RIGHTS NOW - exploring and promoting Civil Rights in Europe.

RIGHTS NOW EXPLORING AND PROMOTING CIVIL RIGHTS IN EUROPE

organized by:

Edited by:

South Europe Youth Forum

with the support of:

RIGHTS NOW Exploring and promoting Civil Rights in Europe

with the support of:

in cooperation with:

SAY YES WEDDING

AND

MORE

Ra.Ne.

Rainbow Network

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

SEYF - South Europe Youth Forum www.seyf.eu Edited by: VINCENZO LOTITO (vincenzo.lotito@seyf.eu) and SANDRO SALVATORE ACCOGLI (sandro.accogli@seyf.eu) MARIJA BORG MIFSUD (marija.borg@seyf.eu) All rights reserved

“RIGHTS NOW - Exploring and promoting Civil Rights in Europe” by South Europe Youth Forum is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.seyf.eu.

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Index ZERO INTRODUCTION, of South Europe Youth Forum, 5 ONE THE PROJECT, 8 TWO LGBTQIA* RIGHTS IN THE EUROPE, 21 THREE THE TOOL-BOX FOR LGBTQIA* ACTIVISTS, 35

FIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, 51

CONTACTS, 53

5

Zero

INTRODUCTION

6

Introduction

INTRODUCTION SEYF

South Europe Youth Forum

Rights Now has been an experience, more than a project, of gathering people around a common need.

It has been organized by SEYF with the support of the Italian National Agency for Youth (Agenzia Nazionale Giovani) within the frame of the Erasmus Plus Programme and in cooperation with the local NGOs involved in the promotion of rights LGBTQIA*: Arcigay Salento, LeA - Liberamente E Apertamente, Agedo Lecce, Say Yes and Ra.Ne. Rainbow Network).

The project successfully involved 28 motivated participants Italy, Malta, Spain, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Estonia and Bulgaria.

Specifically, the experience represents an important step in the SEYF policies to promote gender equality in the European Sociaty and to foster a more inclusive society, by stimulating the creation of active network working on the field.

The project follows other actions developed by SEYF with the priority to explore the LGBTQIA* universe.

Over the last two years, SEYF has implemented Mind the Gap, an international Erasmus Plus project on LGBTQIA* rights that took take place in Lecce and involved participants from the Euro-Med Area (Italy, France, Malta, Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Israel, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon).

7

Introduction

In the meanwhile, SEYF is promoting the project “All Rights!” supported by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department for Equal Opportunities with the aim to create awareness and promoting on LGBTQIA* rights at local and international level.

Within this framework, SEYF aim is to stimulate the creation of practical inputs useful for LGBTQIA* NGOs and youth organization for promoting and defending civil and human rights.

The aim of the present ebook is to provide activists, youth workers, social workers with theoretical inputs on the topic and also practical tools for promoting equality at local level.

After an overview on the LGBTQ+ rights in the differents countries of the participants to the project, this work focuses on specific and practical activities that could be implemented at local level, in other youth-work contexts and in different communities, as it has been written in a simple language and designed in a youth-friendly way.

All the material included in this publication has been realized in cooperation with the project partners and with the incredible efforts and full involvement of all the participants.

8

One

THE PROJECT

9

The project

THE PROJECT

RIGHTS NOW is fully in line with SEYF 2016-2020 priority to tackle gender issue and promoting human rights and civil rights, both at local and international level in the Euro-Med Area.

The project idea came after sharing ideas, experiences and opinions in order to take actions, at European level, within the frames of LGBTQIA* rights. In consideration of the many forms of discrimination and violence acted for sexual orientation, we figured out to plan activities of detailed study, in-depth analysis and actions of support to the LGBTQIA* community for supporting NGOs and youth workers.

