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Description
The first community center of LGBTI people in Bulgaria - Rainbow Hub (RH) was established in 2018, supported by the Active Citizens Bulgaria Fund in 2019 to empower participants in LGBTI mutual aid groups. RH provides psychological, legal, etc. services to particularly vulnerable members of the community. The significance of the center became evident when it was destroyed by an attack in October 2021. Numerous individual donations contributed to its restoration. From March 2022, the Rainbow Hub is housed in a new space on Gladstone Street in Sofia and is managed by the Bilitis Foundation in partnership with the Glass Foundation and the young feminist organization Saffo-Bulgaria. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the RH team has been providing humanitarian aid to LGBTI refugees. So far, 11 people from Ukraine have been supported by providing food and medicine, as well as contacts for accommodation. The war and the related economic crisis are a prerequisite for increasing the trafficking and sexual exploitation of people from the LGBTI community. The new situation put on the agenda the need to increase the capacity of Bilitis and Glass staff to work with refugees, victims of trafficking, as well as sex workers. The project will train the Rainbow Hub team to provide adequate support to refugees and build close cooperation with organizations (NGOs and public) supporting the listed target groups. Direct beneficiaries will be LGBTI refugees from Ukraine and third countries who will receive support to deal with the effects of war and integration.
Summary of project results
Upon entering Bulgaria, LGBTI refugees face discrimination, rejection and even violence. The project aimed to increase the capacity of Bilitis and Glas to work with refugees, trafficked persons, and sex workers, and to improve the interaction between these and other organizations to reduce the negative effects of the military conflict in Ukraine. The project also included the dissemination of information on available resources and organizations working with refugees, victims of trafficking and sex workers.
Within the framework of the project 6 trainings were held with representatives of civil society organizations working with refugees, victims of trafficking and sex workers. Together with these trainings, 10 meetings were held with institutions, representatives of embassies and international organizations.
The communication activities included the production of 3 informative videos, updating the Rainbow Hub Community Centre website, publishing 10 articles and organising a final event for the project. All activities presented the personal stories of LGBTI refugees, focused on where resources and support can be found, and reached over 150,000 people.
The project increased the capacity of the Rainbow Hub team to work with refugees, trafficked persons, and sex workers. The project supported more than 40 members of vulnerable groups with humanitarian assistance and referrals to LGBTI-friendly services and professionals. Alongside this, links between Bilitis, Glas and other organizations working with representatives of the target groups were deepened.
Within the framework of the activities, LGBTI organizations created new partnerships with organizations working with refugees, victims of trafficking and sex workers. Through these new relationships, we will continue our cooperation on cases of LGBTI refugees with the purpose of improving access to services for them. After the end of the project, we are regularly contacted by other organizations working with refugees if a person or couple from the LGBTI community comes to them. The exchange of information helps to provide comprehensive support for the integration of such people.