Recently the Kazakhstan government discussed three amendments on 

“Legislative Acts on Mass Media Issues” to ban media outlets if they publish “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” and

amendments in “Law on Peaceful Assemblies” to include “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” as a ground for rejection to sanction peaceful meetings by local city authorities and

in particular the proposal to extend Criminal Code Article 174, which deals with “inciting social, national, racial, class or religious hatred,” to include “promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships.”

On April 17th, this proposal on Mass Media obtained the majority in the Kazakhstan Parliament Low Chamber and passed to the Senate. The text of the law with amendments submitted to the Senate was not published violating procedure.

The LGBTIQ community, alongside allies and fellow citizens of Kazakhstan, are deeply concerned, alarmed, and want to challenge this decision. 

This decision by the Kazakh parliament comes at a time when the country faces pressing issues, such as devastating floods in 10 regions that have resulted in significant loss of homes, lives, and livestock. Yet rather than addressing these vital needs, some deputies are focusing on measures that not only distract the public opinion from critical emergencies but also infringe on constitutional protections.

The current legal situation in Kazakhstan for LGBTI persons is the following:

According to Article 14 of the Kazakh Constitution, discrimination is prohibited, which implies the constitutional violations posed by these amendments. Moreover, Kazakhstan supported the 2020 Universal Periodic Review recommendation to guarantee an enabling environment for civil society activities, activist groups and human rights defenders of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. These changes to laws directly undermine this commitment.

These legislative changes are being justified by referencing Article 1 of the Code on Marriage and Family, which defines marriage strictly as a union between a man and a woman. This definition is used to label the LGBTIQ community as a threat to family values. Similarly, proposed amendments to the law on public assemblies would allow local authorities to deny permits for events that involve “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

The amendment proposals reflect a troubling trend towards limiting the rights of the LGBTIQ community, including their right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, as protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Kazakhstan ratified in 2006. – Ilaria Todde, Director of Advocacy for EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community

Past legislative efforts have targeted and eroded the LGBTIQ community rights. In 2018, discussions around the “Law on the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development” included discriminatory clauses against LGBTIQ individuals, and similar provisions were included when the law was adopted in 2015. Additionally, in February 2024, the educational website Selftanu.kz for queer teenagers was blocked by the State, which contradicts the constitutional right to disseminate information freely.

This year, new restrictions have been introduced that prevent LGBTIQ individuals from adopting children or becoming their mentors, enforced by a controversial “special psychological test.”

We urge global support for the LGBTIQ community in Kazakhstan to counter these discriminatory practices. The community faces legal and societal challenges, but with international support, we can fight these injustices. Actions such as making public statements, writing letters to MPs or State stakeholders, or sharing supportive posts can make a difference. Together, we can stand against these oppressive measures and uphold the democratic values enshrined in Kazakhstan’s constitution. United we can prevent another country from falling into the anti propaganda realm.

For further information or to show support, please contact us at kazfeminita@gmail.com.

In July and August 2023, while Europe was in the grips of the hottest summer ever registered and under unprecedented storms, lesbians gathered to protest the State-sponsored lesbophobia of the Italian far-right government.

While we were there in solidarity with the Italian mums and their children, we all knew that this was not only about parental rights. It was about a Europe that could not represent us.

A Europe that now, more than ever, NEEDS LESBIANS.

We choose to look at Europe from our lesbian perspective, from the point of view of those outside patriarchal norms and unbound by cis-heteronormativity. From these margins, from our experiences as feminist, anti-racists, LGBTI, climate activists, we know that another Europe is possible.

A Europe where the rights of our children will be guaranteed. Where “freedom of movement” means also equal access to sexual and reproductive rights across Europe. A Europe where all women and non-binary people enjoy equality, justice and freedom from violence. A Europe where butch lesbians and trans folks are not attacked because of “what a woman should look like”. A Europe where we are not sexually harassed because we are “too feminine and we asked for it”.

Far-right governments, racists and white-suprematists want a Europe where the rights of Black and racialised people are denied, where human dignity is granted based on skin tone, ethnicity or religion. A Europe where expressing solidarity to Ukrainians means denying it to others. We do not fall for this trap, and we know that a Europe unable to deal with its colonial past is doomed to repeat it.

Capitalists, ultra-liberals, and climate-change deniers want a Europe where the South burns while the North drowns. A Europe where they speak about “ecology” to deny our rights, but not to protect our homes, our fields, and our lives. We can read between the lines, and we know that the price of climate change will be paid by the poorest and most vulnerable.

Patriarchy has tried to convince us that being lesbian was a challenge, a misfortune, something to be ashamed of. It has failed. Being lesbian is our superpower and we mean to use it.