During the last two year, we firstly analized how, in most cases, young people and youth workers suffer a lack of awareness on gender and sexuality-based violence, and do not know enough on how its mechanisms work. Afterwards, we worked for by-passing some obstacoles and we started to cooperate in order to plan and put in action the project Right Now. RIGHTS NOW has been implemented in Novoli (Lecce, Italy) from 23th to 28th April 2018 it involved 27 participants from NGOs from Italy, Malta, Spain, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Estonia and Bulgaria and 1 trainer from Italy.

Rights Now specific objective were the development of competences and knowledge of people working with youngsters, in order to act as advocates of greater gender equality in their communities by using non-formal learning approach

10

The project

and tools.

Coherently with the Erasmus+ programme, during the project all the methodologies implemented promoted active participation and active learning of participants. The international training course has been based on learning by doing methodology: participants had the opportunitiy to learn about non formal education by experiencing it directly, and not by just by receiving passive or vertical information.

All the information sessions have also been integrated through an interactive approach. The main methodological approaches used were: reciprocal maieutic approach, experiential learning, cooperative learning, participation and peer learning. The main methods we implemented were: brainstorming, team building and energizers, presentations, world cafĂŠ, Open Space Tecnology.

The result of the training course is the current Training Hand-Book that includes the most crucial theoretical inputs on the topic, information about the gender issues in the participating countries and also tools that may be used for promoting gender equality at the local level. Thus, the results of Rights Now can be also shared and implemented in other youth-work contexts and in different communities.

In a longer-term perspective we expect the young people and youth workers involved to be more gender-aware and sensitive, in oder to be able to detect situations and contexts where gender-based discrimination and violence occur and to take proper action for promoting gender equality both locally, nationally as well as in EU-SMC contexts.

By increasing knowledge, changing attitudes, developing skills and acquiring innovative tools, we expect the partner organizations and participants from EU and SMC to be able to involve young people in being change-makers.

11

The project

1

Project Communication

12

The project

2

Project Communication

13

The project

Moments from the Project

3 Warm up activities

4 Warm up activities

5 Getting to know each other

14

The project

6 Initial evaluation: hopes, fears and contributions

7 Getting to know experience, background of sending organizations

8 Team building activities

15

The project

9 Team building activities

10 Workshops on identity, gender and stereotypes

11 Workshops on identity, gender and stereotypes

16

The project

12 Workshops on identity, gender and stereotypes

13 Workshops on identity, gender and stereotypes

14 Plenary discussions

17

The project

15 Daily Evaluation

16 Meeting local LGBT* NGOs (Agedo Lecce)

17 Meeting local LGBT* NGOs (Arcigay Salento)

18

The project

18 Intercultural night coordinated bby participants

19 Group workshops on final material

20 Group workshops on final material

19

The project

21 Theatre workshops

22 Theatre workshops

23 Group workshops

20

The project

24 Family portrait

21

Two

LGBTQIA* RIGHTS IN EUROPE

22

LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

The following chart, relized by the participants to the project, provide an overview of LGBT+ rights in Europe, with a specific focus on the countries of the involved organizations. The chart frames the specific situation happening in 2018.

An important news arrived in June 2018, when the European Court of Justice ruling in Coman and Others, same-sex marriages contracted in EU member states that have legalised same-sex marriage are recognised in all the EU countries, and same-sex couples must be granted full residency rights. This applies only if at least one partner is an EU citizen and if the marriage was performed in an EU member state (more info: http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?t ext=&docid=202542&doclang=EN)

Country

Same-sex

mar-

riage

civil

or union

YES

SLOVENIA

Same sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual ones, except for adoption and in vitro fertilisation

YES CROATIA

Same sex couples have the same rights as hereosexual ones, except for adoption and insemination)

Specific LGTB+

laws for

Rights for transgender gender non-con-

discrimi- and

nation

forming people

Constitutions bans discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression etc

There is no law in place that adresses legal gender recognition based on selfidentification. It is possible to change name without psychological proof but sex marker in documents can only be changed with psychological certificate, saying that you have changed your gender

Constitutions bans discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression etc.

