Monday, Georgia’s authoritarian parliamentary majority proposed a new legislative package titled “On Family Values and Protection of Minors” in an unprecedented attack on LGBTIQ persons. Concretely, if adopted, this legislative arsenal would ban the so-called “promotion” of LGBTIQ existence in the media, education at all levels, and public gatherings. This would not only mean that public gatherings centering LGBTIQ issues would be made illegal but also that sharing one’s (own) LGBTIQ identity, informing on LGBTIQ subjects, or even providing the opportunity for young persons to find that information would be punishable by a fine and even imprisonment for repeat offenders. Practicing gender reassignment surgeries and medical care would be punishable by up to 4 years in prison. Even labor laws would be impacted, with the interdiction for public services workers to merely acknowledge gender identities diverging from biological sex. Strikingly, the proposition consistently lumps trans identity and sexual orientation with incest.

“The 19 laws initiated by Georgian Dream will effectively establish a fascist legal regime against queer persons. These laws are worse than the homophobic and fascist policies that began in Russia and Hungary. They will introduce censorship to restrict anyone who teaches modern gender theories, talks about these theories, and defines their own political and civil ideas.”

– Mari Kurtanidze, EL*C Board Member and Georgian lesbian activist 

In addition to all of this, the law package includes a new holiday to be established on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia-Lesphobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, as the day of “Sanctity of the Family and Respect for Parents”.

As a reminder, the ruling Georgian Dream party has been leveraging lesbo/homo/bi/transphobic strategies as part of its electoral mobilization efforts leading up to the elections planned for October. At the end of May, the adoption of the draconian “Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influences” ignited a harshly repressed wave of protests and demonstrations. Georgian Dream’s agenda has been made evident in the organization of public debates and the promotion of anti-LGBT legislation exacerbating aggression and distress within the queer community.

EL*C calls upon the European Union, the Council of Europe, and international actors to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the protection and respect of human rights in Georgia. It is imperative that these bodies exert their influence to prevent the passage of this repressive legislation and to support the LGBTIQ community, ensuring that fundamental freedoms and human dignity are upheld for all.

The recent EU election have revealed a troubling shift in the political landscape, with the far-right making significant advances. This development poses a serious threat to the core values of European democracy: equality, freedom, and justice.

This is not a time for despair. Lesbians, we must take this as a call to action. Our unique perspectives, resilience, and unyielding spirit, which make up our lesbian genius, are necessary in this fight. We must harness every skill, every ounce of creativity and strength, to ensure that fascism does not take root and spread its hateful ideology.

EL*C envisions a European Union that is feminist, anti-racist, trans-inclusive and anti-ableist. A Europe that is safe for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Additionally, we want representatives committed to climate friendliness and sustainability, ensuring a healthy planet for future generations. We fight for a lesbian Europe, one where our rights and freedoms are not just protected but celebrated.

Read more in EL*C’s Lesbian Manifesto.

We must rise together in solidarity. We can and will push back against growing menace of the far-right. We must work tirelessly within our communities and between them in solidarity, through every available channel to resist and dismantle these oppressive forces. The struggle for a just and democratic Europe is far from over, and our determination to achieve it remains rooted in our lesbian genius.

Lesbians stand firm, speak out, and fight with all our might against fascism.

In solidarity and strength,
the EL*C

The Strategy includes a clearly intersectional approach that explicitly includes discriminations based on sex and gender and SOGIESC grounds, especially LBTI women. It also contains a commitment to leave no one behind and to achieve a gender-equal Europe for everyone. Crucially, the Strategy specifically identifies anti-gender and so-called “gender-critical” narratives as being used as tools to promote a broader agenda of opposing gender equality and women’s rights, while justifying “discriminatory practices and policies against individuals who challenge traditional gender roles and norms”.

For this reason, the Strategy adopts an intersectional approach in policies combating against violence against women and in data collection, while specific actions on LBTI women include the promotion of access to justice, actions concerning socio-economic rights and cooperation with relevant sectors and organisations to remove discrimination, sexism and gender stereotypes. The Strategy also specifically addresses the needs of GBTI men for the first time.

