Breakout Sessions at the #SaferToBeMe Conference

This session looks closely at the myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings of what I call the 3Ms that continue to shape how LGBTQI+ people are viewed and treated in many parts of the world. These beliefs often seem like common knowledge, cultural values, or even scientific fact. But in reality, they are rooted in misinformation, fear, and political strategy. We’ll examine three core myths: that being LGBTQI+ is not normal, that it can or should be changed, and that it is dangerous to society. We'll trace where these ideas come from, why they persist, and how they are used sometimes quietly, sometimes aggressively to justify discrimination, violence, and exclusion. We’ll also explore the systems and authorities that help keep these myths in place: from governments and religious institutions to education and media. Rather than only presenting information, this session will also focus on how these ideas can be unlearnt. We'll explore how storytelling, strategic communication, and persistent advocacy have helped shift public understanding. This session is meant for anyone interested in challenging the harmful narratives that surround LGBTQI+ communities whether in their work, their organising, or their day-to-day conversations.

Trans people are facing an unprecedented amount of abuse, attention, and acrimony. The harm this is causing is not yet fully known, yet the community has had to shelve progress in order to prioritise survival. In our current system - a dystopian version of our lives - trans people have become a political punchbag, a byword for everything woke, something society has been conditioned to hate. Yet this is nothing new, it is a timeline we have seen play out time and time again. Why are trans people so often the face of hatred and dismissal? Trans people are not the reason that the economy is in a poor position. Trans people are not a danger to society. Trans people are not an issue, full stop. This presentation will show the ways transphobia is a cyclical event born out of fear, distraction, and eugenic ideology. Combining historical examples of transphobia, the ripple effect this caused, the surprising unified response, and show this is a cycle we should be aiming to disrupt and brealso aims to highlight that the struggle of trans people does not need to be just a burden for trans people. Highlighting the observation of the course of history, inaction will lead to further devastation for all marginalised folks, as in 2025 progress is not a linear thing. This presentation aims to cut through this noise and create a clear pathway. Building on a climate of misinformation, trans panic, political hostility, and fake news, this presentation will move the needle in favour of trans people. By utilising allyship & empathy, and connecting it with trans history, this presentation will create much-needed counter perspectives.

This session explores how grassroots activism and community-led approaches can challenge systemic inequalities and drive inclusive health systems reform for LGBTQI+ populations locally, nationally, and globally. Drawing on two decades of experience across public health, advocacy, and systems transformation from community resilience in Greater Manchester to global health diplomacy with international bodies this session traces how power, populism, and politics have been weaponised against LGBTQI+ people and how we resist. Through storytelling, policy reflection, and case examples from the UK, Southern Africa, and Europe, we will unpack how local voices can influence global policy, even amidst shrinking civic space, backlash, and austerity. Participants will learn how queer-led research, inclusive commissioning, and participatory evaluation frameworks can become tools of resistance and change. This session will not just expose the harm of systemic neglect, it will highlight tangible, effective, responses: from challenging erasure in data to reimagining community engagement in health system design. Attendees will leave with practical takeaways on building alliances, creating sustainable change within hostile environments, and re-centring lived experience in decision-making. Presented accessibly, this session is ideal for activists, service providers, policymakers, and community organisers committed to health equity, social justice, and dismantling oppressive systems wherever they operate, from the local to the global.

In 2019, our school transitioned from hosting occasional LGBTQIA+ events to establishing a weekly Pride Club, designed to create a safe space. The club quickly grew, empowering students aged 11-18 and fostering a more inclusive environment across the school. Today, we see a profound transformation in how our school and community approach diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ identities. Inspired by a village primary school, we pursued the Rainbow Flag Award. This initiative helped us embrace the LGBTQIA+ community and integrate it into the school’s identity. Our presentation, led by Pride Club members, will explore the club's growth and far-reaching impact, emphasising the importance of allyship, role models, and empowerment in rural areas. At the core of our Pride Clubs development has been a commitment to creating a space where all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity feel seen, heard, and valued. With help from BOOST and LGBTQIA+ role models, we havtheir authentic selves. These friends have shown our students that they can thrive and succeed, inspiring them to live openly and proudly in their communities.As Pride Club expanded, we realised that promoting inclusivity is about more than providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Its about building a community of allies. Over time, students from all backgrounds have joined the club, participating in initiatives that support the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether through hosting events or encouraging positive classroom discussions, allies have played a key role in promoting equity within our school and rural area. Though challenges remain in promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility and acceptance in our rural setting, the resilience of our students and staff has kept us moving forward. Empowerment comes through education, dialogue, and perseverance, and we believe that supporting young people in rural areas makes a lasting difference in their lives.