There is no law in place that adresses legal gender recognition based on selfidentification. It is possible to change name without psychological proof but sex marker in documents can only be changed with psychological certificate that you have changed your gender

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

There are antidiscrimination laws for Civil union is legal LGBT+ people on the since 2015, adoption labour market since of children is being 2005. There is a law to change legal gender discussed since 2010 YES

GREECE

BULGARIA

There is a right since 2010 to change legal gender. Since 2016 there is no need of sterlization or sex-change to change legal gender

Constitutions bans discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual ori- No legal gender recognition entation, etc.

NO in any official document unless the person is undergoAccording to the Hate crimes based ing sex-reassignment surConstitution mar- on sexual orientation gery. riage and civil union or gender identity are only possible be- are not considered as In 2016 3 transgender womtween a man and a criminal acts. en were allowed to change woman Since 2015 there is an gender without undergoing amendment in place surgery protecting people who undergone sex reassignment surgery

NO

ESTONIA

Same-sex marriages settled in other countries where it is Sexual orientation allowed are recog- and gender identity nizedn in Estonia) are protected by law.

Gender change is recYES ognized by law.

Civil unions (cohabitation law) since 2016, stepchild adoption only

Since 2002 transgender people in Estonia have been allowed to change their legal ender and name without a sex reassignment surgery, sterilisation or divorcing their partner

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

NO

ROMANIA

No marriage or civil union between samesex couples is legally allowed, not yet written in the constitution but being discussed

YES

SPAIN

Marriage and civil union are legally allowed, adoption and insemination are possbile and costs are covered by social security system

YES

ITALY

Civil Unions are allowed since 2016, with most of the legal protections enjoyed by married couples adoptions and stepchild adoption not included. Adoption is legal only with specific sentence.

Constitutions bans discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. Sexual orientation has been introduced in 2013.

Hate crime legislation exists since 2006 as crime comitted by homophobic bias may lead to a higher sentence There is a law in place that adresses violence and hate speech against LGBT+ (it is also written in the constitution).

The police workers are trained to fight against discrimination. In education people are trained to embrace, respect and teach diversity

Change of legal sex is possible since 1996 following sex reassignment surgery.

However the legal procedure concerning their identity is totally vague

Social security covers the transition from 2016. Before starting the process one needs psychological proof of dysphoria. After 2 years of hormonal treatment the name can be changed in documents.

Names can be changed into neutral ones without psychological proof or treatment

Contitution (art.

3) bans discrimination based on sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuSince 1982 it is possible al orientation, gender to change sex. Since 2015 it is identity and gender allowed without sterilisation. expression etc. At the moment there is no law against homotrasnphobia.

25

LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

YES

MALTA

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malta are of the highest standards, even by comparison to other European countries, according to the United Nations. Civil Unions are legal since 2014 and Same-sex marriage since 2017.

Adoption are possible for individuals and jointly in a civil union or marriage

Malta is one of the only few countries in the world to have made LGBT rights equal at a constitutional level . On 10 December 2015, the Government launched a public consultation on a draft of the comprehensive Equality Act, and on a bill to establish the Human Rights and Equality Commission.

Transgender and intersex rights in Malta are of the highest standard in the world under the Gender Identity, Gender Expression And Sex Characteristics Act Transgender people can change gender with or without surgery

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

THE NGOS NGOs have a crucial role in defending and promoting LGBT+ rights in their own community, as most of the time they are the defense place and most safe zone for the coomunities.

SLOVENIA

Participants from Slovenia are members of LEGEBITRA, NGO that focuses on programs and activities primarly for LGBTQ+ people. Main aim of organization is to improve situation of LGBTQ+ people in Slovenia and attitude towards that issues. Organization is working on human rights, education, mental, physical and sexual health and also social and systemic change for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression equality. Some of our programs are counseling and self-help for LGBTQ+ people and their friends and relatives, programs of advocacy and awarness-raising and HIV and STI programs. We also have social events and activities for young, not so young and older LGBTQ+ people and families. On 17. may Legebitra will become first LGBTQ+ Youth Centre in Slovenia.

