Category: News

Date: December 11th, in the aftermath of International Human Rights Day
Time: 1 p.m. CET
Place: Online (Zoom) – register here!
Duration: 1.5 hours

Introduction:
In celebration of International Human Rights Day, we are proud to present an online event that sheds light on the experiences and needs of two often underrepresented and marginalized groups within the LBTQI community: youth and elderly people. This event will reveal the findings of two essential research projects conducted by EL*C: the first research ,explores the lived experiences of older lesbians, while the second, conducted in collaboration with IGLYO, focuses on the needs and experiences of LBTQI girls, women, and non-binary youth.

Agenda:

1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.: Opening Remarks

● Introduction and significance on International Human Rights Day.

● Welcome message by the Dragana Todorovic, Executive Director of EL*C.

1:05 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.: Presentation of Research Results

● Speaker: Anastasiia Danilova, Advocacy and Community Engagement manager, EL*C.

● Insights from researches on the Lived experiences of older lesbians and Needs and experiences of LBTQI girls, women, and non-binary youth.

1:25 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Special Focus on Inclusive Education

● Speaker: Bella FitzPatrick, Executive Director of IGLYO.

● Discussion on challenges and opportunities in inclusive education for LBTI girls, women, and non-binary youth.

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.: Panel Discussion: Bridging Generations within the LBTQ Community

● Moderator: Anastasia Danilova.

● Speakers:

• Susanne Knoefel, Head of Non-Discrimination: LGBTIQ, Age, Horizontal Matters Unit, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
• Reingard Wagner, board member of the Dachverband Lesben und Alter (Lesbians and Aging Umbrella Association)
• Alexa Santos, Board Member of Clube Safo, Portugal

● Discussion on intergenerational aspects of LBTQ rights, challenges, and progress.

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Q&A Session and Closing Remarks

● Open floor for audience questions and comments.

● Summary of key takeaways and call to action.

[ Register Here ]

EL*C is launching a call for tenders for services related to the Monitoring of the implementation of the recommendation CM/REC (2010)5 of the committee of ministers to member states on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

We are looking for:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting research on human rights standards, gender equality policies or LGBTI rights at national, European and international levels.
• Experience working on the previous review of the CM Rec 2010(5) at national or European level is an advantage.
• Excellent data analysis skills, especially in analysis of legal text, policy and practices by public authorities.
• Demonstrated intersectional feminist background.
• Volunteer or working experience within the LBTI movement
• 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 drafting skills and ability to render complex, technical and/or legal terminology understandable and communicable.
• Excellent English and excellent knowledge of another EU language.
• Good knowledge of additional EU languages is a strong asset.

In order to apply please submit via email at info@lesbiangenius.org by 1 December 2023 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.

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DOWLOAD THE CALL FOR TENDER: Call for tenders – CM general review

DOWLOAD THE TEMPLATE FOR THE TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: Technical-Proposal-Template_CM general review

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Deadline: All documents should be submitted via e-mail to the following email addresses: info@lesbiangenius.org by 1 December 2023 at 23:59 CET

The EU political landscape and public sphere still grapples with the diminished presence of women and historically underrepresented groups. Gender-based violence, racism and lesbophobia remain persistent obstacles, undermining their safety and security as well as sidelining them from pivotal decision-making roles. It is essential that we uncover the mechanisms jeopardizing democracy and reinforcing patriarchy by means of analysis and dialogue in a Lesbiennale of art, culture, activism and politics.

📆 Save the Dates:

📌 November 22, 9:30 AM – European Parliament, Strasbourg
📌 November 24, 6:30 PM – Schaerbeek Municipality, Brussels

EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and Observatoire de Violences Sexistes et Sexuelles en Politique jointly organize these significant events in the week of the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls. Our primary objective is to convene a collective reflection on strategies for catalyzing change and strengthening support for the emerging EU #MeToo movement in politics. 

These events will feature groundbreaking and influential lesbian transfeminist politicians, artists, journalists, and activists as they unite to engage in discussions and strategic planning for transformative change.

Bear witness to the official launch of the European #MeToo in Politics initiative and contribute to this monumental effort – streaming link available soon!

We warmly invite individuals and organizations to unite with us in this important initiative. Together, we are committed to overcoming the barriers that hinder gender equality in EU politics.

