How businesses engage with LGBTI inclusion has changed enormously in the last decade. Today, more businesses actively seek to work together with civil society organisations, while these may find new allies in the private sector. If you are part of an LGBTI group and are considering to collaborate with companies as Pride season kicks off, this blog and our Frontline podcast mini-series are for you.

ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map of the legal situation for LGBTI people in Europe has a brand-new category: Intersex Bodily Integrity. It’s an essential expansion, because in across Europe and Central Asia, intersex people, and especially children, are still at risk. — In a world where the overwhelming majority of people and governments have limited or no understanding of variations of sex characteristics, the existence of intersex people and their bodies is barely recognised. But intersex people, that is people who are born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy different from what…

To mark IDAHOBIT on May 17, ILGA-Europe and UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, will host an event focusing on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in and from Ukraine. Here, our Executive Director, Evelyne Paradis speaks to UNAIDS about the particular challenges facing LGBTIQ+ people caught up in war. — Hi Evelyne, how do humanitarian crises particularly affect LGBTI people? Humanitarian crises affect everybody, however, some communities sometimes need a targeted response because of pre-existing vulnerabilities. These particular vulnerabilities make people feel unsafe when dealing with humanitarian organisations providing safe shelter, basic necessities food and medical aid. Not knowing if they will be treated without discrimination, simply welcomed and be…

Our brand new Rainbow Map shows steps forward in LGBTI rights in several countries, spelling out that equality is at the core of democracy in Europe. But while some are pushing forward, others continue to instrumentalise LGBTI discrimination to erode freedom. — ILGA-Europe’s 2022 Rainbow Map, which ranks the legal and policy situation of LGBTI people in 49 countries, shows that a new dynamic has appeared in the last 12 months to fill in the gaps that exist around LGBTI equality, and push standards at a time when democracy in the region…

Like all members of the LGBTI community who have either remained in Ukraine, or are on the move to a safer place, lesbians are facing specific challenges and needs. This Lesbian Visibility Week, we’re learning more. — “When something goes wrong, we roll up our sleeves and get things done,” says Dragana Todorovic, board member of EL*C, otherwise known as Eurocentralasian Lesbian Community. Since the war in Ukraine erupted EL*C, have set up safe houses at the Polish border, relocated refugees across Europe and much more. But…

Here’s our latest update on what’s happening for LGBTI people either staying in or fleeing Ukraine, the ways we’re working to help, and how you can urgently help too. — Shelters for LGBTI people in Ukraine running out of necessities Since the start of the war, many shelters that have been established by local activists in different parts of Ukraine for LGBTI people who have chosen to stay for personal reasons or are unable to leave. Two months after the Russian invasion began, people are becoming overstretched as those running…

It’s March 31, Trans Day of Visibility. To mark this day, at ILGA-Europe we want to commend the amazing work trans-led organisations are doing as the war in Ukraine continues, and tell you about the current needs of trans communities staying or leaving the country. — After over a month of war, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has devastated several cities and caused the displacement of almost four million people and counting. Trans people are among those affected: there are trans women who have tried to leave but couldn’t due to the male gender marker in their…

The war is not going to be a short-term situation for vulnerable people in Ukraine, Russia, and countries in Europe and Central Asia that are and will be hosting displaced people. To support the work of LGBTI activists and organisations in Ukraine, Russia and other affected countries as the war of Putin continues, ILGA-Europe has developed a three-part plan. — It’s been more than a month since Putin invaded Ukraine. At ILGA-Europe we are identifying the multiple and multi-layered needs across the region prompted by the war within the LGBTI communities in Ukraine, Russia and neighbouring countries like Poland, Romania, Belarus, Moldova or Hungary.

Right now, as the war on Ukraine escalates, democracy, human rights and equality matter more than ever in Europe. In our submission to the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report, we’ve identified key trends in the systematic attacks on the rights of LGBTI people across EU member states. — With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is also a fundamental attack on democracy and freedom, we need to be working harder than ever to protect human rights and equality in Europe. The EU’s Rule of Law mechanism is one way in which this can be done. It can…