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)
Press release
The European Commission Withdraws the Equal Treatment Directive
EL*C Condemns the European Commission’s Decision as Betrayal of Fundamental Rights
Brussels, February 17, 2025 – The EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C) strongly condemns the European Commission’s intention to withdraw the Equal Treatment Directive, a move that abandons the rights of lesbians, LGBTI people, young and older persons, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities at a time when democracy and equality are under unprecedented attack.
A Historic Betrayal
Civil society organizations across Europe are sounding the alarm because, after 16 years of delays, the European Commission has chosen to unilaterally discard a legislative proposal designed to protect citizens from discrimination. The timing of this decision is beyond coincidence: while Donald Trump wages an open war against minorities and fundamental European values, attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion, the EU is shamefully caving to political expediency, and sacrificing its most vulnerable communities, including lesbians, LGBTI people, young and older persons, and persons with disabilities.
Sacrificing Human Rights for Political Survival
It is impossible to ignore the political calculations at play. Silvia Casalino, EL*C executive co-director declares: “It is especially concerning that while the far-right is on the rise everywhere in Europe and key elections are held in Germany, the Commission led by Von der Leyen chooses to sacrifice the human rights of citizens in what appears as a dangerous political gamble.”
Even more alarmingly, this comes at a time when Poland’s presidency has listed the Directive as a priority, raising serious questions about the European Commission’s true commitment to building a “Union of Equality” during the current mandate.
The Global Backlash Reaches Europe
“The political blast opened by Trump’s election is now blowing over the EU”, Ilaria Todde, EL*C Advocacy Director explains, “Cancelling this directive without presenting a stronger, more comprehensive and intersectional alternative signals that the EU is unwilling—or incapable—of protecting its people from the global backlash against equality, democracy, and human rights. This is not leadership. This is surrender.”
Our Demands
We refuse to stand by in silence. For this reason, together with other European 9 human rights organisations, demand the European Commission to:
Reconsider its intention to withdraw the Equal Treatment Directive;
If the withdrawal proceeds, immediately propose a more robust and comprehensive legislative proposal that takes an intersectional approach, along with a clear timeline;
Immediately engage in meaningful consultation with the European Parliament, civil society, Equality Bodies and EU citizens to determine the necessary action to achieve true equality;
Make an unequivocal commitment to making the Union of Equality a reality for all of us.
We also call on:
The Polish Presidency to hold an urgent and public Council meeting for the Commission to explain this decision
The European Parliament to hold a public hearing with the European Commission on the decision and future steps to ensure protection against discrimination for all people living in the EU
Europe must decide what it stands for: empty words or real protections for all.
♦ Media Contact:
Kika Fumero, EL*C Media Officer
Phone number: +34 666 899 735
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
On December 31, 2024, it will be 1 year, 2 months, and 24 days since Israel’s genocide began. In solidarity with lesbian sisters around the world, EL*C must once again raise its voice for the Palestinians who survive and resist in Gaza. We are not witnessing just a conflict: we are facing an ongoing genocide —a systematic attempt to erase their existence, their history, and their future. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Israel leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity [1] and a UN special committee report states that “The policies and practices of Israel (…) are consistent with the characteristics of genocide.” [2]
In light of this evidence, it is imperative for justice to prevail, and for the global community to speak out firmly and unequivocally. Otherwise, silence becomes complicity, contributing to countless deaths, millions of displaced people stripped of their roots, and lives irreparably shattered by such barbarity.
Amid this relentless occupation, people in Gaza are forced to rebuild their lives repeatedly, striving to protect themselves and their loved ones. Lesbians, especially vulnerable in contexts of authoritarianism, violence, and extreme conservatism, endure multiple forms of oppression: for being women, for defying heteronormative standards, and for being Palestinian in a territory subjected to continuous extermination.
In this scenario, the work of ASWAT—the first organization for Palestinian lesbians, also known as the Palestinian Feminist Center for Gender and Sexual Freedoms—is remarkable. Rauda Morcos, the human rights lawyer and activist who helped establish ASWAT, expressed it with clarity to LGBTQ Nation: “I said to myself if I were to die achieving my goal and putting the word out that we are equal within our Palestinian community as women, as lesbians, and as queer, then it’s worth it.” [3]
Today, our Palestinian lesbian sisters continue to survive and resist. We refuse to let their battles, and their stories fade into silence. As this year comes to a close, we remember their names and their voices, not as a mere symbolic act, but as a reaffirmation of their humanity. We honor those who are no longer with us, and we embrace—both with rage and tenderness—those who still stand, who dare to love in the face of horror, those who do not surrender to terror, and, above all, those who cannot withstand the annihilation.