ILGA-Europe and EL*C, as the INGO Conference Representative to the Gender Equality Commission and an Observer of the Gender Equality Commission, respectively, worked collaboratively to achieve a strong, LGBTI-inclusive Strategy. The work done together with Member States and the Council of Europe representatives has led to a Strategy that commits the Council of Europe to address gender equality together with the equality for LGBTI persons and other persons subject to multiple marginalisation. In the current socio-political context and with the rise of far-right and anti-gender narratives, it is key that these commitments are implemented. We will continue working with the Council of Europe and Member States to ensure this implementation in the next years.

Read more about the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy here.

The L-Health project is an initiative aimed at addressing the long-standing health inequities faced by lesbians in Europe. This ambitious project not only seeks to generate novel knowledge on the health needs and status of lesbians, but also aims to improve clinical practice through targeted training of healthcare professionals.

L-Health is a collaborative effort to improve lesbian wellbeing and clinical practice for lesbians by identifying major health inequities and training healthcare professionals. The project is coordinated by the Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària (IDIAP Jordi Gol), with partners including the Institut d’Investigació Biomedica de Girona, SIDA STUDI, EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community, and the Agencia de Salut Publica de Barcelona.

Understanding the Context

Lesbians have historically been overlooked in healthcare research and practice. The heteronormative and androcentric biases prevalent in scientific research have often rendered lesbian health issues invisible, leading to a significant data gap. Lesbians face lesbophobia, defined as the intersection between sexism and heteronormativity, which profoundly impacts their access to and quality of healthcare. The L-Health project seeks to rectify this by centering its research and interventions on the unique health needs of lesbians, thereby challenging and transforming existing healthcare paradigms and improving lesbian wellbeing.

The team behind L-Health has identified the following obstacles and biases faced by lesbians in healthcare:

Lack of Knowledge and Training Among Healthcare Professionals: Many professionals lack adequate training on lesbians’ health needs, leading to prejudiced and heteronormative attitudes.

Invisibility and Marginalization: Lesbians often experience invisibility in healthcare settings due to insufficient research and data specific to their health issues.

Lesbophobia: Lesbophobia, combining sexism and heteronormativity, significantly impacts lesbians’ access to quality healthcare.

Negative Experiences and Distrust: Negative healthcare experiences lead many lesbians to distrust and underutilize healthcare services.

Structural Barriers and Inequities: Structural stigma and discrimination result in worse health outcomes and significant health inequalities for lesbians.

Objectives and Methodology

L-Health aims to improve clinical practice for lesbians through a comprehensive approach that includes:

Identifying Health Inequities: The project will pinpoint major health disparities experienced by lesbians in primary healthcare settings.

Assessing Healthcare Professionals: It will explore the knowledge gaps and attitudes of healthcare providers towards lesbian patients.

Training Interventions: A core component involves designing and implementing training programs to improve healthcare professionals’ competence in addressing lesbian health needs.

To achieve these goals, L-Health has will establish the first lesbian e-cohort in Europe. This cohort, developed in collaboration with international and local lesbian organizations, will utilize respondent-driven sampling to ensure broad participation. By comparing health data from this cohort with that of the general population in Catalonia, the project will provide a clearer picture of the specific health challenges faced by lesbians.

Addressing the Data Gap

One of the critical contributions of L-Health is its potential to fill the significant data gap regarding lesbian health. Previous European initiatives, such as the “Open Doors” and “Health4LGBTI” projects, have laid the groundwork by raising awareness about LGBTI health inequalities and providing tools for healthcare professionals. However, these efforts have often treated the LGBTI community as a monolith, neglecting the distinct needs of lesbians. L-Health builds on these foundations by focusing exclusively on lesbians, thereby generating specific, actionable insights.

Intersectional Approach

L-Health employs a feminist and intersectional framework, recognizing that health inequities are compounded by various axes of discrimination, including gender identity, sexual orientation, age, migrant status, functional diversity, and socioeconomic level. This approach ensures that the project’s findings and interventions are nuanced and inclusive, addressing the diverse realities of lesbians’ lives.

Training and Knowledge Transfer

A significant innovation of L-Health is its commitment to translating research into practice. The project will develop training programs for healthcare professionals, which will be piloted and evaluated for effectiveness. These programs aim to equip providers with the skills needed to offer respectful and competent care to lesbian patients. Additionally, the project will disseminate its findings through publications, conferences, and social media campaigns, ensuring widespread impact and awareness.