Language and labels have shaped how we understand sexuality and gender throughout history to the present day. This is most obviously witnessed by the ever-lengthening initialism 'LGBTIQ+' (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Questioning /Queer, plus), which has been lengthened by some to the staggering twelve character super-initialism ‘LGBTQQIP2SAA’, a sort of alphabetical version of the rainbow flag, which as one of the original symbols of LGBTQ+ inclusion, has also continued to evolve over recent years in its attempt to visually symbolise the entire queer community in a single design. In history, culture, politics, education and modern social and scientific studies, the ever-evolving use of acronyms to try to wield together a diverse and sometimes conflicting set of identities raises many questions. At a time of populism, the rise of new homophobia and transphobia, and rollback on diversity programmes, we ask whether these terms serve our interests given differences in generational and global preferences, and situational alternatives such as SOGIESC, MSM and Queer. We ask how practical these labels are, what risk of exclusion they create, and whether there is some validity to what critics see as inappropriate and excessive usage. The presentation cannot provide answers to all these complex issues but aims to provoke discussion, summarise how we arrived here.

How do you speak about queerness in places where there’s no word for it in the local language and where the words that do exist are often seen as foreign, even threatening? In South Asia, queerness has long existed in many forms through folk traditions, community roles like the hijra, and deeply personal stories passed through generations. But much of today’s language and education around LGBTQ+ rights comes from Western frameworks. This disconnect often makes local communities feel like queerness is something imported, not something rooted in their own history and culture. This session will explore how queer educators and activists across South Asia especially in India are challenging this idea by reclaiming queer stories through local languages, indigenous knowledge, and cultural memory. It draws on field research with organizations working in rural and urban communities ts of South Asian queer lives. Together, well look at how group-based learning spaces like peer-led classrooms, community gatherings, and online collectives are reshaping how queerness is taught and understood. These spaces don’t just resist erasure; they create belonging. This session is for anyone interested in how education can be a tool of resistance, how decolonization shows up in everyday language, and how South Asian communities are creating new pathways for queer activism.

This paper explores how rising populist regimes in Latin America are reshaping the landscape of HIV services, disproportionately impacting LGBTQI+ communities. Amid economic austerity and shifting political priorities, funding for HIV prevention and treatment programs has been slashed, often under ideological agendas that marginalize queer and trans lives. Focusing on Brazil under Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico under Andrés Manuel López Obrador, this study investigates how these leaders have deprioritized HIV services through both budget cuts and the erasure of LGBTQI+ narratives from public health campaigns. While Brazil has seen a direct rollback of federal support and anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric from political leaders, Mexico presents a more complex picture where economic populism coexists with uneven engagement on queer health. Through analysis of policy documents, media discourse, and activist responses, this paper argues that HIV care is not just a public health issue, but a political battle with lived impacts of these shifts, particularly on trans women and gay men, the paper highlights how health becomes a site where power, populism, and queer survival intersect and where resistance is urgent.

What happens when populist leaders and anti-rights groups use LGBTQ+ language not to protect us, but to take our rights away? In this session, we expose a growing political strategy: the systematic hijacking of LGBTQ+ narratives by populist actors to push regressive agendas. These actors frame themselves as defenders of human rights while using our words like freedom, care, or diversityto justify policy rollbacks, institutional infiltration, and the erasure of our identities. We focus on a case study from Argentina, where a group of parents aligned with anti-rights discourse aimed they were protecting their children from so-called gender conversion by LGBTQ+ activists. This fabricated narrative gained institutional support and was later echoed in a presidential decree that restricted trans minors access to gender recognition. The same actors were publicly celebrated for defending human rights. Through this case, we explore the cultural control, narrative inversion, and legal dismantling of progress. Participants will engage with real examples and reflect on how these tactics appear globally, beyond Argentina. This workshop is for those who want to understand how symbolic violence precedes legal and social regression and how to resist it. Together, we will discuss strategies to recognize, disrupt, and reclaim our narratives through activism, memory, policy, and communication.

Clinical psychologist view: Dr Heather Wood is a Clinical Psychologist and previously worked at the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service for over 10 years. She was one of the Clinical Leads within the service that provided Trans Healthcare to young gender diverse people. This included access to Puberty Blockers and Gender Affirming Hormones via NHS Endocrinology Services. However, following the publication of the highly flawed Cass Report, NHS England made a politically influenced decision to close the GIDS Services. And the new services designed by NHS England and Hilary Cass are not fit for purpose and are denying access to Hormone Blockers and Gender Affirming Hormones as recognised treatments for young people in the UK. They are proposing a highly unethical research project in relation to Puberty Blockers that again, is not fit for purpose. Dr Wood aims to shine a light on these issues and to highlight ways that we can push back against these restrictions in Trans Healthcare that are deeply damaging to Trans Youth in the UK.

