movements and activists as well as human rights advocacy.  

In this article, we highlight five of the 31 funded projects within the grant. These initiatives, rooted in lesbian feminist principles, exemplify how cultural enrichment advances the fight for equality and inclusion by creating space for diverse expressions and nurturing a shared sense of identity and community, and bolstering movement-building and strengthening efforts across the lesbian movement. 

The Polish association Sistrum is a safe space for lesbian culture in the broadest sense. Established in 2017, the purpose of the association is to produce, animate, disseminate, and archive lesbian culture. Their EL*C funded project “Dykes with Labrys” revives the legacy of Polish lesbian artists like Narcyza Żmichowska, Maria Konopnicka, and Wanda Landowska through educational and performative trips to eight towns. This initiative emphasizes the contributions of Polish lesbian artists, shedding light on the historical and cultural gaps regarding LBTIQ women and non-binary persons’ recognition in society. 

The project premiered at the Women* Queer “Lesbikon” conference in Katowice with performances and workshops on lesbian culture. Participation in the conference and organizing workshops and performances are good-practices examples of how the project promotes equality, freedom, and respect for human rights by creating spaces for dialogue, visibility, and celebration of lesbian culture.  

Through their participation at public events like Equality Marches and Pride Festivals in smaller cities Bielsko-Biała, Piaseczno, and Zielona Góra, Sistrum promotes engaging in civil organizing and fostering a more inclusive and democratic society. Sistrum used the avenue of art and culture to highlight the unique challenges faced by lesbians in Poland, addressing the intersection of gender and sexual orientation.  

Their journey is documented in a graphic book and a series of photos featuring women with portraits of Polish lesbian artists, ensuring effective communication and promotion of their activities to reach and engage public opinion on lesbian rights. 

Sistrum has established connections with BWA art galleries and is deepening its cooperation with the “Lesbikon” conference. They also connected with an organization in Szczecin, enabling their participation in the local Pride Festival for the first time. By merging education and performance, Sistrum breathes new life into Polish culture and advocates for broader lesbian rights and inclusion.  

Anemos Dimiourgias (Wind of Creativity), founded in 2014 in Lesvos, promotes creative works that raise awareness on gender, sexuality, and cultural diversity through various mediums such as film, documentaries, photography exhibitions, visual arts, and symposia. Recently, the Greek organization completed the feature film “Lesvia,” which chronicles over 45 years of Skala Eresou’ lesbian history, bringing to light the intersectional discrimination faced by LBTIQ women and non-binary persons, making these unique struggles more visible to a broader audience.  

Photographer and filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, a native lesbian from Lesbos, captured these stories in the organization’s documentary film “Lesvia.” Currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit, the film supports human rights advocacy by promoting the intersectional struggles and history of the lesbian community in Skala Eresou. By weaving lesbian narratives into the cultural fabric and deepening public understanding of lesbian experiences, the film raises awareness and fosters greater acceptance and recognition of LBTIQ and non-binary individuals, advocating for their rights and equality. 

“The older generations were touched by the archive material and our herstory of the first years, especially the women who had come to Eressos in the early times. But the biggest surprise was the younger lesbians that loved the film, and they felt grateful that we managed to keep our story alive and share it with them. Many of them had no idea about Eressos, our community and about the fights that we had to give in the 80s in order to create and keep a space for ourselves. I had the feeling that the film was working as an awakening, as a reminder that we can claim the life we want. 

– Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, film director 

The film has been screened at 17 festivals across England, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, Poland, and the United States. It has won several accolades, including Best Newcomer Director, a Jury award, and four Audience awards. Most of the screenings have been packed, with many selling out in advance. This remarkable success contributes to changing the public opinion on the lesbian community, effectively engaging audiences and promoting a more inclusive society. Anemos Dimiourgias furthers this mission through symposia, exhibitions, and public events, championing equality, freedom, and respect for human rights. 

Committed to shaping social inclusion policies and practices, LINC is a community development organization which offers essential peer support to the lesbian and bisexual community in Ireland. Through their EL*C funded project “Beyond the margins,” highlighting specific issues and gaps in the protection of fundamental rights, LINC creates a space for the lesbian community to grow together. This project started with monthly workshops and now holds weekly sessions, engaging over thirty participants and achieving 97 visits with notable social media reach.  

Through emphasizing the unique violations faced at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation via intergenerational discussions, the group explores Cork’s LBTQ+ history, fostering connections between younger and older queer individuals. They have also designed and begun painting murals celebrating lesbians* in Cork history. 