Long-term Impact and Sustainability

L-Health is designed with sustainability in mind. The creation of the lesbian e-cohort is a lasting resource that can support ongoing and future research into various health issues affecting lesbians. The training materials developed will be accessible to healthcare professionals across Europe, fostering a long-term improvement in healthcare practices. Furthermore, the project’s alignment with the European LGBTIQ Strategy and its intersectional focus ensure that it will contribute to broader efforts to combat discrimination and promote equality.

The L-Health project is significant step forward in the realm of public health and lesbian wellbeing. By focusing specifically on lesbian health, it addresses a critical gap in both research and practice. The project’s intersectional approach, combined with its robust methodology and commitment to knowledge transfer, positions it to make a profound and lasting impact on the health and well-being of lesbians across Europe. Through L-Health, we move closer to a future where all lesbians can access high-quality, equitable healthcare.

It is with anger, sadness, and great disappointment that we must share with you the decision to cancel the upcoming EL*C Conference, initially scheduled on 7-11 October 2024 in Kazakhstan. Together with our partners and local hosts of the conference – Feminita, the EL*C has concluded that an international event of the scale and visibility of our biennial conference would be counterproductive, be it during or in the aftermath of the event.

Indeed, while the colonial influence of russia still touches the region, making Kazakhstani officials suggest colonial anti-LGBT amendments to laws, the international institutions, diplomatic missions, and donors withdrew their support to the event instead of voicing an unequivocal and reinvigorated commitment to the human rights of lesbians and the protection of lesbian human rights defenders.

A pivotal indicator of the international community’s attitude was the last-minute cancellation by the United Nations in Almaty of the long-confirmed use of the UN premises as a venue for the conference. This climate of uncertainty is naturally prompting diverse and diverging responses within the local communities. As an international stakeholder and co-organizer, EL*C must consider all concerns when defining its actions and strategic objectives.

Against this backdrop, with a heavy heart but with the best interest of our community and members in mind, we have determined that the organization of the EL*C biennial conference in its intended scope, format, and purpose, could no longer be ensured.

We will however not allow for the manipulation and disinformation to prevail, we will never allow our rights and our movements to be labelled as “LGBTI propaganda” or “foreign agents”. We will set the narrative straight (or rather lesbian), and we will keep fighting for justice and freedom, for our right to exist in peace, to be visible and heard, and for solidarity across the borders!

EL*C, and the lesbian movement it represents, are not one to shy away from adversity, and we will always be where we are most needed alongside our lesbian sisters and siblings. With this in mind, and in response to the challenging situation, we are exploring various strategies to engage with the local community and act as a meaningful lever and amplifier for our members in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region, ranging from participating in peaceful protest and public dialogue, advocating in international fora, as well as joining the local activities and local gatherings. In particular, Feminta will organise The Lesbian Quryltai on the dates originally intended for the EL*C conference. Communications on the latter will be received directly from Feminita.

At the same time, strong in the knowledge that the EL*C conference is a unique and needed space for mobilizing, connecting and building our movement in solidarity, with courage, love, rage and resilience against patriarchal systems of oppression, we are working on identifying a suitable location to host the next EL*C conference in 2025.

We will communicate the dates and place of the next EL*C conference as soon as possible. Please note that we will keep your pre-registration and/or scholarship application for the next EL*C conference, and we will contact you soon to confirm your interest.

Gulzada Serzhan, co-chair of the board at EL*C, has been fined by Kazakh Police for allegedly organizing an unauthorized protest. Serzhan, along with two other activists, was detained the day after participating in an impromptu public action held in response to the murder trial of former Kazakh Minister of Economy, Kuandyk Bishimbayev. The protest aimed to call for harsher punishment for Bishimbayev and raise awareness about femicide in Kazakhstan. Despite the lack of evidence, the Police fined Serzhan for organizing the protest. The official police report also highlighted her identity as an LGBT activist, even though the protest was focused on feminist issues.

During the trial, Serzhan testified that she only participated in the action and did not organize it. Despite this, the authorities dismissed her testimony, using photographic and video evidence of her participation to indict her. There is no evidence that Serzhan organized the protest against Bishimbayev’s femicide.

This authoritarian response is part of a longstanding pattern of repressing the right to freedom of assembly for lesbians and feminists in Kazakhstan. Serzhan is a member of the feminist organizational committee on peaceful meetings, Ogash, and co-founder of the lesbian and feminist collective, Feminita. In 2024 alone, Feminita activists have been denied permission for a feminist demonstration on March 8th in Almaty twenty times. Many of these refusals were justified by the authorities as preventing the spread of “LGBT propaganda,” despite the absence of any such legislation in Kazakhstan.