Join The Mind Bender, Daniel Browne, for this informative, engaging, and empowering talk on preserving and protecting LGBTQ+ people's mental health in the face of increasing hate and hostility globally. It's a sad fact that mental health issues are more prevalent among LGBTQ+ people, but why is that and how can the mental health crisis in our communities be solved? Come with an open mind, ideas and questions, as your voice matters in this discussion. Learn some useful techniques for supporting your own mental health, and hear about what can be done worldwide to get through the current LGBTQ+ mental health crisis.

As Gen Z LGBTQ+ individuals transition into adulthood, they face the challenges of entering the workforce, managing responsibilities, and shaping their futures all made more complex by a rise in hostile identity politics in an increasingly uncertain world. This session will offer a space to explore how young queer adults can thrive in the face of societal, economic, and political pressures. We’ll discuss the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ Gen Z, from workplace inclusion and financial independence to mental well-being and community support. Participants will also learn strategies for resilience, self-advocacy, and balancing personal and professional growth with activism. Participants will gain practical insight into the lives and experiences of Gen-z, how to better attract and retain young adults in the workplace.

In a world where languages are always evolving and diversifying, authoritarian regimes in the Arab World have spent a lot of effort to silence the voices of queer people living in the region, and they dictate what can be said and what can't be. Politically it is something prevalent in official spaces to prevent opportunities to queer people to speak their minds or demand their rights. We can also see this with the pinkwashing happening in Palestine by the Israeli Occupation Forces. Language is power, and power means visibility. In this talk, Moka will draw attention to the ever-evolving terms and speech used by Arab queers, and how language can be used as a tool of resistance against fascism in public and private spaces.

In 2018, Pakistan passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a landmark law granting transgender individuals the right to self-identify and access legal protections. However, in 2020, a petition was filed in the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) challenging the Act, arguing that it was incompatible with Islamic principles. The case has reignited a national debate on the intersection of Shariah law, gender identity and human rights in a Muslim-majority country. This session will examine how Shariah law is being used to challenge transgender identity and expression in Pakistan, exploring: The key arguments of the petition against the 2018 Act, including concerns over self-identification and the perceived recognition of sexual minorities. The counter arguments from Islamic scholars and legal experts who support transgender rights within an Islamic framework. The role of Pakistan’s parallel legal system (civil vs. Shariah law) in shaping the rights of transgender individuals, Islamic rulings, including fatwas from Tantawi and Khomeini, as well as the legal precedent set by Malaysia’s court ruling decriminalising gender expression. The session will also provide insights into how transgender activists in Pakistan are navigating this legal and religious landscape, working to protect their rights within an Islamic framework while countering misinformation. Whether you are a legal expert, activist, policymaker, or simply interested in the complexities of religion, law, and gender identity, this session will offer a thought-provoking and balanced discussion.

Humanitarian and development organisations love to talk about inclusion and inclusive programming, but what does this actually mean? This session seeks to explore a few key questions that need to be answered before humanitarian responses can become more inclusive of LGBTQ+ populations, including: What is an inclusive humanitarian response? What is the role of international organisations (such as the UN and larger humanitarian organisations) in realising an inclusive humanitarian response? What do these organisations and their staff need to know about LGBTQ+ rights, capacities, and strengths in order to be true allies?

Across the globe, LGBTQI+ communities are increasingly being targeted by disinformation - false or misleading information spread deliberately to harm. Politicians and other powerful actors are using online platforms to push harmful narratives that paint LGBTQI+ people, especially trans people, as a threat to society, especially during electoral cycles. These attacks are rarely random they often follow clear patterns and are part of a broader strategy to divide communities, gain political support, and roll back our rights. This session will unpack how identity-based disinformation operates, its origins, and its modes of dissemination. It will particularly emphasise how digital platforms contribute to this issue and how current regulations remain inadequate to address it. We’ll examine real-world examples from countries such as Brazil, Poland, and the UK, and explore how disinformation campaigns cross borders often utilising the same narratives, tactics, imagery, and social media and does not focus solely on the problem, it’s also about taking action. Participants will engage in a hands-on activity to decode disinformation posts and learn how to identify the signs of coordinated attacks. Together, we'll discuss how communities are pushing back: by telling our own stories, building cross-border solidarity, and demanding better protections from the tech community.

The Patient and the Provider: the Peer Support Experience in a Gender Clinic: in a healthcare system often shaped without us, there is an emerging force of trans people working within NHS gender services, bringing lived experience to the forefront of healthcare. This talk is a celebration and a call to attention; a deep dive into what it means to be both a provider and a recipient of gender-affirming care in a system that is still learning how to record us. We will explore the unique perspective of trans staff working in the Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service (NRGDS), an NHS commissioned gender identity clinic in the north of England - ranging from different points in staff's own treatment and care to the impact of lived experience regarding the delivery of care and the culture of the service. We will also reflect on what it is like to be a trans peer supporter working in a mental health organisation and the impact of trans employees in a wider context.