Together, we ignite the spark of revolution. We are the catalysts for change, and we will nurture an inclusive, equal, and equitable European political landscape. Join us in the battle for progress. #MeTooEU

In a world where financial challenges often loom large, THE ART OF EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT is a superpower we can all wield. Join us for an exciting journey into the realm of financial wizardry, guided by none other than Izabela Djordjevic, our very own “Spreadsheet Sorcerer.”

Overview:

Financial management is the lifeblood of any organization, and it’s time to take your financial skills to the next level. Izabela Djordjevic, our expert Finance & Administrative Manager, will lead this two-part training series, designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to master your organization’s financial landscape.

What to Expect:

In these interactive sessions, Izabela will share her secrets to financial success, covering essential financial management principles and practices. Learn how to create and manage budgets, track expenses, and forecast financial needs with finesse. Izabela’s spreadsheet sorcery will demystify financial statements, helping you make informed decisions and steer your organization towards financial resilience.

Dates:

• Session 1: November 9th
• Session 2: November 16th

Meet workshop leaders – Izabela Djordjevic and Anastasiia Danilova:

Izabela Djordjevic is our Finance & Administrative Manager, and she’s not just any financial guru; she’s a Spreadsheet Sorcerer. With a wealth of experience in financial management, she has transformed budgets and spreadsheets into powerful tools for financial empowerment. Izabela’s expertise will unravel the complexities of finance, making it accessible and engaging for all. Anastasiia Danilova, our Advocacy and Community Engagement manager, will help Izabela and you on this journey. She used to be an Executive director of our Moldovan member organization GENDERDOC-M information centre and has 13 years of financial management experience

Who Can Attend:

This training is open to all, but mainly for someone new to the financial world. If you want to level up your financial management skills, this training is for you.

Secure Your Spot:

Don’t miss this opportunity to become a financial wizard with Izabela Djordjevic. Secure your spot today by registering for this exclusive training.

REGISTER NOW

Explore the Q&A guide for the EL*C Grants Call for Proposals 2023.

This document aims to address common queries about the application process, eligibility criteria, project activities, costs & budget, project implementation and reporting. Dive in to gain a comprehensive understanding of this year’s exciting opportunities and if you have more question, please register for our last Info Session on the 30 Oct at 14:00 or send us an email at grants@lesbiangenius.org.

[ DOWNLOAD Q&A EL*C Grants 2023 ]

Application Process

Q: How many applications can an applicant submit?

One

Q: Can you provide us with an example application?

We provided an example for the budget in the application form. Other questions are rather straightforward. However, if you have any questions regarding the application form, please send us an email to grants@lesbiangenius.org

Q: Is this a one-off opportunity to apply for grants or do you plan to continue with such regranting programs in the future?

This is not a one-off opportunity. We plan to continue with similar regranting programs. The EU’s CERV programme which is co-funding this program, is spanning several years, and we are also working on securing further resources.

Q: We understand that English is the preferred language of application. Can we apply in other languages as well?

Yes, you can apply in other languages as well. We added application forms in several languages to our grants webpage (French, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish), however you may also submit your application in any other language of the EU.

Q: Is the info session being recorded?

No. Instead, we will take your questions and add them to the Q&A document so that everybody can read them.

Q: Can you share the presentation (that you showed in the info session) online?

There is nothing confidential in the presentation as it summarizes key points from the Call for Proposals, however, we would prefer not to share it as it may create confusion if some people believe it contains new information. For instance, the presentation lists exactly the same eligible activities that the call for proposal also lists, however for someone thinking that the presentation is new, it will take 15 minutes to double-check if the activities are the same in the two documents.

Eligibility

Q: Does the project have to be a new project, or can it be the continuation of an earlier project/ activity?

It does not have to be a completely new project. You may decide to continue an earlier project or activity.

Q: It is clear that only EL*C members from the EU are eligible to apply. But I have a question on associate membership and the legal registration status. We have a legally registered entity which is also an EL*C member; and this entity has an LBQ subgroup which is not legally registered and is an associate member of EL*C. Can the latter apply? If not, can the main organization apply saying that the project is for its LBQ subgroup?

Only the main organizations can apply as the applicant has to be legally registered and it also has to have full EL*C membership. Having said that, it may apply saying that the project is for its LBQ subgroup.

Q: If we are not yet an EL*C member, how can we apply for this grants program?