In addition to Serzhan, two other activists were detained, with one also receiving a fine. Serzhan is currently appealing the court’s decision, and funds are needed for the legal proceedings. EL*C will cover the urgent funds necessary for Serzhan’s case and the fine of the other activist.

Feminita, co-founded by Serzhan, has faced continuous rejection in their efforts to register legally in Kazakhstan. Over the past seven years, they have been denied authorization for their March 8th feminist demonstration by local authorities. Limited funding for unregistered collectives has made it challenging to seek justice against authoritarian actions that impede freedom of assembly for feminists and lesbians in Kazakhstan.

Feminita has launched a fundraiser to cover expenses for strategic cases on freedom of assembly, aiming to secure human rights and safety for women and the LGBTI+ community in Kazakhstan.

Feminist activists in Kazakhstan, such as Gulzada Serzhan, play a crucial role in advocating for LGBTQI+ rights and raising awareness about prevalent feminist issues such as gender-based violence and femicide. Despite facing significant legal and societal challenges, these activists continue to fight for justice and equality. Their efforts often result in harsh repercussions, including fines, and repression by authorities. Yet, their unwavering commitment underscores the importance of international support and solidarity. By standing with these activists, we not only amplify their voices but also contribute to the broader fight for human rights and dignity in regions where such freedoms are under constant threat.

Please consider donating to support the lesbian feminists in Kazakhstan through Feminita’s PayPal: paypal.me/gulzadaserzhan

Kazakh feminists leaving Police department the day before the trial.

Context on situation in Kazakhstan:

In November 2023, Saltanat Nukenova died of a brain injury just hours after a brutal beating by Kuandyk Bishimbayev in a restaurant in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital. According to DW, the restaurant staff was forbidden to call emergency services and was instructed to delete the CCTV footage under the pretext of a technical failure. Bishimbayev’s ensuing murder trial was broadcast live online and on TV. On May 13, 2024, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison, a punishment that feminist activists in Kazakhstan deem insufficient.

Femicide rates in Kazakhstan are alarmingly high, with the UN estimating that 400 women die from domestic violence each year. In 2017, Kazakhstan decriminalized acts of violence causing “minor” physical harm. However, in April 2024, the President signed a new law toughening penalties for spousal abuse. This law has been dubbed “Saltanat’s Law.”

In a recent turn of events, Georgia’s government adopted the draconian “Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influences” this week, despite vocal protests from the people. This authoritarian decision has fueled the existing wave of demonstrations throughout the country, met with harsh repression by the authorities, including the use of police violence against demonstrators.

Lesbians and queer persons are at the forefront of this struggle as they recognize the imminent threat posed by this law to the safety, security and rights of vulnerable communities in Georgia. The LGBTQ+ community in Georgia has already experienced the repercussions of this oppressive law during the governmental discussions on the proposed legislation. Eka Tsereteli, director of an EL*C member organization in Georgia, has become a target of a hate campaign, with posters portraying her as an “enemy of the state” appearing on the streets of Tblisi in the recent weeks. Similarly, Mariam has faced a media hate campaign, with TV channels labeling their advocacy and their lesbian existence as “LGBT propaganda” in a move influenced by the Russian anti-LGBT propaganda law.

The ruling Georgian Dream party is leveraging lesbo/homo/bi/transphobic strategies as part of its electoral mobilization efforts leading up to the October elections, evident in the organization of public debates and the promotion of an anti-LGBT propaganda law, exacerbating aggression and distress within the queer community.

If we loose, it will affect the whole South Caucasus and Central Asia as up until now Georgia served as a safe gathering hub and space to operate for the neighboring countries. And with these legislative changes we won’t be able to continue operating.

– Mari Kurtanidze, EL*C Board Member and Georgian lesbian activist

EL*C strongly denounces the use of violence against peaceful protesters and condemns any attempts to silence lesbian and queer voices. These actions not only violate fundamental human rights but also undermine the principles of democracy and freedom of assembly. The massive demonstrations show the Georgian people’s disapproval of the adopted legislation. EL*C calls on Georgia’s government to respect the will of the people in favor of a European democracy, against Russian authoritarianism.