As a psychologist in the UK, I work closely with trans and non-binary individuals facing escalating their safety. The tightening restrictions and rising hostility toward trans lives mirror broader global patterns of eroding human rights. Through my clinical practice, I see therapy as more than a mental health service it is an act of solidarity, a space where individuals can process both personal and societal struggles, and a tool for resistance against dehumanisation. By weaving my personal experiences with my professional practice, this paper will highlight the crucial role of therapy as a space of safety, resilience, and solidarity, while also offering insights into how to choose the right therapist and what to look for in therapy within the context of social threats to humanity.

This paper will trace the types and pathways of LGBTQ+ student activism in the last two decades, using UK Higher Education (HE) as a case study, with its rich, but rocky history in this arena, stemming back to the founding of The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1970. Exploring the more recent history of LGBTQ+ student mobilisation will show that UK HEI providers, students unions and their societies are often represented as hotbeds of activism (Van Dyke, 1998) as an adverse set of acts. Populist media and right-wing think tanks (Policy Exchange, 2019) position such activism as cultural socialist, chilling free speech and illiberal in nature. LGBTQ+ mobilisation in the university setting is therefore under increased scrutiny. How might we learn lessons from student-led LGBTQ+ movements in HE, to counter such criticism and bolster grassroots impact? Changes in institutional and sector governance through to governance theory (Taylor, 1989) or resource mobilisation will be drawn on to understand how to support and sustain the campaigning of student union liberation officers and recognised student societies. However, examining LGBTQ+ student protest in practice will shed light on complex and sometimes factional features of LGBTQ+ student mobilisation, and how a range of (re)sources and viewpoints might be productively brought together to advance the spectrum of LGBTQ+ equalities. This will include: •how conciliatory, institutional models of influence and social change may be used to advance LGBTQ+ rights, navigating universities and students’ unions own governance structures. •bridging staff and student understanding, including in relation to the rights and responsibilities of academic freedom of staff •the power of straight-gay alliances around activism •building capacity and understanding complexity through constructive crossovers with other campaigns and characteristics, including anti-racism.

Politics, Power, and the Lived Realities of LGBTQ+ People in Kurdistan: the theme of this conference—Power, Politics, and Populism—asks us to reflect not only on how systems govern, but on how those systems include or exclude, protect or punish. And when it comes to LGBTQ+ individuals in Kurdistan, the truth is difficult but undeniable: power has been used to erase us, politics has ignored us, and populism has targeted us. In this talk, Abbas will paint a vivid picture of the situation in Kurdistan where, just last year, the Kurdish Parliament proposed a bill that would effectively criminalize any expression of LGBTQ+ identity. They claimed it was to protect “Kurdish values.” But in reality, it was a political weapon. It sought to ban LGBTQ+ organisations, censor media, block education, and silence advocacy. It attempted to legislate the LGBTQ+ communities’ erasure.

Here in Kenya, the LGBTQ2+ community in the rural areas have remained in the closet for fear of discrimination, the African traditions dictates that we can only be male and female. many intersex persons were killed at birth because they believed they were bad omen to the family. however, due to technology through social media, the LGBTQ2+ community in the rural areas have risen to demand their spaces which has been met by strong opposition from the church and the traditional leaders. I shall be looking at the challenges they face being born and raised in the rural areas and their resilience to exist in a hostile environment.

Shifts in power, populism and politics, which cause LGBTQI+ people to feel unsafe, may lead to increased forced migration. Forced migration, among other factors, contributes to a higher likelihood that LGBTQI+ people will be targeted and trafficked, when compared with cis-gender and heterosexual people. This session will begin with an overview of this context, as well as explaining the sexual exploitation and specific harms that LGBTQI+ victims of trafficking often encounter. However, LGBTQI+ human trafficking victims are little discussed in international human rights law and they receive barely, if any, reparations for violations of their human rights. Therefore, this session seeks to contribute to a gap in research for victims of human trafficking. Reparations-work for all victims of trafficking is not yet fully developed, and discussions centred on reparations for minorities within the overall victim-group are rarer still. For most victims of trafficking, if remedy is given at all, it is solely compensatory. This session will explore the different forms that reparation can take, which spans beyond compensation. I will describe an alternative reparative framework that is tailored to the experiences of LGBTQI+ victims of trafficking. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the first international protocol for human trafficking victims, the Palermo Protocol. In this session, I will advocate for an amendment to that protocol, to reflect the progress in reparations-work in the intervening years. Such an amendment will benefit all trafficking victims, as well as one of the most marginalised victim groups: LGBTQI+ victims of human trafficking.