You first need to apply for full membership, which is a completely separate process. There is guidance on the EL*C website on how to apply for full membership. https://lesbiangenius.org/membership/ Please note that full membership is only available for lesbian*-led and lesbian*-focused groups. You will need to go through several steps in order to become a full member. First, you need to fill in an online application request. This will be followed by a conversation with an EL*C staff member. Lastly, EL*C’s board will make a decision about approval. Once there is a formally confirmed approval about membership, you can then submit the application to the grants program. Please note that the application process takes some time thus we encourage you to start the membership application process as soon as possible.

Q: Is it true that EL*C member organizations have to pay 5 EUR every month for membership?

No. EL*C members do not have to pay a membership fee.

Q: We are a feminist collective. We are not legally registered as an NGO, but we are in the process of becoming a cultural organization. Are we eligible to apply?

No. You would need to be legally registered first. Then you would need to go through the EL*C membership application process. When both of these processes are completed, you would be able to apply for EL*C grants.

Project Activities

Q: In the application form there are two footnotes specifying the objectives and the activities that can be included in the project. Do we need to use these very expressions, or can we use our own words when describing objectives and activities?

It would be very helpful if you could use the objectives and activities included in those footnotes, as this would help the reviewers identify if your planned objectives and activities can be funded under this call for proposals. Having said that, if you prefer to use your own words, we will do our best in deciding if these are aligned with the listed objectives and activities.

Q: A lot of what we do is related to empowerment and community building with our lesbian* community. We do not engage in advocacy or monitoring activities. Can we still apply under this call for proposal? I am asking because we did not see empowerment as an objective/ activity among the listed items.

While empowerment as a word is not mentioned in the call for proposals, there are objectives and activities closely related with your work. Strengthening NGO capacity in order to protect and promote rights, for instance, could be a relevant objective for your work. In terms of activities, community building and also provision of services for community members, as well as organizing trainings, events, workshops etc. could all be strongly connected to your work. Lastly, you may also consider launching any new activity that you did not do this far with the help of this potential grant.

Q: Can we combine very different activities in the same project application? For instance, we may want to do some workshops for members of our community. At the same time, we also want to focus on our own NGO, that is, we would like to reorganize internally and also want to do some training sessions and meetings for our staff. Could all of these be included in the same project?

Yes, you can include very different activities in the same project, as long as they serve the project’s objectives. In the above-mentioned example, you may want to suggest an activity focusing on community building – and it may include one or more workshops depending on your objectives. You may add another activity that focuses on organizational development, here you could include rethinking of your NGO’s structure or processes on your own or with the help of a consultant. Lastly, you may include a third activity focusing on professional development for your staff where you can provide training, coaching or other forms of skill-building, for instance.

Q: Is there a maximum on how many activities we should include in the project? Do you have a recommended number of activities?

There is neither a maximum, nor a recommended number of activities. In the budget template we included four activities, but you may include less or more, depending on your needs.

Q: How detailed should be our explanation of activities? If there are several very different activities serving the same objective, do we need to explain how those very different activities are contributing to the objective?

Brief explanations are sufficient. If you state your objectives clearly and the activities clearly this should suffice.

Q: Let us say that we have some funding to cover the cost of psychological counselling for our community members, but it is not enough for the whole year, maybe just for six months. Can we include in the project the cost of the other six months of psychological counselling?

Yes.

Q: We understand that if our project receives funding, it has to start in December. Is it enough to plan for just doing something small in December, for instance, a kick-off meeting with the people who will take part in the project?

Yes, a first meeting is enough. It is even enough if you just start the planning for the project. It is clear that most work will take place in 2024, thus it is enough if you just start with something small like the first steps for planning.

Q: We would like to do an art exhibition for and by the LBTI community. It will be a public exhibition. Could this qualify under the objective of raising awareness, raising visibility?

Yes.

Q: I am wondering what sort of services can be included in the project activities. Can you give us some examples?

Direct services provided by the organization for members of the community can be included. For instance, legal aid and psychological support services can be included since these are typically provided by and through the applicant. If you are in doubt about including a specific service, please send us an email to grants@lesbiangenius.org

Cost & Budget

Q: Can we include staff costs in the budget?

Yes, these should be included under “personnel costs”.

Q: Can we include core operational costs, such as rent, electricity, maintenance?

Yes, you may include such costs as long as these are reasonable and can be related to the activities and objectives. Please see our example for this in the “other costs” section of activity one in the budget example within the application form.

Q: We are working in partnership with African lesbians. Can we include activities and costs in the project that are incurred by these partners in Africa, for instance, for their Zoom subscriptions in Africa and for their possible travel costs to Europe?