This remembrance is not simply lamentation; it is a call to resilience and resistance. It affirms that, despite the violence, the Palestinian people—and particularly lesbians—continue to exist, create, and persist. Let it be heard loud and clear: standing with them is standing for justice. It means committing ourselves to denouncing genocide and demanding accountability before international bodies. It means insisting on an end to the occupation, fully recognizing the humanity of the Palestinian nation, and unwavering support for their right to life, memory, freedom, identity, and love.
By honoring their struggles, naming the injustices they endure, and resisting the forces that seek to erase them, we celebrate the unyielding courage of lesbians in Gaza. To remember is to reject oblivion. To name is to confront silence. To resist is to reclaim dignity and hope. Because as long as even one lesbian sister in the world is not free, none of us will be.
Notes:
[1] International Criminal Court. (2024, November 21). Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant [Press release]. https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-rejects-state-israels-challenges
[2] MEE staff. (2024, November 14). UN committee says Israel’s actions ‘consistent with characteristics of genocide’.Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/un-report-says-israels-actions-consistent-characteristics-genocide
[3] Toesland, F. (2024, May 6). The Palestinian activists fighting for LGBTQ+ rights against a neverending backdrop of war. LGBTQ Nation. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/05/the-palestinian-activists-fighting-for-lgbtq-rights-against-a-neverending-backdrop-of-war/
🗓 WHEN? December 17th
⏰ AT WHAT TIME? 12 p.m. CET
⏳ HOW LONG? 1.5 hours
📍 WHERE? Online – Zoom
Introduction
On December 17th, we will be presenting an online event that sheds light on the experiences and needs of a too often underrepresented and marginalized group within the LBQ community: racialized lesbians. This event will reveal the findings of the most recent research project conducted by EL*C, focusing on the lived realities of Central Asian, Roma, Black, and racialized LBQ women and non-binary persons in the EU.
Note: EL*C uses the word Lesbian as a broad, inclusive term that encompasses all women and persons perceived as non-heterosexual women. It includes trans, intersex women, and nonbinary persons who identify with the lesbian struggle.
Objectives
- To raise awareness about the experiences and needs of racialized lesbians in the EU.
- To create an inclusive platform for dialogue and collaboration among LGBTQI activists, human rights advocates, feminist organizations, and related institutions.
- To provide data and insights that can influence policies, research agendas, and educational initiatives focused on equity and inclusion for racialized LBQ people.
Target Audience
- LGBTQI community members, activists, and allies.
- Feminist activists.
- Human rights advocates and activists.
- Researchers, policymakers, and educators.
Agenda
12:00 p.m. – 12:10 p.m. Opening Remarks
- Welcome message by Dragana Todorovic, Executive Director of EL*C + Significance of this research in the context of feminist Human Rights advocacy.
- Presentation of the Research framework by Aïda Yancy, Advocacy officer and Research coordinator, EL*C.
12:10 p.m. – 12:35 p.m. Presentation of the research findings
- Speakers:
Aldessa Lincan and Alba Hernández Sánchez, researchers on Roma Lesbians.
Dr. Nat Arias, researcher on BPOC Lesbians.
Nadira Masiumova, researcher on Central Asian Lesbians.
12:35 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Video Message from Melissa Camara MEP
12:40 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Panel Discussion: “Effective inclusion: Anti-racism and LGBTIQ strategies that cater to racialized LBQ women and non-binary persons.”
- Moderator: Aïda Yancy.
- Speakers:
Katri LEIKAS, Policy officer at the EU Commission’s Anti-Racism and Roma Coordination.
Representative from the UN Gender Equality Forum’s Action Coalition 6 on Feminist movements and leadership (TBC).
Dr. Zeynab Alsadat PEYGHAMBARZADEH, Researcher, Asylum expert, and member of the Research steering committee.
- Discussion on the inclusion of LBQ women and non-binary persons in Feminist, Antiracist, and LGBTIQ strategies.
1:10 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Q&A Session and Closing Remarks
- Open floor for audience questions and comments.
- Summary of key takeaways and call to action.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) working towards gender equality remain resilient in the face of political and societal backlash.
We unite today to put forward our shared vision for the future of gender equality in the European Union (EU). We call on the EU to work over the next five years towards the practical realisation of a Union where everyone can live in safety, free from discrimination and violence, and where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a lived reality for all – regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, disability, residence status, social class, age, among others.
The last mandate saw notable initiatives to advance gender equality. However, despite these achievements, striking inequalities remain. As the new European Commission is taking office, we request the EU institutions and Member States to redouble their efforts and to ensure that advancing gender equality remains a key priority mainstreamed throughout EU laws and policies for the next 5 years, with the necessary resources allocated.
Here you can download the document “Our Collective Vision for Gender Equality in the EU – December 10th, 2024”, which includes the Joint Civil Society Organisations’ Statement on this topic: