The EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community – EL*C – is thrilled to announce the winners of the second cycle of the Strengthening the Lesbian Movement grantmaking programme. This cycle awarded funding to support member organizations in growing their advocacy capacity, increasing political influence, and advancing lesbian rights.
The goal was simple but ambitious: to build a stronger, more connected lesbian movement able to shape policy, shift narratives, and create safer spaces for all lesbians, including those most marginalized. EL*C supported targeted work in these areas across Europe.
The lesbian movement remains chronically underfunded despite intersecting challenges. This programme provides flexible resources for advocacy and policy impact, reinforcing democracy, human rights, and equality.
We thank all applicants for their dedication—the selection was highly competitive. Meet the grantees leading this vital work:
Active Rainbow
The project strengthens lesbian* visibility and advocacy in Latvia through community gatherings, audiovisual storytelling, and the first lesbian* festival. It amplifies underrepresented voices, fosters Baltic activist networks, and builds NGO capacity to protect and promote lesbian* rights locally and regionally.
Arcigay Modena “Matthew Shepard”
The project strengthens lesbian networks in Italy via community mapping, a conference, and online meetings, fostering dialogue and producing a shared policy document for advocacy and continued collaboration.
Asociación Gitanas Feministas por la Diversidad
The project documents intersectional discrimination against racialized lesbians in Spain, raising awareness, advocating for policy reforms, and empowering the community through campaigns and resource access.
DAWA 2.0
The project uses art as a strategic advocacy tool to amplify the voices of marginalized lesbians*, especially those facing intersecting oppression. Through performances, campaigns, and policy tools, it mobilizes NGOs, influences institutions, and advances lesbian* rights in Europe.
Glitter Foundation (Fundacja Brokat)
The project strengthens advocacy and visibility for lesbians* in Poland by documenting lesbophobia in public discourse, amplifying marginalized voices, and offering recommendations for inclusive policymaking.
Hybrid Pulse
The project centers the voices of Muslim lesbians* through workshops, performances, and community dialogues. It creates safe spaces and produces videos and advocacy tools to support NGOs in promoting inclusion, visibility, and rights of marginalized lesbian* identities across Europe.
La Tortiteca
The project surveys effective advocacy practices from the history of lesbian movements in the EU, documenting strategies and actions to guide current resistance against extreme right-wing movements. Using mixed methods and diverse sources, it publishes findings and delivers trainings to strengthen lesbian rights advocacy.
Luki Massa
The project advocates for visibility and inclusion of marginalized lesbians (disabled, poor, migrant, fat) through public campaigns, conferences, and a bilingual handbook for inclusive practices.
QLAC (Collective Queer Lesbienne Alternative du Comminges)
The project strengthens rural lesbian and queer communities in southwest France by building solidarity networks, increasing visibility, and advocating for local rights and support.
Romnja Feminist Library (Biblioteca Feministă Romă)
The project amplifies Romani lesbian* voices via a zine, translating research into advocacy tools, and fostering dialogue with decision-makers to promote rights and inclusion.
Toutes des Femmes ([We are] all women)
The project builds capacity and advocates for transfeminine lesbians’ self-determination through training, public conferences, and stakeholder engagement to fight transphobia and raise awareness.
Vulgar
The project advocates for systematic change in Romanian healthcare and NGO sectors to improve services for lesbians* by promoting anti-discrimination practices, awareness, and training.