Unfortunately, not. The project activities have to serve objectives of actors/ communities within the EU, they have to take place within the European Union and the costs also have to be incurred within the EU.

Q: Do we have a better chance for getting the requested funding if we ask for a lower amount, and not the maximum of 20,000 EUR?

No. The requested amount does not influence your chances of getting the funding. In fact, we encourage you to make sure that you are requesting sufficient funding for your planned activities as lesbian* groups have a tendency to work for free.

Project Implementation & Reporting

Q: You mentioned that if our project gets approved, payment of the grant will happen in December. Does that mean that this grant will be income/ revenue for 2023? This could be an issue for some NGOs, especially if they have no costs in 2023.

Yes, the payments must be done in 2023. We understand that this can be an issue for some applicants. Starting the project in December could produce some costs for 2023, although we recognize that most costs will only emerge in 2024.

Q: What happens if we cannot spend all the money by the end of the grant period?

In that case you would need to pay the remaining funds back. Thus, we would suggest that instead of paying it back, you plan your expenditures well and spend it along the project’s objectives and activities. If you need to change the budget during the grant period, you are welcome to reach out to us requesting the change. As long as the project’s objectives are still valid, we will be supportive of changes in the budget. Having said that, you will need to reach out to us requesting the approval of the budget adjustment as soon as you realize that a change is needed.

Q: What happens if we are delayed with some activities?

We request that once you see that you are being delayed you reach out to us immediately so that we can try to find a solution on a case-by-case basis.

Q: How will reporting look like?

Formal reporting will take place after the end of the grant period: you will have 30 days to send us the final report. The reporting template is simple, it consists of a couple of simple questions about the project, and in addition you will need to submit the budget about the actual spending. We will ask you to use the same budget you included in the application, indicating both the planned and the actual spending.

Q: So, prior to the final report we will not be in touch?

In addition to the above-mentioned formal reporting, during the project implementation we will be in touch with you on a regular basis including calls or even potentially visits in order to provide support or assistance as needed. You may reach out to us any time during the grant period, and we will also contact you.

Româna mai jos

Our colleague and EL*C member Oana Dorobantu had to face lesbophobic discrimination yesterday, when she tried to print flyers addressing violence against lesbians for the March for Women’s Safety in Bucharest (see below). The print shop they contacted (Easy Print Center SRL), firstly accepted to perform the work, and then abruptly refused to fulfil the order. After contacting a representative, it became evident that the refusal was motivated by lesbophobia. With Oana’s consent, we have chosen to share the recorded conversation in its entirety, accompanied by English subtitles. 

The company’s representative displayed a callous disregard, refusing service due to their opposition to the lesbian movement. They employed anti-gender rhetoric, invoking the “right to freedom of consciousness,” and resorted to well-worn tactics of violence against lesbians, including the fetishization of lesbianism (e.g., associating lesbians with pornography) and espousing lesbophobic and dogmatic theological statements (e.g., asserting lesbianism is “against nature” with reference to a higher power, God). 

According to our Observatory on Lesbophobia 2019 to 2022, the FRA 2019 LGBTI survey and the recently released Barometer on the Opinion Concerning the LGBT community in Romania, lesbian rights are routinely violated, and discrimination against lesbians remains unaddressed in Romania and in the rest of Europe. Oana has decided to file a complaint with the Romanian equality body, CNCD – Centrul Național de Combatere a Discriminării (National Center for Combating Discrimination), citing hate speech and discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

EL*C stands firmly in solidarity with Oana and every lesbian as they pursue justice in the face of lesbophobia. We emphasize that this incident unequivocally constitutes an act of lesbophobia — an intersectional form of violence arising from the convergence of sexism and heteronormativity. Frequently overlooked in legal proceedings, lesbophobia represents a deeply ingrained and normalized manifestation of hate speech and discrimination against lesbians. It is imperative that we acknowledge and address this specific form of discrimination to realize true human rights equality for lesbians. 

The fact that this act of discrimination is happening on the eve of the March for Women’s Safety is a stark reminder of how lesbian mobilization is key within the feminist and LGBTI movement. We encourage every person to join Oana and their fellow lesbian activists during the March in Bucharest (TNB) on Sunday 22 Oct at 15:00 and we encourage everyone who suffered discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics to come forward if they can. EL*C stand in solidarity with Oana in their proceedings and will closely monitor this case. A swift and equitable decision from the Romanian equality body that condemns lesbophobia and upholds fundamental human rights is key. 