In response to these injustices, solidarity efforts are underway: Lesbian Resistance, an EL*C member organization from Georgia, has launched a fundraising campaign to support the lesbian and queer activists in their fight for justice. Find out how you can donate on Lesbian Resistance’s Instagram post and learn more about the context in EL*C’s first statement on the situation in Georgia.

As we stand in solidarity with our lesbian and queer community in Georgia, we call for an immediate end to repression and a steadfast commitment to upholding LGBTQ+ rights. Our collective struggle against authoritarianism drives us forward in our quest for a society that embraces lesbian, trans and queer rights, safety and freedom.

Photo by Project 64

It was a lesbicide – Justice for Pamela, Mercedes, Andrea, and Sofia

On the 5th of May 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, three lesbians were murdered and one was severely injured in a lesbophobic attack by their neighbor. The man threw a homemade flammable liquid into the room the four of them were sharing, resulting in an explosion and fire. He then proceeded to attack the lesbians further to prevent them from leaving the burning room. Pamela Cobbas (52), Mercedes Roxana Figuroa (52) and Andrea Amarante (42) all died the week following the attack. The fourth victim, Sofia Castro Riglos (49) currently remains hospitalized and is, at this time, thankfully, out of danger.

Prior to the attack, the perpetrator had threatened the four lesbians multiple times. However, the local Police is currently refusing to take into account the previous threats in the investigation of this murder.

“They were set on fire for being lesbians. They were set on fire for being poor lesbians. They were set on fire for being poor lesbians creating a community”

– Barracas Lesbian Assembly, Argentina

Pamela, Mercedes and Andreea were murdered in a lesbicide. Sofia has been left without her chosen family due to lesbophobia. Nonetheless, during a press conference, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni declined to label the attack as a hate crime. Meanwhile, Argentinian President Javier Milei took to Instagram to dismiss criticism both of the refusal to recognize the attack as a hate crime and of his role in spreading anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric. The politics of hate and dehumanization which allow lesbophobia to take root and mature into lesbicide are commonplace in the far-right’s speech and actions targeting lesbians and the wider LGBTIQ+ community.

Argentina’s situation has become increasingly radicalized under the Milei’s rule. Currently, there is no state system available for individuals to seek protection in cases of discrimination and hate crimes. Institutions that operated for years before the new administration have been closed, resulting in thousands of job losses. According to the LesLac – the South American and Carribean Network of Lesbians and Bisexual Women, sexual orientation and gender identity have become a blatant basis for discrimination. Additionally, international mechanisms have proven largely ineffective in addressing these issues in Argentina.

Milei’s government’s declarations dismissing lesbicide in Argentina echo Meloni’s government action against lesbian mothers in Italy as well as Orban’s government actions of censoring lesbian literature in Hungary.

– Silvia Casalino, EL*C Executive Director and Italian lesbian activist

According to EL*C’s Observatory on Lesbophobia 2019-2022, in 55% of the lesbophobic cases reported to the police in Europe, prosecution is rendered impossible by the legal system in place. The far-right has made lesbians the practice ground of their hate politics against the LGBTIQ+ community, women, migrants and refugees, the poor population.

EL*C strongly condemns the refusal to categorize this lesbophobic attack as a hate crime. The lack of recognition of the intersectional nature of this hate crime based on gender, sexual orientation and class is deeply troubling. These acts of refusal and dismissal perpetuate a dangerous environment for the lesbian and wider LGBTIQ+ community. The far-right’s actions and rhetoric undermine the fair pursuit of justice for Pamela, Mercedes, Andrea and Sofia.

Furthermore, EL*C is concerned with the radio silence on this horrific lesbophobic attack in the non-Spanish speaking media. The recently released EL*C Observatory on Lesbophobia 2023 points out that the media frequently neglects to cover lesbian-related matters, leading to a diminished presence of lesbians in press coverage, which can have detrimental consequences. As we’ve seen in the cases of Italy, Hungary and now Argentina, unaddressed lesbophobic rhetoric leads to injustice, discrimination and murder.

Support Argentinian lesbian activists – share information about this lesbophobic attack and name it for what it is: a lesbicide. Invite Argentinian lesbian activists to speak about this case and be able to demand justice against lesbophobia and the far-right’s actions damaging the lesbian community.