In the European elections, from our elected positions, from our grassroot community work, because of our #lesbiangenius, we call for a European Union that:

Takes into account all LBTI women and non-binary persons when protecting women and LGBTI people’s rights;
Protects our children’s rights and ensures free movement for our families, because #lesbiansaremotherstoo;
Dismantles borders and walls instead of contributing to build them;
Makes our societies safer and more inclusive instead of more racist, lesbophobic, ableist and transphobic;
Fights climate change instead of protecting capitalist interests;
Supports the lesbian grassroot work in service of our communities.

Against the raise of the far-right we want more feminism, more anti-racism, more climate actions.

Against the raise of the far-right, we want a LESBIAN EUROPE.

EL*C is launching a call for tenders for services related to a research project on the lived experiences of Black LBQ women and people, women/people of color, Roma women/people, and Central Asian women/people (especially those living in Europe), as well as individuals marginalized due to racial markers related to religion or ethnicity, in addition to their gender and sexual orientation.

To ensure a diversity of viewpoints, three different tender procedures are being conducted, each focusing on different areas/lived experiences, with the objective of creating a team of researchers with complementary skills (hereafter referred to as “the team of researchers”). One application per person in the areas where you have the strongest expertise is recommended.

We are looking for candidates with:

Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative data collection and analysis with LGBTQI communities and/or other marginalized communities
Demonstrated intersectional feminist background
Good understanding of current and past struggles of LBTI women and non-binary persons
Good understanding of the lived experiences of LBQ migrants, POC, and ethnic/religious minorities
Excellent data analysis skills, especially in qualitative data analysis
Demonstrated experience in the implementation of qualitative data collection tools
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and project management skills
Sense of initiative and ability to be self-supporting, including the ability to deliver under pressure and within tight deadlines
Excellent English
Good knowledge of other EU languages is a strong asset. In case you are applying for the Central Asian tender, good knowledge of Russian is a strong asset.

In order to apply, please submit via email to procurement@lesbiangenius.org by May 5th 2024 at 23:59 CET, with the following documents:

– 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 currency, tax exclusive);

– the quota should specify all costs;

– 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 the information about the 3 consultancies for this qualitative research focusing on the lived realities of 1) Black and POC LBQ, 2) Roma LBQ and 3) Central Asian LBQ individuals are available below:

ToR Black and POC LBQ
ToR Roma LBQ
ToR Central Asian LBQ
Template of the technical proposal

EL*C publishes today the report “Lesbianising the Istanbul Convention: Research on the Implementation of the Convention to Protect LBT Women”. The report aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of lesbian experiences within the legal frameworks and policies created by the Istanbul Convention, the main European convention focusing on violence against women.

In collaboration with legal experts from the University of Valencia and the University of Venice, we took a feminist approach to highlight the gendered aspect of violence against lesbians and advocate for their inclusion in policy discussions concerning violence against women and gender-based violence. Our analysis “lesbianises” the Istanbul Convention to reflect the realities of lesbian, bisexual, and trans women.

We assess the implementation of the Convention’s anti-discrimination clause across 28 countries, drawing insights from expert focus groups and civil society practices. In a political climate where feminist and LGBTI initiatives face constant attacks and backlash, we emphasize the importance of collaboration, sisterhood and allianceship with feminist NGOs and groups.

Our report does not create hierarchies of oppression but seeks to initiate a dialogue while providing an interpretative framework and recommendations to stakeholders who wish to have an inclusive approach in the fight against gender-based violence.

Disclaimer: A previous version of this report included references to intersex women, after consultation with OII Europe, we decided to remove such references, as well as references to sex characteristics. References to intersex women and “LBTI” included in GREVIO reports and other’s research have been maintained. Thanks to the expertise and knowledge that was generously shared with us, we consider that inclusion of intersex persons within the legal framework of the Convention of Istanbul is worth of a deeper discussion then what was possible within the limited time and resources that were available for this research. This is linked in particular with the limited data available concerning intersex persons lived experiences. EL*C hope to build upon this reflection and step up our collaboration with the intersex community in the future. We also deeply regret the lack of data concerning specifically intersex people and we encourage universities, research institutes and governments to do more.

Find here the Key findings

Find here the Research Report

We are excited to invite you to an extraordinary on-line training Odyssey, set to propel your human resource management skills into the cosmos.

When: Thu, 11 April at 06:00 PM CET
Where: Zoom (register now)
Who: Silvia Casalino (space engineer and EL*C Co-Director) & Anastasiia Danilova (EL*C Community Engagement Manager)
For Whom: EL*C Members (organizations and individuals)

Prepare your spacecraft for a journey through the nebula of NGO management, where you will join fellow astronauts in dissecting the core of Team Management. Our mission will explore the following celestial bodies:

Analyzing the Essence of Team Management: Delve into the gravitational force that holds a team together, ensuring a harmonious orbit around organizational goals.
Navigating through Asteroid Fields: Identify the main challenges in the galaxy of HR management and devise strategic maneuvers to navigate through these potentially hazardous conditions.
Architects of the Stars: Examine the different structures of NGO galaxies and the decision-making processes that guide them, ensuring your organization’s trajectory aligns with its mission.
Peaceful Coexistence Among Cosmic Entities: Master the art of conflict resolution, ensuring that all beings within your space can coexist peacefully and contribute to the collective mission.