 ________________

Luare De Poziție A EL*C În Cazul de Lesbofobie din România

Colega noastră Oana Dorobanțu, membră EL*C, s-a confruntat ieri cu o formă de discriminare lesbofobă. Atunci când încercat să tipărească pliante despre violența împotriva lesbienelor (vezi mai jos) pentru Marșul pentru Siguranța Femeilor din București, tipografia pe care a contactat-o (Easy Print Center SRL) a acceptat inițial să execute lucrarea, iar apoi a refuzat brusc să onoreze comanda. În cursul unei discuții telefonice cu un reprezentant al companiei, a devenit evident că refuzul a fost motivat de lesbofobie. Cu acordul Oanei, am ales să facem publică conversația înregistrată în întregime, însoțită de subtitrări în limba engleză.  

Reprezentantul companiei a recunoscut că refuzul serviciul este motivat de dezacordul său față de mișcarea lesbiană. Acesta a folosit o retorică împotriva genului, invocând “dreptul la libertatea conștiinței” și au recurs la tactici de violență binecunoscute împotriva lesbienelor, inclusiv fetișizarea lesbianismului (asocierea lesbienelor cu pornografia) și exprimarea unui dogmatism teologic lesbofob (afirmarea că lesbianismul este “împotriva firii” cu referire la Dumnezeu).  

Potrivit Observatorului nostru privind lesbofobia 2019-2022, a sondajului FRA 2019 LGBTI și a recent publicatului Barometru de opinie asupra comunității LGBT din România, drepturile lesbienelor sunt încălcate în mod obișnuit, iar discriminarea împotriva lesbienelor rămâne neabordată în România și în restul Europei. Oana a decis să depună o plângere la CNCD – Consiliul Național de Combatere a Discriminării, invocând discurs instigator la ură și discriminarea pe bază de orientare sexuală.  

EL*C își exprimă solidaritatea față de Oana și față de fiecare lesbiană care își caută dreptatea în fața lesbofobiei. Subliniem faptul că acest incident constituie un act de lesbofobie – o formă intersecțională de violență care rezultă din îmbină sexismul și heteronormativitatea. Frecvent trecută cu vederea în procedurile legale, lesbofobia reprezintă o manifestare profund înrădăcinată și normalizată a discursului de ură și a discriminării împotriva lesbienelor. Este necesar să recunoaștem și să abordăm această formă specifică de discriminare pentru a materializa egalitate în materie de drepturile omului pentru lesbiene.  

Faptul că acest act de discriminare are loc în ajunul Marșului pentru Siguranța Femeilor este o demonstrație clară a modului în care mobilizarea lesbienelor este esențială în cadrul mișcării feministe și LGBTI. Încurajăm fiecare persoană să se alăture Oanei și activistelor lesbiene în timpul Marșului din București (TNB) de duminică, 22 octombrie, la ora 15:00 și încurajăm pe toți cei care au suferit discriminare pe baza orientării sexuale, identității de gen, expresiei de gen și/sau caracteristicilor sexuale să ia măsurile necesare dacă pot. EL*C își exprimă solidaritatea față de Oana în procesul său și va monitoriza îndeaproape acest caz. Este necesară decizie rapidă și echitabilă din partea Consiliului Național pentru Combaterea Discriminării, care să condamne lesbofobia și să susțină drepturile fundamentale ale omului, este esențială. 

Pliantul în cauză:

Français ci-dessous

We, at EL*C, strongly condemn the pervasive and harmful specter of lesbophobia that continues to cast its shadow across our communities, infringing on lesbians’ basic human rights. Today, we welcome and applaud the decision of the Swiss court in sentencing far-right personality Alain Soral to prison for defamation, discrimination, and incitement to hatred following his deplorable lesbophobic hate speech against a journalist. 

Lesbophobia is not a singular, isolated act of discrimination. It exists at the intricate blend of misogyny and heteronormativity, creating a unique form of discrimination that specifically targets lesbian women and non-binary persons. By failing to name and address lesbophobia in its specific contours, institutions directly perpetuate harm and become complicit in the very oppression they claim to oppose. 

Hate speech is not just words; it’s a catalyst. EL*C’s Observatory on Lesbophobia 2019-2022 has documented how hate speech against lesbians, when normalized in society, escalates into tangible, physical violence. In the past three years in Europe and Central Asia, we have witnessed over 200 heinous cases of lesbophobic violence which include hate speech, corrective rapes, and, tragically, murder. It is a chilling testament to the devastating effects of unchecked prejudice. 