Other organizations in Slovenia, with focus on LGBTQ+ community are: Zavod transfeministiĂąna iniciativa Transakcija (Institute Transfeminist iniciative TransAkcija, focusing on transgender topics), Drustvo DIH ( the DIH Society), Ljubljana Pride (Gay Pride Parade Society), Skuc Magnus and Skuc LL (SKUC-Student Cultural Centre Society), Out in Slovenija (Sports society) and others.

27

LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

CROATIA

Platypus is a LGBTQIA* NGO from Zagreb. Their mission is working on rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups through community building activities. We are a young organitation and we started our activities with Erasmus+ projects and sports activities.

Other organiztions in Croatia, that focus on LGBTIQ community are: - Iskorak (Coming out) – HIV prevention, counseling and HIV testing, Web community (gay.hr), social activities - Gay pride Zagreb – LGBTIQ rights and legal support. Logistic to informal group for organization of Zagreb Pride parade - LORI Rijeka – Lesbian organization – education and counseling - Lezbian organization Kontra Zagreb – LGBTIQ rights - Trans Aid – Rights of trans and intersexual people, counseling - Rainbow families – same sex family rights and adoptin of children - Queer Zagreb (organization Domino) – cultural project and Queer festival - Q sport – informal group – LGBTIQ sports acitivities - Women’s room – Centar for sexual rights - LGBTIQ Faculty of philosophy Zagreb initiative AUT – LGBTQ rights.

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

GREECE

The Greek sending organization is called United Societies of Balkans. It is an NGO that was created in Thessaloniki in 2008. The main goal is the mobility of youth through volunteering an educational programs, both at local an international field.

Greeeks organizations dealing with LGBT+ community are: -Pride Festival - Athens Pride - Thessaloniki Pride - Homosexual Lesbian Community of Greece - Union of Support for Transgender - Lesbian Group Athens - Lesbian Group Thessaloniki - Colour Youth - Good as Youth - LGBTQ Youth Community Athens - LGBTQ Youth Community Thessaloniki - Homophonia

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

BULGARIA

The participants from Bulgaria are part of “I am you peace global”. The organisation was founded in April 2017 and is located in Varna, Bulgaria. It is an NGO interested in cooperation for providing opportunities for social abd intellectual development for people of all ages and social assitance for disadvantaged people.

We are involved in local educational projects and raising awareness projects, as well as social media campaigns on FB and other media. We are also participating actively in several Erasmus+ international projects.

Other organisations working on Human rights projects in Bulgaria are: •

LGBT Deystvie

•

Bulgarian-Helsinki Commmittee

•

Gender alternatives foundation

•

Alliance for protection of violence based on gender

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

ESTONIA

The sending organization from Estonia was Avatud Ühiskond MTÜ, a non-profit organisation devoted to the inclusion of youth and educators from a wide array of socio-economic backgrounds enabling them to become front-runners in civil society insusceptible to any and all animosity towards concurrent societal adversity. We believe that the key to x are youth with bold leadership skills in cooperation with apenetrating insight into non-violent communication, rhetorical argumentation and modern civilization itself. The organisation strives to use methods of non-formal education in orderto further the aforementioned competences in our target group.Our mission is to gain recognition as the choice youth organisation in Estonia with accredited trainers, a multitude of partnerships on an international level and the means to fulfill the potential of every young person that reaches out to us. united in cooperation under a coherent organisation.

The official representative of LGBT citizens in Estonia is Estonian LGBT Association (Eesti LGBT Ühing). The mission of the Eesti LGBT Ühing, as a representative of the Estonian people, is to raise awareness of LGTB topics in the society throught education and advocacy. The association is active in three main areas: - Seminars and educational work to raise awareness in Estonian society.

