For many people, being part of the LGBT+ community in the Lubelskie region is difficult and stressful, and demonstrating it might even be dangerous. The Lubelskie voivodship local council and approximately 25 local government authorities throughout the voivodship adopted a local government free of LGBT ideology homophobic resolution. Even in the voivodship capital, there is only one institution that openly supports non-heteronormative people. The city municipal authority cannot be counted on to provide support.
This project aims to create a safe and non-committal space for young LGBT+ people to meet like-minded, open and supportive people, and where they are free to be themselves.
We will provide a place that is open and broadly accessible (we envisage for instance sign language interpretation and assistance for people with vision impairment). We will hold integration, awareness, and artistic events for participants to get to know each other better, support each other, develop, build a network of contacts, and pursue passions and talent. We will provide permanent psychological and legal support and weekly meetings of an online LGBT+ support group. The participants will take an active part in creating and changing the venue, furnishing and decorating the premises, and planning further meetings and workshops. Training/workshops (14) will be held monthly on enhancing soft skills, self-advocacy, activism, self-acceptance, and combating discrimination.
The main effects will be an increased sense of safety and internal integration of the local LGBTQ+ community, and more visible presence of the community in the city. Approximately forty people LGBT+ people from Lublin and the vicinity, and their allies, will participate.
The partner – Galeria Labirynt – will provide premises and content-based and technical support. The partner’s employees will conduct training on combating discrimination and inclusive language.