LGBT+ Lives Get Better Together

About this project

<p>The "LGBT + Lives Get Better Together" project aims to empower LGBT+ people through the support to and development of their communities. The main tools for change are activities in the areas of relief, education and leisure aimed directly at LGBT+ people, as well as creating strategic partnerships with other civil society organizations, communication with the majority and support to systematic change to improve lives of LGBT+ people. In the Czech Republic, there are only a few CSOs working with LGBT+ people and until now, there has not been any community center focused on LGBT+ people at all. There are several specific projects supporting LGBT+ minority (such as Prague Pride festival, Rise Up campaign against hate speech and hate crime, online counseling service Sbarvouven.cz, networks for christian and trans gender people). However there is no year-around safe space empowering the minority members, providing them social care or systematic education and offering them a place where they can be who they are without fear of rejection. In December 2021, our organization opened the only LGBT+ community center in Czechia on a trial basis. This happened not only because of the pilot project "Solid roots for LGBTIQ rights in Czechia" (funded by US Embassy, ending in summer 2022), on which we are now building this project "LGBT+ Lives Get Better Together". This project is going to offer LGBT+ people year-round activities (social worker counseling, lifelong learning night school, public events) in order to empower them and improve the quality of their lives. We will also build up on the results of the pilot project mentioned above and strengthen the strategic partnership between Czech CSOs in favor of better and systematic advocacy work for LGBT+ people and their rights.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

An important part of our project was the exchange of foreign experiences in partner organizations in Oslo and Reykjavík. The strongest impression when visiting both countries was learning about the different mood in society towards LGBT+ people. Oslo has its own rainbow district and Pride is the biggest social event in Iceland, attended by two thirds of the population. Unfortunately, the first of the study trips was affected by an unfortunate event in the form of an attack on one of the businesses in which Oslo Pride was taking place. Our team, like everyone present, was shaken by this, but described the unprecedented level of solidarity that erupted in Oslo. Despite this difficulty, this visit was a lesson in safety and communication of risky situations for us. The second study path was much calmer and mainly brought us knowledge in relation to the fight against the growing hatred towards trans people and the care of young non-binary and trans people. Iceland has its own government representative for this agenda, and the fight against prejudice is thus actively advocated at the highest levels of politics.

Project partners

• Reykjavík Pride Donor project partner· Iceland
• Oslo Pride AS Donor project partner· Norway