Alain Soral’s conviction is a stark reminder that lesbophobia, in any form, will not be tolerated. But it should also serve as a wake-up call. A call to rally against the rise of far-right narratives that endagers our democracies. A call to unequivocally affirm that lesbophobia, like all forms of discrimination, has no place in our societies. 

EL*C reiterates our commitment to relentlessly combat lesbophobia and stand in unwavering solidarity with every lesbian who has faced or continues to face the brunt of such discrimination. For every lesbian silenced by hate, we fight back. No rest until lesbophobia is eradicated. 

EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community is the largest lesbian feminist and intersectional network in Europe and Central Asia. EL*C main goal is to advocate for the multitude of needs surrounding the rights, the visibility and the well-being of lesbians throughout Europe and Central Asia. 

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Avec EL*C contre la lesbophobie: Alain Soral, personnalité d’extrême droite, risque la prison  

 EL*C condamne fermement l’omniprésent et nuisible lesbophobie qui continue à jeter son ombre sur nos communautés, portant atteinte aux droits humains fondamentaux des lesbiennes. Aujourd’hui, nous applaudissons la décision du tribunal suisse de condamner la personnalité d’extrême droite Alain Soral à une peine de prison pour diffamation, discrimination et incitation à la haine suite à son déplorable discours de haine lesbophobe à l’encontre d’une journaliste.  

La lesbophobie n’est pas un acte de discrimination unique et isolé. Elle existe à la croisée de la misogynie et de l’hétéronormativité, créant une forme unique de discrimination qui cible spécifiquement les femmes lesbiennes et les personnes non binaires. En ne nommant pas et en ne traitant pas la lesbophobie dans ses contours spécifiques, les institutions deviennent complices de l’oppression même à laquelle elles prétendent s’opposer.  

Les discours de haine ne sont pas simples motsot, ce sont des catalyseurs. Dans son Observatoire de la lesbophobie 2019-2022, l’EL*C a montré comment les discours de haine à l’encontre des lesbiennes, lorsqu’ils sont normalisés dans la société, se transforment en violence physique tangible. Au cours des trois dernières années en Europe et en Asie centrale, nous avons été témoins de plus de 200 cas de violence lesbophobe qui comprennent des discours de haine, des viols correctifs et, tragiquement, des meurtres. C’est un témoignage effrayant des effets dévastateurs des préjugés incontrôlés. 

La condamnation d’Alain Soral est un rappel brutal que la lesbophobie, sous quelque forme que ce soit, ne sera pas tolérée. Mais elle devrait également servir de signal d’alarme. Un appel à se mobiliser contre la montée des récits d’extrême droite qui mettent en péril nos démocraties. Un appel à affirmer sans équivoque que la lesbophobie, comme toutes les formes de discrimination, n’a pas sa place dans nos sociétés.  

L’EL*C réitère son engagement à combattre sans relâche la lesbophobie et à faire preuve d’une solidarité inébranlable avec toutes les lesbiennes qui ont été ou continuent d’être victimes d’une telle discrimination. Pour chaque lesbienne réduite au silence par la haine, nous ripostons. Pas de répit tant que la lesbophobie n’aura pas été éradiquée.  

EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community est le plus grand réseau lesbien féministe et intersectionnel d’Europe et d’Asie centrale. L’objectif principal d’EL*C est de défendre la multitude de besoins entourant les droits, la visibilité et le bien-être des lesbiennes à travers l’Europe et l’Asie centrale.

Lesbian activism remains an outstandingly underfunded sector within civil society, a fact substantiated by numerous studies. Throughout our activist journeys, we have continually grappled with the discouraging scarcity of resources allocated to address our unique needs.  

This lack of funding has pushed EL*C to take a bold step: resourcing the movement through regranting funds. These efforts aim not just to strengthen our community, but also to make lesbian activism more powerful, moving us closer to a fairer world for lesbians. 

We’re thrilled to announce that starting today, 02.10.2023, the EL*C Grants program is up and running. Thanks to generous support from the European Commission, the EL*C Grants initiative enthusiastically invites all registered member organizations of the EL*C within the European Union, including their overseas territories, to join in.  