The proliferation of anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation on social media platforms has become a pressing concern, with grave real-life consequences for LGBTQ+ individuals and campaigners across the world - derailing bills, shifting elections and inciting violence. In response, this session will explore the use of vertical video formats on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to counter this trend. Enrique Anarte, a journalist and content creator covering queer rights across the world, will show how vertical video and audience engagement on such platforms can be harnessed to create low-budget, impactful fact-based content capable of debunking misleading narratives online. Through a combination of case studies, brief interactive exercises, and expert insights, attendees whether they are academics, journalists, influencers, local charities or international non-profits - will learn how to: -Use fact-checking and pre-bunking as part of their content strategy -Create engaging video content that resonates -Identify opportunities to produce organic content that can navigate the algorithm effectively and maximise the social impact of their LGBTQ+ advocacy or reporting Participants will walk away from this session knowing that the fight against misinformation can be won if we learn to speak to those who are outside our echo chamber.

I demand dignity, a declaration of existence, and a call for change. As a Black, disabled lesbian, my very identity exists at the intersection of multiple marginalisations. Each part of who I am has had to fight for visibility, acceptance, and protection. Yet, navigating the world with pride is made even more complex when your own family, rooted in religious tradition, cannot fully see or embrace your truth. My partner, who brings me joy, comfort, and love, remains invisible at family gatherings, conversations, and prayers. I choose not to believe this is out of malice, but because some truths feel too heavy for others to carry. Disability adds another layer, often overlooked. It influences how I move through spaces, how people perceive my strength, and how society underestimates my capacity. Yet in spite of this, I persist. I lead, I love, I show up for myself and for others who haven’t yet found the words or the safety to be fully seen. In telling my story, I aim not to centre struggle, but to spotlight resistance and more importantly, the power of representation. When people like me are visible, others begin to believe that they, too, can exist boldly and beautifully. #SaferToBeMe is a vision a world where being all of who we are is not radical or brave, just normal. My hope for the future is simple but revolutionary: that one day, young people who share my identities won’t have to explain, defend, or hide who they are. That families of faith will learn that love doesn't need conditions. That the world will not only make space, but offer welcome. And that one day soon, it will truly be safer for all of us.

The session will demonstrate the power of effectively collecting data on sexual orientation and trans identities, how that can elevate our ability to communicate community experiences, and how we can use this to influence policy makers. The talk will focus on specific examples, including the 2021 England & Wales Census, as well LGBT Foundation's on data collection within its wellbeing services. This will be tied together with some suggestions for effective story-telling and persuasion techniques when talking to public policy decision makers.

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviours used to dominate, manipulate, and isolate a partner. While often linked to heterosexual relationships, it is just as present in relationships between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people yet it remains widely misunderstood. This session takes a 360-degree approach to coercive control, exploring the experiences of those who are subjected to it, those who use it, and the people who provide support. We will break down how power and control can manifest in LGBTQIA+ relationships, including unique factors such as identity-based abuse, community isolation, and barriers to seeking help. We will also examine how professionals such as therapists, advocates, and support workers can respond in ways that are inclusive and effective. Many existing frameworks are built around heterosexual and gender-conforming experiences, leaving gaps in understanding and care. This session will highlight ways to close those gaps through insights and discussion; attendees will leave with a deeper awareness of how coercive control operates in LGBTQIA+ relationships and how communities and services can better support everyone affected.

Our presentation will be about the tension between the advances in progressive legislation and how they do not always materialise into the effective improvement of the lived experiences of LGBTTTIQA+ people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Queer, Asexual). In previous years, the Mexican state has adopted increasingly more progressive legislation to protect LGBTTTIQA+ citizens, like the 2024 criminalisation of so-called conversion therapies and prohibition of employment discrimination. However, violence against sexual and gender minorities is pervasive, with Mexico being the second country in the world with the most trans people murdered. To understand this contradiction between legislation and social reality, we undertook an online survey with 20,000 LGBTTTIQA+ individuals living in Mexico to comprehend their experiences of violence in the country. The results show that despite progressive laws, Mexican social institutions, such as education and healthcare, are discriminatory, violently denying the rights of LGBTTTIQA+ individuals. The vast majority of these individuals who have been subjected to violence do not report it to authorities due to a lack of trust in Mexican security forces, which reinforces a culture of impunity. These results can inform a wider debate on how countries guarantee that their progressive laws regarding LGBTTTIQA+ rights are not simply figurative but have real-life impacts in ameliorating their lives and rights.

In Ghana, intersex people, those born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female faces widespread erasure. This erasure happens in many ways. Mostly, our bodies are pathologised, our stories go untold and our identities are denied legal and social recognition. In most public health, policy and education systems, intersex people are invisible. We are often grouped in with other identities or left out entirely. This session will unpack how power, politics and colonial influence continue to shape this silence. Medical practices rooted in shame and secrecy often lead to harmful surgeries on intersex children without consent. Religious and cultural beliefs label intersex people as abnormal, a curse or Taboos pushing families to hide or reject us. The legal system offers no protection and, in some cases, they cause severe harm by ignoring our rights entirely. I will draw on both personal experience and community knowledge to bring these issues to light. But this talk is not just about harm, it’s about resistance. I will spotlight how intersex people in Ghana are building networks such as Key Watch Ghana to claim space and raising awareness in bold and creative ways. Youth led advocacy, community storytelling and global solidarity are helping to push back against the forces that try to keep us silent. My goal is to make this session a space for learning, unlearning and connecting. Whether you know a lot about intersex issues or very little, this talk will provide a grounded human perspective on what it means to exist, resist and speak out in a world that often refuses to see us.