On this journey you will be accompanied by an spaceship captain, the Executive Co-dykerector of EL*C and space engineer (it is not a joke) Silvia Casalino, and a navigator with 13 years of experience in organizational management, EL*C Community Engagement Manager, Anastasia Danilova.

Secure your spot on this spaceship by enlisting today, and prepare to elevate your capabilities to cosmic proportions on 11 of April at 18: 00 CET

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We, the undersigned equality and anti-discrimination organisations, call on the European Union’s leaders and European Institutions to ensure equality, anti-racism, and fundamental rights are a priority during the next legislative mandate.

We noted the advances in Equality which have been made by the European Union during this mandate. The appointment of the first-ever Commissioner for Equality was a welcome and much-needed initiative. It has shown that the European Commission is committed to advancing the values of equality enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union and to its duties under Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Equality and non-discrimination policies and initiatives became more visible and were addressed through several proposals such as standards for equality bodies, a Directive to combat violence against women, a legislative proposal on the European Disability Card and Parking Card, the action plan against racism, and a proposal for cross-border recognition of parental rights. These initiatives were coupled with strategies on gender equality, LGBTIQ and disability, as well as the EU Roma strategic framework and a Green Paper on Ageing.

However, the EU is far from being a Union of Equality- this is a work in progress, and right now, we witness rising backlash, racial injustice, inequality and discrimination. This needs urgent attention both at the EU and national levels.

For this, we specifically call on the European Union to put in place comprehensive legal protection against discrimination in the EU. We need to guarantee equality of treatment regardless of who you are or where you live in the European Union.

We also call on specific actions to guarantee that the European Union’s Institutions have adequate resources and staffing to prioritise and mainstream equality and non-discrimination, with special attention to vulnerable groups and intersectional discrimination:

Appoint an EU Commissioner with a strong mandate for Equality and Fundamental Rights.
Strengthen the European Commission’s services working on equality, non-discrimination and anti-racism, especially by establishing a new Directorate-General for Equality and Fundamental Rights.
Revise and introduce strong strategies on all grounds under the Equality Framework beyond 2025 and ensure their mainstreaming in all policy areas.
Ensure that the Equality Task Force has a strong mandate to ensure cooperation between different services on the implementation of the Equality Frameworks and that it works transparently and in close consultation and cooperation with European Equality networks.
Host an annual “Equality Forum,” gathering policymakers, civil society, and other interested actors to evaluate and develop initiatives for realising a Union of Equality. The Forum should focus particularly on intersectional equality.
Create an EU Council formation on Equality.
Ensure the next EU budget properly funds civil society organisations working on equality, non-discrimination and anti-racism.
Ensure discrimination is also addressed in the work of the EU in external action, international cooperation and humanitarian action.

We remind leaders that all initiatives must meaningfully involve equality organisations, anti-racism organisations and organisations representing the groups most subject to discrimination.

It is essential that the Union’s decision-making process is transparent, and organisations are properly resourced and supported to guarantee their active involvement.

It is also fundamental to ensure that staff working at the EU Institutions properly reflects the European population, not only in terms of nationality but also in terms of diversity of gender, race, ethnic or social origin, membership of a national minority, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and variations of sex characteristics. We call on specific action to ensure it and to guarantee training to all staff training on equality and non-discrimination.

Only by working together will the European Union truly become a Union of Equality that reflects its motto of “United in Diversity”.

The undersigned organisations remain committed to supporting the European Institutions in achieving this crucial objective.

Signatories

European Disability Forum

ILGA-Europe

AGE Platform Europe

European Network Against Racism

ERGO Network

OII Europe

IGLYO

EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community

TGEU – Transgender Europe

Additional Information

Organisations’ work on the European elections: ·

European Disability Forum: “Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU”
ILGA Europe: “Come out 4 Europe”
AGE Platform Europe: AGE Manifesto for the 2024 European Parliament elections
European Network Against Racism: “A Europe for All”
ERGO Network: “End Racism to build a stronger Europe”

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The EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), the main organization dedicated to the rights of lesbians across Europe, is happy to share news of a significant legal victory in Italy. The Italian court has decisively rejected an attempt to remove non-biological mothers from their children’s birth certificates in Padua. This attempt, made by the local Prosecutor’s Office and requested by the Italian far right government, aimed to challenge the recognition of lesbian couples as both being legal mothers of their children. This court decision is a big win for lesbians, ensuring that non-biological mothers remain recognized on their children’s birth certificates, preserving their rights and their family’s integrity.