The initiative culminates in an exhibition showcasing artistic expressions and personal narratives, providing a creative approach to activism. Participants share and hold each other’s experiences, fostering hope and connection. The project has also attracted new attendees to LINC events and offers support in the form of subsidized counseling. Due to high engagement, workshops will continue beyond the first exhibition, with another planned later in the year. 

LINC’s work enriches the cultural landscape enhancing their organizational capacity to advocate for lesbian and bisexual women’s rights and supporting inclusion in a diverse civil society. 

Founded in 1996 in Aveiro, Clube Safo, the only lesbian organization in Portugal, began as a lesbian group who saw the urgency of creating a space for dialogue, sharing and for claiming their human rights. Clube Safo’s project “Lesbian 360°” initiatives, such as support groups and the Lesbian Support Line, empower the lesbian community by providing essential services and support, thereby enhancing their capacity for advocacy and policy engagement. 

With the support of EL*C and the European Union, Clube Safo is undertaking initiatives to amplify lesbian visibility and cultural presence, centering on the lesbian experience within the broader context of human rights activism. These efforts include revamping its website, producing a documentary titled “Clube Safo: From the Past to the Future,” which chronicles the organization’s history, evolution, and role in lesbian activism in Portugal, and relaunching its lesbian-focused magazine, Zona Libre, the country’s longest-standing publication on lesbian issues.  

These activities increase visibility and engagement, ensuring that lesbian voices are heard and respected in public discourse. They shed light on overlooked human rights issues and draw attention to the unique challenges faced by lesbians due to discrimination faced at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation. 

“The support from the EL`C has allowed us to tell our story, reach further and know that what we are doing really creates a change in the way lesbians are perceived in society but also to support them specifically.  

– Clube Safo 

The funding has been a game-changer for Clube Safo, allowing its members and the board better access to health and social services through the Lesbian Support Line and support groups, improved media representation, increased capacity, and reduced burnout. By strengthening its cultural presence and enhancing its financial sustainability and operational efficiency, Clube Safo can combat discrimination more effectively and advocate for human rights, fostering a spirit of inclusion within society at large. 

The Bulgarian feminist collective Lespectra believes that at the heart of awareness and understanding, comes meaningful change, which can only be achieved through empowerment and lesbian rights advocacy. 

Their project “Lesbians of Bulgaria: Daring to be Powerful” features an exhibition with portraits of lesbians from across the country, taken by art photographer Johana Trayanova. This visual narrative brings attention to specific representational issues by offering an intimate glimpse into lesbian lives, showcasing the diversity of LBTIQ identities and experiences in Bulgaria. 

Their LesCafes have become a cornerstone for creating safe, inclusive, and enjoyable spaces for LBTIQ women and nonbinary people in Sofia and beyond. These gatherings have fostered a close-knit community that regularly attends events, brings friends, and spreads the word about the importance of lesbian inclusion, thus encouraging participation and inclusion of diverse LBTIQ individuals in social and cultural activities. By holding LesCafes in cities like Veliko Tarnovo and Varna, Lespectra has strengthened local connections and built solidarity networks. By creating spaces like LesCafes and fostering community connections, Lespectra strengthens the advocacy capabilities of the lesbian community, empowering individuals to engage in policy work and advocacy. 

The exhibition and community events are key methods of reaching and educating the public, highlighting the importance of lesbian inclusion and rights, promoting equality and freedom. Through these community-building and visibility efforts, Lespectra builds bridges of understanding and empowers individuals, contributing to the long-term sustainability and capacity of Bulgarian lesbian movement through increased engagement and support.  

These projects reveal the transformative influence of the “Resourcing the Lesbian Movement” grant, showcasing the collective efforts driven by EL*C. Initiatives like those of Anemos Dimourgias, Clube Safo, Lespectra, Sistrum, and LINC embody a shared vision where lesbian visibility and human rights thrive. These initiatives reflect those core EU values we hold dear—freedom of assembly and association, cultural heritage and freedom of expression, equality, solidarity, and non-discrimination. They’re all about fostering social cohesion and promoting artistic and cultural expression. Plus, each project advances a feminist narrative of inclusivity and lesbian empowerment, bringing together experiences which contribute to a more equitable society across the European Union. 

In Tallinn, EL*C connected with the Eesti LGBT Ühing / Estonian LGBT Association and Q-Space: lesbian-led NGOs advancing human rights and building community in Estonia.