The European Parliament is the beating democratic heart of the sprawling, multifaceted organism that is the EU. Every five years, the bloc’s 450 million citizens are asked to vote on the 720 politicians who will become Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). So it’s a big deal, particularly for LGBTQ+ populations. Given their nationalistic leanings, Eurosceptism is in the DNA of the far-right. Historically, most Populist or Radical Right (PRR) parties campaigned to leave the bloc. In recent years, however, many have changed tack, and have instead sought to subvert the institution from within rather than leave. Hence authoritarian leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Oban now campaigning on the slogan Occupy Brussels. In the 2024 elections, public discontent across Europe played into the PRRs' hands. Their vote share increased from 18% in 2019 to 24% this year. National parties once considered mad, bad, and dangerous to know have now organising their influence in European affairs over the coming years. This could have serious implications for Europe’s LGBTQ+ populations: •States governed by PRR parties could intensify their domestic assaults on LGBTQ+ rights •LGBTQ+ Inclusive Policies Might Stall •Centre-Right groups could harden their positions on LGBTQ+ rights •The rise (and rise) of homo/bi/trans+ phobia Yet it’s also true that there is more acceptance of queer people in Europe than ever before. The European Commission has found that over 70% of EU citizens now believe that there is nothing wrong with same-sex relationships. Support for trans people has also increased to 63%. The session will therefore close by exploring what we can do to ensure the momentum for LGBTQ+ rights stays on our side and offer practical tips for what Europeans can do to fight the threat.

Recent years have seen a growing anti-gender movement globally, which is threatening progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTQI+ rights, gender studies and other progressive values. The anti-gender movement is coordinated and well-funded; according to a report by the Global Philanthropy Project, from 2008-2017, the anti-gender movement spent over $1 billion USD. This movement is increasingly gaining influence in global forums such as the United Nations (UN), supported by actors such as Russia, the Holy See and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Beyond the Backlash: Addressing the Global Anti-Gender Agenda will provide an overview of the anti-gender movement, namely its origins, key players and finances, as well as tactics and narratives it employs to advance its agenda. Drawing from the presenter’s early research at the University of Oxford and his background in international LGBTQI+ policy with the Canadian government, this presentation will highlight measures in civil society to counter the anti-gender movement through diplomacy, advocacy and philanthropic initiatives. Following the presentation, audience members will be provided with case studies of anti-gender movements, and invited to brainstorm strategies to respond to these case studies through the lenses of activism and research, policy and philanthropy. As key takeaways, participants will consider how to dispel misconceptions used by anti-gender actors, for example, narratives about family values. Additionally, they will consider strategies for advancing progressive values in multilateral forums such as the G7 and UN, including negotiation tactics, coalition building and support for civil society. This session is intended for a range of participants in the fields of activism, academia and policy.

The experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals are diverse and shaped by the intersections of their identities, including race, class, gender, disability and faith. These intersections often result in compounded forms of discrimination and marginalisation, which can vary significantly depending on one s specific combination of identities. For example, a gay white man experiences homophobia differently from a Black lesbian or an ethnic minority transgender woman, highlighting the complexities within the LGBTQIA+ community. In the UK, despite legal protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals, significant barriers remain, such as the legality of LGBTQIA+ conversion therapy, issues surrounding trans prisoners, and exclusion from certain societal spaces. This is especially evident in the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people of colour, transgender individuals, those with disabilities, and members of faith communities, who face unique challenges within mainstream and LGBTQIA+ spaces. These compounded challenges can lead to mental struggles, discrimination in healthcare and employment, and socioeconomic status and social exclusion. To create meaningful change, there is a need for intersectional advocacy, inclusive education, and policies that address the specific needs of diverse LGBTQIA+ populations. Addressing these gaps requires recognising the diverse lived experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community and implementing solutions that consider the intersections of identity to create truly inclusive and supportive environments for all.

Voice is a fundamental part of our identity, yet many people feel disconnected from their authentic vocal expression due to societal pressures, past experiences, or internalised expectations. This interactive workshop offered for Safer to Be Me Conference 2025 invites you to explore and embrace your authentic voice in a safe, supportive space. Led by specialist speech and language therapists from the Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service and the Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Clinic, this session will provide practical skills for voice exploration, presence, and vocal confidence. We will examine how factors such as gender identity, cultural expectations, and personal history can shape our vocal expression and discuss ways to align our voice with our true self. Through guided vocal exercises, you will discover new ways to access and use your voice with greater ease and authenticity. Rooted in vocal teaching and pedagogy, this session is suitable for anyone looking to strengthen their vocal presence or explore their vocal identity. This workshop sets out to equip you with tools to speak with confidence, authenticity, and impact. This isn't about sounding a certain way its about feeling safe enough to sound like you. This workshop is designed for anyone seeking to explore their voice, whether they are trans and non-binary individuals navigating voice changes, professionals looking to communicate with greater confidence, or those simply interested in self-expression. No prior experience is necessary only a willingness to explore and experiment in a non-judgmental environment. By the end of the session, you will leave with practical tools for vocal expression.