Find out more and apply on our dedicated call for proposals page with the application form available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Greek and German, and with increased readability options for persons with ADHD or dyslexia. If you are more comfortable writing the application in a different EU language, this is also a possibility. Having said that, if you are able to write the proposal in English, we encourage you to do so. 

What can get funded? 

• Desk research, baseline studies can be included (yet research cannot be the main goal of the project)  
• Training actions, study visits, field trips and internships  
• Facilitation of contacts, consultations and discussions between different stakeholders 
• Communication and information activities, including media work  

• Organization of conferences, roundtables, workshops and seminars  
• Promotion of the implementation of adopted laws and regulations  
• Advocacy for the revision of existing legislation and adoption of new legislation in accordance with EU standards and requirements  
• Establishment or continuation of dialogue with political parties, parliamentarians, legislative bodies, local municipality decision-makers or relevant authorities  
• Monitoring of national or local laws and policies, as well as monitoring international commitments, publication of monitoring reports  

• Drafting policy or legislative recommendations  
• Public awareness raising campaigns, including raising lesbian visibility campaigns  
• Publication of leaflets, manuals on best practice  
• Testing of innovative approaches that lead to better protection of rights  
• Internal/organizational capacity development activities  

• Community building, community strengthening activities including outreach and organizing 
• Provision of services to community members (for example psycho-social support, legal aid, other services). 

For more information, we have dedicated info sessions on the following dates, pre-register for participation here: 

• 09 Oct 2023 at 9:00 AM CET  
• 16 Oct 2023 at 5:00 PM CET 

• 30 Oct 2023 at 2:00 PM CET 

For more information about this call for proposal please read carefully the Call for Proposals document. For any doubts or questions, we are here to answer you! Reach us at grants@lesbiangenius.org by 14.11.2023 for answers to any questions big or small. 

NOTE: We’re also actively working on ways to grow our granting efforts, extending to our valued member organizations outside of the EU. 

CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS CLOSED ON 1 DECEMBER 2023

Resourcing Lesbian* Movements in Europe – Call for proposals

EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community is happy to announce its much-awaited call for proposals! Our goal is to build capacities of EL*C member organizations across the European Union and support them in becoming a strong voice for lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer women and non-binary persons and in shaping policy-making and awareness raising. EL*C dedicates 550,000 EUR to this herstoric project.

WHAT exactly will be supported?

• Projects which contribute to increasing/ developing/ strengthening one or more of the below:

– NGO capacity to protect and promote the rights of LBTIQ community members,

– NGO advocacy and watchdog role (including monitoring of state actions and reporting to the public),

– NGO involvement in policy and decision-making processes with local, regional and national governments,

– awareness raising about EU rights and values regarding the LBTIQ community (including campaigning).

• Activities listed below may receive funding. Please note that activities not listed below cannot be funded.

– Desk research, baseline studies can be included (yet research cannot be the main goal of the project)

– Training actions, study visits, field trips and internships

– Facilitation of contacts, consultations and discussions between different stakeholders

– Communication and information activities, including media work

– Organization of conferences, roundtables, workshops and seminars

– Promotion of the implementation of adopted laws and regulations

– Advocacy for the revision of existing legislation and adoption of new legislation in accordance with EU standards and requirements

– Establishment or continuation of dialogue with political parties, parliamentarians, legislative bodies, local municipality decision-makers or relevant authorities

– Monitoring of national or local laws and policies, as well as monitoring international commitments, publication of monitoring reports

– Drafting policy or legislative recommendations

– Public awareness raising campaigns, including raising lesbian visibility campaigns

– Publication of leaflets, manuals on best practice

– Testing of innovative approaches that lead to better protection of rights

– Internal/organizational capacity development activities

– Community building, community strengthening activities including outreach and organizing

– Provision of services to community members (for example psycho-social support, legal aid, other services).

• Other activities not listed above cannot be included in the project; for example, regranting cannot be included.

• The project request can be minimum 5,000 EUR and maximum 20,000 EUR.

• No co-funding is necessary, EL*C will cover 100% of the costs.

• The length of the project may be between 6 months and 12 months.

• The start date should be in December 2023. The whole of the awarded grant amount will be paid out at the start, within the first month of the project.

WHAT costs can be included in the application?

• General principles for admissible costs are the following:

– they must be actually incurred by the applicant

– they must be incurred in the grant period

– they must be declared under one of the budget categories included in the application forms

– they must be incurred in connection with the planned actions

– they must be identifiable and verifiable, in particular recorded in the applicant’s accounts in accordance with the accounting standards applicable in the country where the applicant is established and with the applicant’s usual cost accounting practices

– they must comply with the applicable national law on taxes, labor and social security

– they must be reasonable, justified and must comply with the principle of sound financial management, in particular, regarding economy and efficiency.