Left: Meeting with the lesbian community in Tallinn, Estonia
Top right: Estonian LGBT Association and EL*C
Bottom right: EL*C gets introduced to Q Space

Right: EL*C meeting with the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication
Left: Meeting the lesbian and queer community in Tartu, Estonia

EL*C meets with lesbian-led NGOs Mozaika and Active Rainbow.

Left: Lesbian community meal with Asociaija Perspektyva Plius
Right: EL*C meets the LGL in Vilnius

Brussels, 11 July 2024

The European Union was founded on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Yet too many people continue to face discrimination and inequality across the Union, including intersectional and multiple forms of discrimination in all aspects of their lives. In the current climate, it is now imperative that the EU institutions strengthen their resolve to take meaningful and urgent action to address this reality.

As European Union leaders decide on their priorities for the 2024-2029 cycle, we call on them to ensure that equality and non-discrimination are included as central priorities in the EU work programme for the next five years. Only by centring equality and protection from discrimination in this way can the EU truly respond to the key concerns of people living in the Union.

The equality and non-discrimination agenda was afforded increased visibility and action during the last five years as a result of the ambitious “Union of Equality” agenda and the appointment of the first Commissioner for Equality. This led to unprecedented progress in efforts to advance equality and non-discrimination across EU policy making. Progress included the adoption of important initiatives such as the Directive on violence against women, inaugural Gender Equality and LGBTIQ Equality Strategies, an Anti-Racism Action Plan, a Green Paper on Ageing, an Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, a Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU, as well as the renewal of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Roma strategic framework.

At this critical juncture, it is vital that the EU continues to prioritize efforts to guarantee the founding values of equality and non-discrimination, to advance the entire package which comprises the Union of Equality, and to ensure an intersectional approach to this agenda. Failure to do so would seriously jeopardise progress in this area and mark a very dangerous step backward.

To this end we call on EU leadership to take the following steps:

• Appoint a Commissioner for Equality and Fundamental Rights, ensuring the mandate has the power to renew and deepen the Union of Equality agenda and nominating a candidate with a demonstrated commitment to equality;
• Strengthen the Union of Equality agenda by introducing new strategies to address grounds not already covered, mainstreaming all strategies across policy areas andrenewing and building–out existing equality strategies, such as the Gender Equality Strategy, LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, the EU Strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Roma strategic framework;
• Ensure the next EU budget includes robust funding streams for civil society organisations working on equality and non-discrimination;
• Ensure equality and non-discrimination objectives are also core components of EU priorities in the sphere of international cooperation, external and humanitarian action;
• Maintain the current status of the Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and refrain from weakening its mandate;
• Establish a Council configuration dedicated to equality in the EU and ensure concrete commitments towards implementation of equality strategies by member states;
• Establish a new Directorate-General for Equality and Fundamental Rights therebystrengthening the Commission’s ability to design and monitor equality and non-discrimination laws and policies;
• Renew and upgrade the mandates of the Commission Coordinators working on equality, ensuring a focus on intersectionality during this term;
• Entrust the Commission Task Force on Equality with a strong mandate and ensure it works transparently and in close consultation and cooperation with civil society organizations and networks.

As 143 civil society organisations with significant expertise on equality, and as representatives of groups at increased risk of discrimination across the EU, we issue this call as a testament to our solidarity with each other, and urge EU leaders to ensure that the people most affected by EU policies and legislation on equality and non-discrimination are always involved in their development and implementation.

EL*C is launching a call for tenders for services related to the Research on social media companies and online hate speech against lesbians*.

We are looking for:

• Demonstrated experience with investigation, data and information collection and analysis within the field of applied research and/or investigative journalism; 
• Demonstrated experience in deploying and utilising various investigative and data collection tools and methods; 
• Demonstrated experience in analysing the policies and practices that relate to social media; 
• Demonstrated intersectional feminist background;
• Good understanding of current and past struggles of LBTI women and non-binary persons;
• Strong organisational, interpersonal, and project management skills;
• Sense of initiative and ability to be self-supporting, including ability to deliver under pressure and within tight deadlines;
• Excellent knowledge and command of the English language;
• Good knowledge of other EU languages is a strong asset;

In order to apply please submit via email at procurement@lesbiangenius.org by 15 August 2024 at 23:59 CET with the following documents:

➡ CV of the consultant detailing past and current professional experience
➡ The Technical proposal
➡ The Provider, shall also send a quote (Pro Forma invoice) and including:

• the Service Provider’s name and address;
• its VAT number;
• the full list of services;
• the fee per type of deliverables (in the local currency, tax exclusive);
• the total amount per type of deliverables (in the local currency, tax exclusive);
• the total amount, tax exclusive, the applicable VAT rate, the amount of VAT and the amount VAT inclusive
• the budget should include all costs related to this consultancy, including for example travel costs.