This victory follows the “Lesbians are Mothers Too” campaign launched by EL*C, which sparked widespread support across Europe and supported the efforts of the Italian lesbian movement addressing this issue. The campaign led to protests in over 14 European cities, showing a strong community response against the unfair treatment of lesbian mothers in Italy.

Although we celebrate this win, we are aware that the situation could change. The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Interior have ten days to challenge this decision. EL*C is attentively monitoring developments and stands ready to continue our unwavering support for the lesbian movement in Italy.

Just after their defeat, the Italian government, following the well know pattern of far-right politics, is targeting trans individuals. EL*C stands committed to supporting full self-determination rights for trans people, as part of our ongoing fight for the full equality in rights and opportunities.

This victory is a clear sign that we, lesbian activists and feminists, can defeat the far-right. They will find us united and resilient at every step they take to oppress our lives and deny our existences. EL*C will keep supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Italy and across Europe, advocating for equality and justice.

Transform your visionary ideas into compelling realities and learn to celebrate your achievements with confidence. Join us for an exploration into the art of proposal writing and showcasing success, guided by the expertise of Magda Adamowicz, a luminary in grant-making and social change advocacy.

📅 Date: Wed, 13 & 20 March 2024

⏰ Time: 17:00 CET

2 practical sessions (90 minutes long + 30 minutes for reflection)

What You’ll Gain:

1. Expert techniques in transforming ideas into powerful proposals for funding

2. Strategies for effectively demonstrating your successes

3. Engaging practical sessions complemented by reflective learning opportunities

Facilitator Spotlight

Magda Adamowicz brings to the table over two decades of experience in human rights grant-making and activism. Formerly at the helm of several initiatives at the Open Society Foundations, she now empowers change-makers as an independent consultant and coach, focusing on human rights advocacy.

Workshop Essence:

Please note that these Ideas Workshops are not linked to the EL*C Grants Program, neither is it about training in applying for European Commission or other donor funds. This is a general skill-building opportunity through real-life examples, mutual learning, and leveraging our collective experiences and achievements.

Who Should Attend:

This is an exclusive opportunity for EL*C members who are keen to elevate their proposal writing skills and showcase their successes with pride and precision.

to transform your dreams into impactful deeds

RTEGISTER NOW

[https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrdeugrT4sGdzxfOJ_M7LuYkRr-UQrjvlz]

This Valentine’s Day, EL*C is spotlighting the power of love through our inclusive collection of lesbian Valentine’s Day cards, each designed to celebrate the revolutionary essence of lesbian love. In a world where our affections are often marginalized, these cards serve bold statements of visibility and pride. They are reminders that lesbian love, in all its forms, is a revolutionary act—defiant in its existence and beautiful in its expression.

Crafted with care, these cards carry messages that resonate with the depth and resilience of our community. They are a celebration of the love that dares to speak its name, to stand tall against adversity, and to flourish against the odds. This Valentine’s Day, let’s embrace the revolutionary spirit of lesbian love with EL*C’s unique cards, featuring Audre Lorde, Christine and the Queens, June Jordan, Sappho, Leslie Feinberg, Joelle Sambi, Iulia Hasdeu, Jeanette Winterson and bell hooks.

Download and use them freely!

The EU Institutions agreed on the text of the new Directive on Violence against Women but Member States managed to exclude criminalisation of rape based on consent and explicit mention of LBTI women.

The text produced by the European Commission and especially the position of the European Parliament were excellent, proposing a harmonization of EU law in line with the Istanbul Convention. From the information available, the Council’s position and in particular the intervention of Member States such as France and Germany meant the deletion of Article 5 which provided a definition of rape based on consent. During the press conference, the Parliament negotiators expressed their surprise and disappointment at the fact that Member States were uncomfortable opening a conversation on consent. As they mention, a cultural change is urgently needed.

Explicit mentions of LBTI women appear to have also been deleted from the text, creating possible legal loopholes and contradictions with the Istanbul convention. In substance, Member States tried to ensure to themselves the possibility of excluding LBTI women from the implementation of this Directive.

The result of the negotiations is that this Directive will now criminalise forms of cyberviolence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage. It is very important that there is EU legislation on these heinous crimes. However, it is an indication of the strong intersections between racism and misogyny that, while Member States found “uncomfortable” the conversation around consent, they did not flinch in criminalising acts that are perceived as belonging to “other” communities.

It is disappointing that the EU missed this opportunity to protect women, in all their diversity, from some of the most serious forms of gender-based violence. But as the feminists say: the fight goes on. We will work on the implementation, we will work with our members to ensure that LBTI women are not left out. We continue to fight for better prevention, protection and access to justice for all victims and survivors no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.