- Advocacy (e.g. commenting on law proposals).

- Support LGTB people by providing support and growth possibilities.

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

ROMANIA

The 3 Romanian participants came through the Association of Youth with Civic Initiative (Asociatia tinerilor cu Initiativa Civica) from the city of Galati. It is a romanian apolitical youth organisation, whose aims are attratcting young people towards active citizenship and also promoting local, national and cultural values.

The association was established in 2016 by a group of young people in order to contribute to the social abd personal development pf the local youth of Galati.

Its target groups are mostly children, youth placement homes, poor families, old people, the unemployed and other socially disadvantaged groups.

Main Romanian LGBTQAI* organizations are: - LGBT political advocacy groups in Romania; - Accept (organization) - Be An Angel.

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

SPAIN

In Spain there are a lot of organizations fighting against the LGTB discrimination in different geographical levels of influence (Nacional, autonomical and local).

The representatives of Spain in this Erasmus+ come from an organization is called CSU (University Social Center) and is a big place with available space and sevices for all.

CSU includes activities on the way to be in all issues that affect the universitarian life. There are computers, a free radio station, a center of coordination and activity center, student information point, student council, exhibition zone, auditorium, nursing and didactic rooms, a department to do business prectices.

CSU is a common space, to the students community and the society, intent to work out initiatives on information, culture and services in order to complete the education process.

Main Spanish LGBTQIA* organizations are: - AEGAL (The Association of Companies and Professionals for Gays and Lesbians in Madrid and the Madrid Region); - COGAM (Collective of Gays and Lesbians of Madrid; aka LGBT collective of Madrid); - FELGTB (The State Federation of Gays, Lesbians, Transsexuals and Bisexuals).

33

LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

MALTA

SEYF Malta is an association that forms part of the South Europe Youth Forum Network. Our organization main aim is to provide a non-formal educational program for youths to develop leadership and life skills through self-development, challenge and adventure support. It also aims to create initiatives that involves and motivates people to set and participate in cultural and social activities for the benefit of their community and of others. It also promotes intercultural learning, respect, inclusion and tolerance. The organisation’s main target group are youth, especially young people who have few opportunities. Since we also collaborate with other organizations, we deal with people who follow different paths in life, people who have very different cultural backgrounds and this may have influenced them in the way they approach life.

Main Maltese LGBTQIA* organizations are: - We Are; - MGRM – Malta Gay Rights Movement.

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LGBTQIA* rights in Europe

ITALY

SEYF Malta is an association that forms part of the South Europe Youth Forum Network. Our organization main aim is to provide a non-formal educational program for youths to develop leadership and life skills through self-development, challenge and adventure support. It also aims to create initiatives that involves and motivates people to set and participate in cultural and social activities for the benefit of their community and of others. It also promotes intercultural learning, respect, inclusion and tolerance. The organisation’s main target group are youth, especially young people who have few opportunities. Since we also collaborate with other organizations, we deal with people who follow different paths in life, people who have very different cultural backgrounds and this may have influenced them in the way they approach life.

The organizations developed previous activities focused on LGBT* prioritites such as Mind the Gap, an international Erasmus Plus project on LGBTQIA* rights that took take place in Lecce and involved participants from the Euro-Med Area (Italy, France, Malta, Spain, Greece, Tunisia, Israel, Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon).

In the meanwhile, SEYF is promoting the project “All Rights!” supported by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Department for Equal Opportunities with the aim to create awareness and promoting on LGBTQIA* rights at local and international level.

SEYF is strongly working together with LGBT organization of Lecce, which are also supporting Rights Now project: - Agedo Lecce; - LeA - Liberamente e Apertamente; - Say Yes; - Arcigay Salento.