All documents shall be submitted in English, failure to do so will result in the exclusion of the tender. If any of the documents listed above are missing, EL*C reserve the right to reject the tender.

____________________________________________________________

DOWLOAD THE CALL FOR TENDER: Call for tenders – Social media & online hate speeches against lesbians

DOWLOAD THE TEMPLATE FOR THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: Technical-Proposal-Template_SOCIAL-MEDIA_hate_speech_lesbians

____________________________________________________________

Deadline: All documents should be submitted via e-mail to the following email addresses: procurement@lesbiangenius.org by 15 August 2024 at 23:59 CET.

Join us for a training module on media strategies and public visibility, designed to amplify the communication skills within the lesbian movement. In a media landscape where voices can shape futures, traditional communication models — shaped by colonial, patriarchal, and capitalist structures — often fail to capture the essence and needs of lesbian-centric and feminist organizations. These approaches overlook the depth and authenticity that our lesbian genius brings to the table. 

During this module, Oana Dorobantu will apply a decolonial feminist approach to dismantle the patriarchal biases in current communication strategies. By reimagining public relations tools through a lesbian feminist lens, we transform these tools from mechanisms of domination into instruments of empowerment and solidarity, amplifying voices that have been historically sidelined. Inspired by the transformative journeys of fairy tale characters who overcome obstacles to rewrite their destinies, this training module empowers participants to redefine engagement and influence. Learn how to build and change narratives that challenge inequities, ensuring every word we share contributes to the movement for lesbian visibility and rights. 

REGISTER NOW

This training is structured across two sessions: the first session will be conducted on 18th July, and the subsequent session on 25th July.

Oana Dorobanțu (they/she) is a seasoned communicator with 15 years of experience across public relations, social media, journalism, and feminist organizing, enriched by a deep commitment to decolonial anti-racist education. At EL*C, Oana has excelled as the Media Manager, social media fairy, lesbian-genius illustrator and ad-hoc graphic designer, consistently amplifying and celebrating lesbian voices through innovative and impactful media strategies.

Admittance open to EL*C member organizations and member individuals.

Secure your spot: REGISTER NOW!

This training module will later be available as a recording for EL*C members. Become an EL*C member!

As summer heatwaves begin to grip Southern Europe in yet another climate crisis year, EL*C is outraged by the storm of lesbophobic comments engulfing the Spanish internet. This wave of hatred was directed at two football players, Jenni Hermoso and Misa Rodriguez, after they posted a vacation photo together during Pride Month.  

Jenni Hermoso and Misa Rodriguez have won the World Cup, the National League, and numerous matches in recent months. Yet, lesbophobic critics responded with absurd calls to “take the scissors out of the locker room” and “shut down” the Women’s National Football Team. Lesbophobia is evident when, despite their incredible achievements, two women going on holiday together triggers such extreme and hateful reactions, including calls to dismantle the national team. 

Jenni Hermoso stands proudly as a lesbian, while Misa Rodriguez’s personal life is not known. Whether they are a couple or not is irrelevant; lesbophobia is intolerable. These attacks are a stark reminder of why Pride Month is not just a celebration, but a fierce fight for our rights. 

Let’s be reminded that Pride began with the Stonewall riots, sparked by the defiant cry of an unnamed butch lesbian who, while enduring police violence, shouted at lesbians, gay men and trans persons inside the Stonewall Inn, “Why don’t you do something?” Many witnesses credit this call to action as that which ignited the resistance that changed the course of LGBTQ+ history. It was lesbian courage, and the courage of countless others, that laid the foundation for the freedoms we continue to fight for today. 

Yet, lesbians remain largely invisible in the broader struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. Our histories are erased, our contributions to social justice movements ignored. We must recognize and amplify the voices of lesbian activists who have led the charge in this battle for decades. 

The lesbophobic attacks on Hermoso and Rodriguez during Pride Month are a painful reminder of the systemic and institutional discrimination we face. This vile behavior is a glaring symptom of the entrenched heteronormativity and patriarchy that continues to poison the world of sports. Jenni Hermoso was the lesbian who was sexually assaulted live on TV by Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, in 2023, sparking an international conversation on sexual harassment in women’s sports and resulting in Rubiales’ resignation after much protest. 