In recent years, the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in public spaces has gained significant attention and yet challenges persist. This session will explore how the safety of LGBTQ+ people in places such as venues, public transport and retail spaces, has evolved and where it still falls short. From harassment to exclusion, many LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face threats when simply existing in public spaces. We will take a look at the progress that’s been made, such as new policies and awareness campaigns, but well also shine a light on the gaps that still exist. This talk will highlight real-life examples of both positive and negative experiences in public environments, showing where things are getting better and where we need more action. We’ll also dive into practical solutions and tools that can help improve safety, including innovative approaches such as creating safe spaces through training programmes for businesses and venues. One such initiative is Bobu, a network and service which helps local businesses support LGBTQ+ customers and staff by providing clear safety standards and creating inclusive spaces. The session will encourage attendees to think about how everyone, whether in local government, business, or as individuals, can help make public spaces safer for LGBTQ+ people. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the challenges LGBTQ+ people face in everyday spaces and with practical steps that can be taken to improve safety and inclusivity. This session is for anyone passionate about making public spaces more welcoming and safe for everyone.

In Brazil, being Black, transgender and poor is not just a marker of identity, it is a death sentence. This session delves into the harrowing realities faced by Black trans and gender-diverse individuals, who bear the brunt of systemic violence, social exclusion, and political regression. Drawing from my research with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and leading scholars in intersectionality, we will explore how overlapping structures of oppression, race, gender identity, and economic marginalisation create uniquely lethal conditions for this community. Trans people in Brazil face the highest murder rates in the world, with Black trans women disproportionately targeted. Beyond physical violence, institutional barriers such as lack of legal recognition, exclusion from healthcare, and employment discrimination ensure that many remain trapped in cycles of poverty and exploitation against the backdrop of a rise of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, combined with Brazil’s colonial and racial vulnerabilities. This session will challenge participants to rethink human rights protections beyond a single-axis framework, urging an intersectional approach that acknowledges race, class, and gender as inseparable. Through case studies, personal narratives and an analysis of international human rights mechanisms, we will uncover the structural factors that sustain this crisis and, more importantly, how we can push for systemic change.

Malawi has become an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, where systemic discrimination is perpetuated by political leaders, religious institutions, and social media platforms. This session will examine the structural oppression LGBTQ+ people face in Malawi, exploring the forces actively working to undermine their human rights. Recent visits by Malawian Members of Parliament, led by the Speaker, to Uganda, where they praised the Ugandan Parliament for passing the Anti-Homosexuality Law, have fuelled a wave of homophobia across the region. Religious leaders actively protest against LGBTQ+ rights, and any positive court ruling for LGBTQ+ individuals is often met with mass protests aimed at reversing justice. Social media has become a battleground where misinformation thrives, escalating hate, discrimination, and violence. These challenges manifest in tangible harm. LGBTQI+ individuals are subjected to bullying, stigma, and a lack of support at all levels of Malawian schools, with studies showing that over 80% of LGBTQ+ students in Malawi face harassment, leading to high dropout rates and limited access to economic opportunities. Family rejection, often rooted in religious and cultural beliefs, leaving many homeless and vulnerable. The legal system also fails to protect LGBTQ+ people, with law enforcement frequently manipulating cases to ensure that they do not receive fair treatment. Through real-life testimonies, personal experiences, and available data, this session will shed light on these urgent issues. I will share the journeys of Malawian LGBTQ+ advocates, discussing the challenges of working in a country where even politicians fear supporting our cause due to the risk of losing votes. We will also explore advocacy pathways, resilience strategies, and ways to challenge institutionalised oppression.

The session will give an overview of the state of LGBTQ+ nonprofit organisations in the United States under the current Trump administration, which threatens trans lives and seeks to further marginalise and erase the LGBTQ+ community. It will highlight how these social service providers are fighting back and ensuring that their invaluable work continues, especially with transgender individuals. The session will also cover the implications for global LGBTQ+ NGOs that have been defunded by the U.S. administration. It will suggest how the charitable sector in the U.S. and internationally can galvanise and move forward during these turbulent times. The information provided will come from research, experience as a member of the board of directors of the LGBT Center of New York, and lived experience as a queer immigrant.

