Category: News

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

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

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

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

Training program

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

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

Structural masculinity

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

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

Kick off

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

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

Lesbians from across Europe will demonstrate in Rome this Saturday 27 April 2024, to support lesbian mothers and more broadly all Italian women and trans people, threatened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her far-right majority.

This March, the Court of Padua ruled in favour of lesbian mothers, rejecting the Italian Prosecutor Office’s request to remove one of the two lesbian mothers, the non-biological one, from the birth certificates of 38 childrens.

A few days after, on March 12th, the Ministry of the Interior challenged the decision and presented an appeal. This court action, which comes after a year of political attacks, threats and (il)legal pressure, is yet another attempt by Meloni and her majority to make our lives and families the battleground of the next European elections.

This Friday, 26 April 2024, on the occasion of the International Day of Lesbian Visibility, the Italian and European lesbian movements will present the fight and resistance against this extreme right-wing government during the PRESS CONFERENCE scheduled at 11 a.m. at the headquarters of Arci Nazionale, via dei Monti di Pietralata 16, Rome.

The protest “MADRI FUORI LEGGE (Outlawed Mothers), Lesbians united for the full recognition of motherhood” will be held on Saturday 27 April 2024, at 5 p.m., in Piazza dell’Esquilino in Rome.

We lesbians know that silence will not protect us. These continuous political attacks show that this government will not stop, not even in front of childrens. Lesbians will not stop either and will take to the Esquiline Square in Rome on 27 April stating forcefully:

#anchenoisiamomadri

#lesbiansaremotherstoo

PRESS INVITATION

The press conference will be held on Friday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at the headquarters of Arci Nazionale, Via dei Monti di Pietralata 16 in Rome, to provide further details.

RSVP

For press inquiries and attendance confirmation, please contact:
silvia.casalino@lesbiangenius.org
+33 6 64 99 23 49

Speakers:
Natascia Maesi, president of Arcigay
Genny Sangiovanni, Rainbow Families, Italy
Chiara Piccoli, president of ALFI
Silvia Casalino, Executive director of EL*C
Lucia Caponera, Lesbian Difference, Rome

The protest is organized by ALFI, Arcigay Roma, Differenza Lesbica, Arcigay Transfeminist Women’s Network, Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard,” Famiglie Arcobaleno, Lesbiche Bologna, Associazione Luki Massa, Associazione Liberas, and Lista Lesbica Italiana, the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community (EL*C) and joined by Arci Roma, Azione Gay e Lesbica, Gay Center, NELFA (Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations), RGR (Rete Genitori Rainbow), Cattive Ragazze.

Recently the Kazakhstan government discussed three amendments on  

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

1. 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 

1. 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 struggling to protect women against violence because Member States can’t agree that sex without consent is rape.
• A Europe more and more locked in its own borders, that sends people to their death in the Mediterranean and in the Balkans
• A Europe that cannot speak up clearly against genocide, against patriarchal wars at its doorsteps and for peace and permanent ceasefire.

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

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

[REGISTRATION]

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”

[ DOWNLOAD STATEMENT ]

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]