To add insult to injury, lesbophobic comments targeting Jenni and Misa remain unmoderated on social media, while just this week Instagram/Meta unjustly deleted EL*C’s post celebrating Dyke Marches for “inappropriate language.” This blatant hypocrisy reveals the dangers of rapidly advancing technology without any regard towards hate-based biases that stifle our voices and perpetuate discrimination. 

EL*C stands in fierce solidarity with Hermoso and Rodriguez, and every person who has been subjected to lesbophobic violence. We call on the sports community and social media companies to take immediate, concrete actions to eradicate lesbophobia and ensure a safe, inclusive environment for all. We demand accountability. We demand a world where every lesbian can live openly and authentically without fear of hatred or violence.  

In light of the upcoming official visit of Argentine President Javier Milei to Germany, EL*C has signed an open letter initiated by CELS – Center for Legal and Social Studies, seeking to highlight the increasingly precarious state of women’s and LGBTIQ rights in Argentina and urges the German government to respond accordingly.

Over recent months, Argentina has witnessed a disturbing decline in the rights and safety of women and LGBTIQ individuals. A notable and tragic example is the recent lesbophobic attack which resulted in the death of three lesbians and the severe injury of the fourth. The increasingly deteriorating situation for women’s and LGBTIQ rights under Javier Milei’s rule requires the urgent action and support for feminist and lesbian organizations, collectives and individuals.

Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy Guidelines, adopted in 2023, emphasize that gender equality and women’s rights should be central to the country’s external relations. These guidelines represent a commitment to actively promoting and protecting feminist values on a global scale. As President Milei prepares for his visit, it is imperative that Germany upholds these principles by addressing the deteriorating situation in Argentina.

EL*C calls upon other organizations, both within Germany and internationally, to join in signing this open letter.

Read Letter: CELS Letter to the German Foreign Affairs Office

Sign here.

The rich lesbian history of the island of Lesbos dates to ancient times, when the famous lesbian poet Sappho was born in Eresos. Her presence still lingers in the air, the sea, and the statues that watch over the Aegean Sea in Skala.

In the first half of the 20th century, Italian lesbian poet, writer and feminist Lina Poletti sailed to Lesbos with a group of lesbians, embarking on a journey of self-discovery. Their experiences, detailed in Poletti’s diaries, are beautifully chronicled by Shelby Wynn Schwartz in her book “After Sappho.”

Fast forward to the 1970s, when lesbians from around the world began visiting Skala Eresou, creating a vibrant community that not only engaged respectfully with locals but also boosted the local economy. Many of these lesbians have now made Skala their permanent home.

Photographer, writer, filmmaker and proud “double lesbian” (a lesbian from Lesbos) Tzeli Hadjidimitriou is one of the members of the Skala Eresou lesbian community and an active member of EL*C.Tzeli has documented the lesbian history of Skala Eresou in her documentary film Lesvia, which chronicles 40+ years of love, community, conflict, and what it means to feel accepted.

Lesvia is currently making the rounds on the festival circuit. Here’s where you can see it next:

• June 19, 20 MakeDox, Skopje
• June 19-29 – Frameline, San Francisco
• June 23 EuroPride, Thessaloniki
• June 24-30 – Zinegoak Film Festival, Bilbao
• June 27-30 – Fairy Tales Presentation Society, Calgary
• Aug 1-5 – Gaze LGBTQIA Film Festival, Dublin
• August 1-8 – Lemesos International Documentary Festival, Lismassol
• Aug 30 – Sep 6 Queer Film Festival, Utrecht
• Sep 11-22 – Vancouver Queer Film Festival
• Sep 20-22 – Some Prefer Cake Film Festival, Bologna
• Sep 20-28 – Queer Lisboa: Lisbon Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
• Sep 25 – Oct 12 – Vues d’en face: Grenoble International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Grenoble
• Oct 22-27 Pornfilmfestival, Berlin
• Oct 24 – Nov 3 – Windsor International Film Festival, Ontario

More festivals and dates are announced as they are confirmed – follow Lesvia on Facebook and Instagram to find out more.

If you’re dreaming of visiting the Skala Eresou, don’t miss these fantastic festivals organized by EL*C member organizations:

• Queer Ranch Festival by Ohana Collective – every year at the end of May.
• Sappho Women’s Festival  by Sappho Women Non-Profit (AMKE) – every year in mid-September.