The “Resourcing the Lesbian Movement” grant-making program, funded by the European Union and spearheaded by EL*C, is set to make a significant impact on human rights across Europe. This initiative aims to resource the movement through financial support and capacity development, addressing the chronic underfunding and lack of resources that have historically hindered the lesbian movement.
By supporting projects that enhance lesbian visibility, promote intersectional inclusion, and enrich cultural diversity, the grant empowers lesbian organizations to strengthen movements and activists as well as human rights advocacy.
In this article, we highlight five of the 31 funded projects within the grant. These initiatives, rooted in lesbian feminist principles, exemplify how cultural enrichment advances the fight for equality and inclusion by creating space for diverse expressions and nurturing a shared sense of identity and community, and bolstering movement-building and strengthening efforts across the lesbian movement.
The Polish association Sistrum is a safe space for lesbian culture in the broadest sense. Established in 2017, the purpose of the association is to produce, animate, disseminate, and archive lesbian culture. Their EL*C funded project “Dykes with Labrys” revives the legacy of Polish lesbian artists like Narcyza Żmichowska, Maria Konopnicka, and Wanda Landowska through educational and performative trips to eight towns. This initiative emphasizes the contributions of Polish lesbian artists, shedding light on the historical and cultural gaps regarding LBTIQ women and non-binary persons’ recognition in society.
The project premiered at the Women* Queer “Lesbikon” conference in Katowice with performances and workshops on lesbian culture. Participation in the conference and organizing workshops and performances are good-practices examples of how the project promotes equality, freedom, and respect for human rights by creating spaces for dialogue, visibility, and celebration of lesbian culture.
Through their participation at public events like Equality Marches and Pride Festivals in smaller cities Bielsko-Biała, Piaseczno, and Zielona Góra, Sistrum promotes engaging in civil organizing and fostering a more inclusive and democratic society. Sistrum used the avenue of art and culture to highlight the unique challenges faced by lesbians in Poland, addressing the intersection of gender and sexual orientation.
Their journey is documented in a graphic book and a series of photos featuring women with portraits of Polish lesbian artists, ensuring effective communication and promotion of their activities to reach and engage public opinion on lesbian rights.
Sistrum has established connections with BWA art galleries and is deepening its cooperation with the “Lesbikon” conference. They also connected with an organization in Szczecin, enabling their participation in the local Pride Festival for the first time. By merging education and performance, Sistrum breathes new life into Polish culture and advocates for broader lesbian rights and inclusion.
Anemos Dimiourgias (Wind of Creativity), founded in 2014 in Lesvos, promotes creative works that raise awareness on gender, sexuality, and cultural diversity through various mediums such as film, documentaries, photography exhibitions, visual arts, and symposia. Recently, the Greek organization completed the feature film “Lesvia,” which chronicles over 45 years of Skala Eresou’ lesbian history, bringing to light the intersectional discrimination faced by LBTIQ women and non-binary persons, making these unique struggles more visible to a broader audience.
Photographer and filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, a native lesbian from Lesbos, captured these stories in the organization’s documentary film “Lesvia.” Currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit, the film supports human rights advocacy by promoting the intersectional struggles and history of the lesbian community in Skala Eresou. By weaving lesbian narratives into the cultural fabric and deepening public understanding of lesbian experiences, the film raises awareness and fosters greater acceptance and recognition of LBTIQ and non-binary individuals, advocating for their rights and equality.
“The older generations were touched by the archive material and our herstory of the first years, especially the women who had come to Eressos in the early times. But the biggest surprise was the younger lesbians that loved the film, and they felt grateful that we managed to keep our story alive and share it with them. Many of them had no idea about Eressos, our community and about the fights that we had to give in the 80s in order to create and keep a space for ourselves. I had the feeling that the film was working as an awakening, as a reminder that we can claim the life we want.
– Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, film director
The film has been screened at 17 festivals across England, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, Poland, and the United States. It has won several accolades, including Best Newcomer Director, a Jury award, and four Audience awards. Most of the screenings have been packed, with many selling out in advance. This remarkable success contributes to changing the public opinion on the lesbian community, effectively engaging audiences and promoting a more inclusive society. Anemos Dimiourgias furthers this mission through symposia, exhibitions, and public events, championing equality, freedom, and respect for human rights.
Committed to shaping social inclusion policies and practices, LINC is a community development organization which offers essential peer support to the lesbian and bisexual community in Ireland. Through their EL*C funded project “Beyond the margins,” highlighting specific issues and gaps in the protection of fundamental rights, LINC creates a space for the lesbian community to grow together. This project started with monthly workshops and now holds weekly sessions, engaging over thirty participants and achieving 97 visits with notable social media reach.