35

Three

A TOOL-BOX FOR LGBTQIA* ACTIVISTS

36

A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

Within the realization of the project Rights Now, besides the comparison of the current situation of LGBTQIA rights in the involved countries, participants and trainers created a set of activities useful for activitist al local level.

The creation of the set of non formal activities followed the practical implementation of non formal activities which directly involved the participants, so that they first tested on themselves the activities, and then were ready to suggest new ones.

On these lines, we created activities that can be used for the promotion of Inclusion, especially towards the LGBTQIA* Community.

There are three types of categories based on the amount of resources, energy and time needed for the execution and organisation of the activities: 1. Accessible 2. Intermediate 3. More demanding

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

DECONSTRUCTING ADVERTISEMENTS

Objectives: to analyse and deconstruct stereotypes, tropes, coding often used in advertisements Group size: 15 people Time: 2 hours Level: Accessible Materials: Newspaper and/or TV advertisements Instructions: A group will be given a collection of various advertisements which they will analyse. They will see how ads depict traditional gender roles and heteronormativity, and suggest how advertisements could be bettered to not exclude minorities and to depict them in a more positive way. It can also be done with traditional songs, fairytales, etc.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

I HAVE A PRIVILEGE

Objectives: to critically analyse and deconstruct the concept of tolerance, positions of power and privileges.

Group size: ~15 people Time: 1 hour Level: Accessible Materials: no specific materials needed Instructions: A group of people will be divided into pairs. In the first part of the game they will give short comments about certain aspects of the other person’s appearance, which they tolerate. For example: “I am okay with you having a black shirt” or “I tolerate that you have your hair in a ponytail”. The partner has to reply with “thank you”. Then the roles will be reversed so both partners can get the chance to make comments. In the second part of the game they will give a degrading observation and follow it with a tolerating comment.

For example: “Despite you having cheap trousers, you can still be a good person.” of “Even though you have dirty hair, I am still okay with you”.

The other partner again has to reply with “thank you” and roles will be reversed.

The participants have to assess their feelings during both parts of the exercise and discuss later, how these comments made them feel.

The exercise challenges the concept of tolerance and makes participants realise how statements such as “Even though you are gay, you may still be a good person” can be hurtful.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

LABELLING PEOPLE

Objectives: to show that stereotypes about the same identities are not universal.

Group size: small groups of 5 Time: 20 minutes Level: Accessible Materials: paper markers and scissors or paper and a printer Instructions: Material preparations (done by the organisers, before the activity): on small pieces of paper we write or print out, 20 different adjectives for each group, for example: “Loud, passive, feminine, masculine, possessive, weird, perverted, rude, weak, strong, complex, emotional, normal, silent, active, attention seeker, stylish, confused, fun�.

On additional 4 pieces of paper we write/print out different identities (for example lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) for each group. Or another way to do this activity is to print out silhouettes of different people (4 for each group).

Then the organisers divide participants in smaller groups and give the instructions: Each group receives 20 adjectives and 4 identities/silhouettes and is told to assign 5 adjectives to each of the identities/silhouettes. When they are all finished (after 5 - 10 minutes) they share their results. We keep track of adjectives that were repeated.

Debriefing: 1.

Have you all assigned the same stereotypes to the same identities?

40

A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

2.

Are stereotypes universal?

3.

Do you think these stereotypes are offensive?

4.

Why do we use them?

5.

How can we eliminate them?

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

GUESS WHO?

Objectives: to show that gender identity and gender expressions are not as connected as they may appear Group size: small groups of 5, at least 15 people Time: 20 minutes Level: Accessible Materials: paper, markers and pens or paper, a printer and pens Instructions: We divide participants into small groups of 5 (at least 3 groups) and give each of the participants a piece of paper and ask them to answer 5 questions: •

how would you describe your fashion sense?

•

what music do you listen to?

•

What are your hobbies and interests?

•

How would you describe your current mood?

•

What’s your dream occupation?