As advocates for the rights and freedoms of lesbian and feminist communities across Europe and Central Asia, the EL*C stands in firm solidarity with the people of Georgia, voicing our collective opposition against the recent legislative actions that threaten democracy and human rights in the country.

On May 1, 2024, the Georgian Parliament further advanced the draconian “On the Transparency of Foreign Influences” bill, which was supported by a significant majority despite widespread opposition. This legislation mandates that civil society organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from international sources register as entities “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” This comes as an alarming development in a series of legislative actions perceived to be undermining the democratic fabric and human rights in Georgia.

The introduction of this bill and the simultaneous proposals for anti-LGBT legal changes mark a significant regression in the protection and recognition of minority groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. Such measures not only contravene the aspirations and constitutional commitment of Georgia towards European Union integration but also mirror oppressive policies seen in other regimes, notably Russia.

The peaceful protests that erupted in response to these legislative proceedings have been met with severe and unjust state violence. On the nights of April 30 and May 1, 2024, authorities used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets against demonstrators, resulting in numerous injuries and detentions. This excessive force underscores a grave violation of human rights and democratic norms.

As a lesbian and feminist organization committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ communities in Europe and Central Asia, EL*C stands unequivocally with the protesters and civil society of Georgia. We condemn in the strongest terms the actions of the Georgian government in suppressing peaceful dissent and endangering its citizens.

Call to Action:

Share information about the ongoing situation in Georgia across all platforms to ensure global visibility and support for the protesters.

Engage critically with sources of information and support independent Georgian media striving to provide accurate coverage under challenging circumstances.

Express solidarity and join demonstrations of support for Georgian activists, recognizing that this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader struggle for fundamental human rights and freedoms.

We urge the international community, especially countries and organizations committed to human rights, democracy, and equality, to stand with us in support of the Georgian people against this regression. We call on all parties to prioritize the safety and rights of all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Together, we can help ensure that Georgia remains on a path towards progress and integration with the European Union, reflecting the true will of its people, rather than succumbing to autocratic influences that seek to divide societies and suppress freedoms.

For freedom and solidarity,

EL*C

L-HEALTH is a European consortium which seeks to promote excellent clinical practice for all the people, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity
Friday, April 26 is Lesbian Visibility Day

EL*C joins the Institut d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAPJGol), which is coordinating the L-HEALTH project, a European-wide initiative whose main objective is to identify the health inequalities suffered by lesbians in the primary care services. The project is promoted by a consortium with the same name made up of five entities, including research centres, non-profit organizations and lesbian associations. This week, they have met at the headquarters of the IDIAPJGol to start the project.

The starting point of L-HEALTH is to build a database of lesbians treated in primary care services, given that this information is not collected in the documentary systems used to record the population’s clinical information. Subsequently, the health status of the lesbians included in the database will be compared with a random sample of the general population. The second objective of the project is to find out the lack of knowledge and the attitudes of the primary care professionals when it comes to caring for lesbian women.

The study uses a qualitative methodology that aims to identify the health needs of lesbian women and the discrimination they have suffered in the health field by health professionals. The research also aims to explore the stereotypes, attitudes, and knowledge gaps of health professionals in the care of lesbian women.

Training program

The findings of the study will serve to design a training program for health professionals that improves their awareness and knowledge of lesbian health and promotes excellent clinical practice for all, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or identity of gender.

L-HEALTH is a project funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program of the European Union. With a budget of nearly 420,000 euros, it was launched in December 2023 and will last for two years. Its coordinators are IDIAPJGol researchers Anna Ponjoan and Constanza Jacques.

Structural masculinity

Dr. Ponjoan reports that “Lesbians have traditionally been invisible, both in clinical practice and in research, mainly because of structural masculinity and lesbophobia.” In this sense, L-HEALTH “intends to contribute to reducing stigma and discrimination, which are still present in primary care teams, where the heteronormativity of patients is assumed”.

In addition to the IDIAPJGol, the L-HEALTH consortium is participated by the Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGI), the Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), the Spanish NGO SIDA Studi, dedicated to the promotion of sexual health, and the intersectional lesbian and feminist network EL*C.

Kick off

The project started with a first face-to-face meeting that has taken place at the IDIAPJGol headquarters on Monday, April 22. This meeting has coincided with Lesbian Visibility Week, which will culminate on April 26 with the celebration of Lesbian Visibility Day.

During this first meeting, the five partners presented the goals of the project and established its scope and planning.