In a world where doomscrolling is the norm and the bad news facing our communities dominates the headlines, it is worth remembering the successes LGBTQ+ organisations and communities have around the world and what lies behind this. Whether it's community pressures in Australia's regions leading to conversion therapy bans to Ireland adopting comprehensive hate-crime legislation to consistent successful legal challenges to drag bans in various US states, there are lessons that campaigners, activists and organisations can learn in challenging bigotry and restrictive political and legislative efforts across the globe. This session will provide a number of fast-paced case studies, from the global north and south, that cover engagement at the political, legislative and civil society level and give attendees both practical knowledge to apply to their own practice and also provide a sense of optimism that our communities have the ability to successfully fight back to defend and advance our rights.

I have been a refugee lawyer for nearly 30 years. During this time I have represented a large number of LGBTI asylum claimants. I would love the opportunity to dispel a number of myths about the asylum system by sharing my experience helping my queer clients navigate the cold and unfriendly UK asylum system, explaining the legal test applied for LGBTI asylum claims. I would also like to convey my sadness that "refugee" and "asylum" have become dirty words and lawyers like me vilified as "fat cat asylum lawyers exploiting legal aid" and/or "bottom feeders". I would also touch on last summer's riots. My firm was not on the list circulated by the far right but the entire refugee legal community felt threatened. We have all received threats in the past and have been forced to change the way we operate. Lawyers like me not only have been demonised by previous governments but have been physically attacked for doing our jobs. This is all a toxic by-product of the current populist wave fanning the flames of hate all over the world.

My session will begin with an overview of the rise of far right in the UK and how social media echo chambers are affecting LGBTQ+ futures and infiltrating politics. It will then discuss the trends in the uprise of LGBTQ+ literature and the psychological support of how fiction enhances empathy and discuss how countries, like Hungary, are banning queer literature and how publishing can be a political act while we still can. Then ends with tips about actively diversifying your reading and media diet, and a free book swap at the end.

This session will highlight the significance of LGBTQ+ leadership development programmes. It will provide insights into these programmes and their outcomes for attendees and their respective institutions. The presentation will discuss how the community of LGBTQ+ attendees reframed concepts of leadership during their time together.

This presentation seeks to show two different exercises of historical reparation and peacebuilding with LGBTQIA victims of an armed conflict, in the case of Colombia; and of a military dictatorship, in the case of Argentina. The presentation will invite to reflect on the possible mechanisms of constitutional protection, but also on the social fabric that peace processes create when sexual and gender minorities are involved in a dialogue process. We will count with the intervention of Beln Correa and Matilda Gonzlez, who will tell their experience as trans activists in the processes of historical reparation in their respective countries.

This presentation exposes our research work on our Out in Nigeria case study and recently published report, which will discuss key findings that emerged from the research analysis such as widespread disillusionment and apathy regarding democracy, legal and institutional challenges regarding political participation, the current stigma and stigmatisation towards the LGBTQIA+ populations, which is often reinforced by the state; the weaponisation of LGBTQI+ rights by political parties, as well as the problematics relating to safety and security for activists and LGBTQIA+ individuals. In this session, we will also discuss the methodology and the report's approach to analysing LGBTQIA+ political participation in Nigeria. We will hear first-hand accounts and experiences from activists and researchers linked to CHEVS, the Nigerian organisation with which ReportOUT worked hand in hand on this project. Likewise, the recommendations introduced in the report will be presented and a question and comment session will be held for the public.

Religious leaders hold significant influence in shaping societal attitudes toward LGBTQI+ people. While some advocate for inclusion, others use faith to justify exclusion and discrimination. In many regions, religious rhetoric reinforces laws and policies that marginalise LGBTQI+ individuals, often under authoritarian regimes that weaponise faith for political control. This session explores these dynamics and how faith communities can be transformed into spaces of affirmation rather than rejection. Drawing from the work of House of Rainbow, an organisation committed to LGBTQI+ inclusion in faith communities, this session will share personal stories of resilience from Nigeria, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and beyond. It will examine how race, politics, and religion intersect to shape LGBTQI+ experiences. Participants will learn how religious leaders can act as both barriers and bridges to equality and explore strategies for challenging discrimination within faith-based spaces. Through storytelling, case studies, and interactive discussions, attendees will gain practical tools to engage religious communities, advocate for inclusion, and support LGBTQI+ individuals facing faith-based oppression. The session will emphasise actionable steps for faith leaders, activists, and policymakers to foster affirming religious spaces and challenge harmful narratives. Key Themes: •The role of religious leaders in shaping LGBTQI+ rights. •The impact of authoritarian regimes on faith-based discrimination. •The intersection of race, sexuality, and politics in faith communities. •House of Rainbow as a model for LGBTQI+ inclusion in religious spaces. Conclusion: faith can be a tool for liberation or oppression. This session will challenge participants to rethink religious narratives around LGBTQI+ rights and empower them to advocate for justice within both faith and political structures.