We collect the answered papers and distribute them to a different group. Each one of the participants is told to read one of the papers and, on the back of the paper, write that gender that they assume the author of the paper is. Then we again collect the papers and distribute them back to their original owners. We ask the participants to raise their hands if their assumed gender does not match their gender identity.

Debriefing: 1. Assuming that the majority of participants only used male/female: Why did we

42

A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

only use this two identities, do you know about others?

2. What did you base your decisions on?

3. Does your gender identity necessarily determine the way you express yourself?

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

STORYTELLING

Objectives: To consider what constitutes stereotypical thinking, to share different points of view, to realise the sense of various life opportunities and how they can be used.

Group size: Minimum 15 participants Time: 30 minutes Level: Accessible Materials: Sheets of paper, pens.

Instructions: Split the group into 3 or 4 teams (depending on the number of participants). Give each group a story with a main character who is part of a discriminated (minority) group.

The story should be missing the end. Every group needs to have a different story, so we can deal with different types of discrimination : The first group could have a story about an ethnic minority, the second group could have a story about a refugee, the third group can have a story about a transgender person, the fourth could have a story about an activist woman etc.

Each one of the participants in each of the groups is asked to think and write an end to the story that is given to the group. After 30 minutes every group discusses the different ends of the same story.

Debriefing: 1. Why do you think your story should end this way?

2. Do you think it could end completely differently?

3. In what ways did you choose to approach the story?

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

mine us as people ?

6. Do you think we can change the “route� of our life despite being discriminated and thus having less opportunities ?

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

UNBOXING PEOPLE

Objectives: To enhance the realisation that people can’t be put in “boxes”. To consider the stereotypes that are inevitably linked to certain marginalized groups of people.

Group size: Minimum 10 participants Time: 30 minutes Level: Accessible Materials: Chalks.

Instructions: Gather the group of people in the street or in a big room. Draw certain boxes with chalk on the floor. The number of the boxes should be equal to the number of participants. Inside every box write an adjective that represents a stereotype.Give every person a character and ask them to step in the box they think would be more appropriate to describe their character. For example we have 10 characters and 10 stereotypical adjectives of those particular characters : Woman/emotional, Man/dominant, Feminist/angry , Muslim/ extremist, Person of colour/dangerous , Activist/attention seeker, Transgender/weird, Bisexual/confused, Gay/happy, Straight/Right.

Debriefing: 1. Why did you step in that particular box ?

2. Do you think your character can also have different qualities ?

3. Why do you think we put people in boxes ?

4. Do you think it would be better if the boxes were linked instead of seperated?

5. How can that happen in terms of the society ?

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

FREE MOVIE SCREENING + DISCUSSION

Objectives: to question the visibility of LGBT characters in movies Group size: no limitations, it may depends on the room of the screening and number of facilitators Time: 1-3 hours, depending on the length of the movie Level: intermediate Materials: A room, preferably in a cinema; a LGBT* movie; popcorn Instructions: People are invited to a free movie screening, the topic of the movie is not disclosed in the advertisement for the screening. The general public can attend the screening and will find out in the theatre that it is a movie with LGBT characters. It can be in a larger format, showing a documentary or a feature film, or in a shorter setting, showing a short movie. After the movie a discussion with local LGBT organisation or the filmmakers will take place, analysing the reactions and impressions that the audience had.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

MIGRANTS/REFUGEES VISIBILITY PICNIC

Objectives: For informing families and locals about multiculturality of our society, to increase acceptance and empathy and especially to teach kids about the diversity in the society Group size: 20-100 people / different ages Time: 6 - 6 hours Level: intermediate Materials: municipalities permissions (if in a public garden/space), people/volunteers, food Instructions: An open air event can attract more people of different ages, especially families with kids. This project will be split in 3 parts: non-formal education within workshops/games, speeches of the people about migration and how we can be involved in eliminating hate. Volunteers in the picnic will tell to people their own stories and experiences of moving from their original country, their integration and problems they experienced. Communication and information are the goals that we want to achieve.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

A FLASH MOB TO RAISE VISIBILITY

Objectives: To introduce an idea (for example tolerance) and to raise visibility Group size: 10-30 dancers Time: 5 minutes for dancing, 30 minutes for questions and answers.