Through emphasizing the unique violations faced at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation via intergenerational discussions, the group explores Cork’s LBTQ+ history, fostering connections between younger and older queer individuals. They have also designed and begun painting murals celebrating lesbians* in Cork history.
The initiative culminates in an exhibition showcasing artistic expressions and personal narratives, providing a creative approach to activism. Participants share and hold each other’s experiences, fostering hope and connection. The project has also attracted new attendees to LINC events and offers support in the form of subsidized counseling. Due to high engagement, workshops will continue beyond the first exhibition, with another planned later in the year.
LINC’s work enriches the cultural landscape enhancing their organizational capacity to advocate for lesbian and bisexual women’s rights and supporting inclusion in a diverse civil society.
Founded in 1996 in Aveiro, Clube Safo, the only lesbian organization in Portugal, began as a lesbian group who saw the urgency of creating a space for dialogue, sharing and for claiming their human rights. Clube Safo’s project “Lesbian 360°” initiatives, such as support groups and the Lesbian Support Line, empower the lesbian community by providing essential services and support, thereby enhancing their capacity for advocacy and policy engagement.
With the support of EL*C and the European Union, Clube Safo is undertaking initiatives to amplify lesbian visibility and cultural presence, centering on the lesbian experience within the broader context of human rights activism. These efforts include revamping its website, producing a documentary titled “Clube Safo: From the Past to the Future,” which chronicles the organization’s history, evolution, and role in lesbian activism in Portugal, and relaunching its lesbian-focused magazine, Zona Libre, the country’s longest-standing publication on lesbian issues.
These activities increase visibility and engagement, ensuring that lesbian voices are heard and respected in public discourse. They shed light on overlooked human rights issues and draw attention to the unique challenges faced by lesbians due to discrimination faced at the intersection of gender and sexual orientation.
“The support from the EL`C has allowed us to tell our story, reach further and know that what we are doing really creates a change in the way lesbians are perceived in society but also to support them specifically.
– Clube Safo
The funding has been a game-changer for Clube Safo, allowing its members and the board better access to health and social services through the Lesbian Support Line and support groups, improved media representation, increased capacity, and reduced burnout. By strengthening its cultural presence and enhancing its financial sustainability and operational efficiency, Clube Safo can combat discrimination more effectively and advocate for human rights, fostering a spirit of inclusion within society at large.
The Bulgarian feminist collective Lespectra believes that at the heart of awareness and understanding, comes meaningful change, which can only be achieved through empowerment and lesbian rights advocacy.
Their project “Lesbians of Bulgaria: Daring to be Powerful” features an exhibition with portraits of lesbians from across the country, taken by art photographer Johana Trayanova. This visual narrative brings attention to specific representational issues by offering an intimate glimpse into lesbian lives, showcasing the diversity of LBTIQ identities and experiences in Bulgaria.
Their LesCafes have become a cornerstone for creating safe, inclusive, and enjoyable spaces for LBTIQ women and nonbinary people in Sofia and beyond. These gatherings have fostered a close-knit community that regularly attends events, brings friends, and spreads the word about the importance of lesbian inclusion, thus encouraging participation and inclusion of diverse LBTIQ individuals in social and cultural activities. By holding LesCafes in cities like Veliko Tarnovo and Varna, Lespectra has strengthened local connections and built solidarity networks. By creating spaces like LesCafes and fostering community connections, Lespectra strengthens the advocacy capabilities of the lesbian community, empowering individuals to engage in policy work and advocacy.
The exhibition and community events are key methods of reaching and educating the public, highlighting the importance of lesbian inclusion and rights, promoting equality and freedom. Through these community-building and visibility efforts, Lespectra builds bridges of understanding and empowers individuals, contributing to the long-term sustainability and capacity of Bulgarian lesbian movement through increased engagement and support.
These projects reveal the transformative influence of the “Resourcing the Lesbian Movement” grant, showcasing the collective efforts driven by EL*C. Initiatives like those of Anemos Dimourgias, Clube Safo, Lespectra, Sistrum, and LINC embody a shared vision where lesbian visibility and human rights thrive. These initiatives reflect those core EU values we hold dear—freedom of assembly and association, cultural heritage and freedom of expression, equality, solidarity, and non-discrimination. They’re all about fostering social cohesion and promoting artistic and cultural expression. Plus, each project advances a feminist narrative of inclusivity and lesbian empowerment, bringing together experiences which contribute to a more equitable society across the European Union.