• Categories of costs that can be included are the following:

– Personnel costs

– Subcontracting costs

– Travel and subsistence costs

– Equipment costs (must be declared as depreciation costs)

– Other goods, works and services

• Costs that are not allowed are the following:

– costs or contributions that do not comply with the conditions set out above

– costs related to return on capital and dividends paid by a beneficiary

– debt and debt service charges

– provisions for future losses or debts

– interest owed

– currency exchange losses

– bank costs charged by the beneficiary’s bank for transfers from EL*C

– excessive or reckless expenditure

– deductible or refundable VAT (including VAT paid by public bodies acting as public authority)

– costs incurred or contributions for activities implemented during grant agreement suspension

– in-kind contributions by third parties

– costs or contributions declared under other EU grants (or grants awarded by an EU Member State, non-EU country or other body implementing the EU budget)

– costs or contributions for staff of a national (or regional/local) administration, for activities that are part of the administration’s normal activities (i.e. not undertaken only because of the grant)

– costs or contributions (especially travel and subsistence) for staff or representatives of EU institutions, bodies or agencies.

• As for specific guidance for the various budget categories included in the application forms, we will add more information in the upcoming Q&A document, and we will talk about these in the information sessions.

WHO will be funded?

Eligibility criteria:

Applicants meeting the following eligibility criteria will be considered for funding:

• Approved member organization of EL*C at the time of submitting the application (an organization is an approved member after going through a separate application process for membership and receiving a formal notification about approval of membership)

• Legally registered, non-profit organization in their country of operation

• Established in a Member State of the European Union (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)

• Respecting EU values, including values such as dignity, equality and justice

• Fully completed application form, submitted before the deadline. Applications can be submitted in any EU member state language, however, English is preferred. Submitting in another language will not lead to any disadvantage.

Applicants found ineligible will be informed within 2 weeks after the application deadline.

Selection criteria:

Eligible proposals will be assessed along the below selection criteria:

• Financial and operational capacity

• Relevance of the project

• Design of the action, including clarity of activities

• Implementation approach, including methodology

• Sustainability

• Budget and cost effectiveness.

A Selection Committee comprising of EL*C Board Members – thus persons elected by the community – will assess eligible proposals and will make funding decisions. Only a select number of EL*C Board Members will take part in this work, in particular those who do not have any conflict of interest in relation to potential applicants.

We will acknowledge the receipt of the application. It is possible that EL*C will be in touch with you with clarifying questions regarding the application. It is also possible that the Selection Committee will suggest changes to the project.

Eligible applicants will be informed about the grant decision as soon as possible. Awarded projects will be also announced on the EL*C Grants Program’s webpage.

Please note that applicants with awarded projects will be required to sign a Declaration of Honour, expressing their commitment to upholding European values and standards. Also, in rare cases they may be requested to undergo a due diligence check prior to signing the grant agreement.

HOW to apply?

You need to submit the completed application form before 23:59 CET on December 1st, 2023, to the following email address: grants@lesbiangenius.org

You can download the application form in several languages down below.

In addition to this, you can also submit the completed application form using the dedicated Open Dyslexic Font or the Fast Font (aid for persons with ADHD).

EL*C will provide online information sessions in English about the call for proposals. You may register for the information sessions here. It is sufficient to register for one session, as the information provided will be the same in each session. Following your registration, we will send you the link to the information session.

• October 9 at 9:00 CET

• October 16 at 17:00 CET

• October 30 at 14:00 CET

A Question and Answers document is available on this page, with updates after every information session.

In addition, if you cannot find an answer to your question in this document, in the Q&A file or during the information sessions, you may also send an email to grants@lesbiangenius.org any time prior to November 14, 2023. We will regularly update the Q&A document with responses sent to your questions.

This publication was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Download Application Form (English)

TÉLÉCHARGEZ LE FORMULAIRE DE CANDIDATURE (FRANÇAIS)

SCARICA IL MODULO DI RICHIESTA (ITALIANO)

DOWNLOAD Bewerbungsformular (Deutsch)

DESCARGA el formulario de solicitud (Español)

Κατεβάστε το έντυπο αίτησης (Ελληνικά)

Q&A Guide