Level: more demanding Materials: t-shirts with a message for dancers, speakers, camera and flyers Instructions: Representatives of different minorities, members of an organisation or people who are informed on the subject (for example tolerance) create a dancing routine and print out T-shirts with a slogan (for example”Be tolerant”).

They then go to a public place and perform the number dancing to music that is coming out of speakers. Once the dancers have people’s attention, they will invited them to join them and - after the performance is over - to ask for further information about the cause that they are fighting for. If they also created flyers, the hand them out to people participating. The performance is also filmed with a camera, so it can be uploaded online and even more people can see it.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

VIDEO ON HUMAN RIGHTS EVOLUTION

Objectives: To infom people about human rights and create a discussion on that topic in schools Group size: max 30 person, but the video can be shared with larger audience online Time: preliminary preparations + 10-15 mins + discussion (up to 1 hour) Level: more demanding Materials: camera, cameraman, money, video material (speeches, demonstrations, protests...), montage, influencers Instructions: The organisers of the event/activity make a video about the evolution of human rights in their country based on the changing history of laws in that country.

The video is presented to an audience. After the introduction and the viewing some influencers/activists will give their opinion on that topic, how they see that evolution and what we can do next. The same question will be given to create discussions in classes. This video will also be posted on youtube by an important Human rights organisation. We will also invite everyone to share it on their social media to reach an even bigger audience.

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A tool-box for LGBTQIA* activists

RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT HIV THROUGH STREETWORK

Objectives: to inform people on the streets, speaking directly with citizens about HIV awareness, protection and prevention Group size: as many people as possible Time: 4-8 hours Level: more demanding Materials: tablets, flyers, gifts, sponsors/connection with HIV institutions, designers for flyers Instructions: to create a questionnaire about HIV on the tablets, as this methods is more creative and attractive to people. Before answering the persons need to mention their age, gender, nationality. Whoever participates receives an informative flyer with the necessary information regarding HIV, condoms and lube. The gifts are for everyone no matter the correctness of their answers.

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Five

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Acknowledgments

This publication was edited by Vincenzo Lotito, Sandro Salvatore Accogli and Marija Borg Mifsud.

At first, we would like so say a big thank you to all the participants and the sending organizations which helped, supported and built up the project We wish to thank the Italian National Agency in charge for the implementation of the Erasmus Plus Programme in Italy (Agenzia Nazionale per i Giovani) which, has given us the opportunity to gather people around a delicate topic and belived that this issue deserved an opportunity to be developed and implemented.

We wish to thank our local partners LeA - Liberamente e Apertamente, Arcigay Salento, Say YES, RA.NE. Rainbow Network and Agedo Lecce that on one side helped us in sharing the Italian situation on LGBTQIA* rights and on the other side are always prone to cooperate a build common actions.

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Contacts:

SEYF - South Europe Youth Forum

www.seyf.eu

@ info@seyf.eu @seyf.lecce @seyf_lecce @seyf_italy

RIGHTS NOW EXPLORING AND PROMOTING CIVIL RIGHTS IN EUROPE by SEYF SEYF - South Europe Youth Forum is an international network of youth NGOs for the development of projects and activities through a participatory approach. SEYF aims at supporting young revolutions and to produce positive change in the society and works for the social inclusion of young people in disadvantage, in order to let them reach more opportunities in the competitive world of work.

SEYF promotes and organizes seminars, training courses, youth exchanges, supports European Voluntary Service and creates events, Festivals and Campaigns to provide an easier access of young people to participate youth initiatives and society.

www.seyf.eu