Why is this info guide “for women”?
Our goal is to provide information specifically directed to all people who are affected by patriarchal oppression and violence. We have decided to use the term women because this is an internationally understandable term. Generally, we see gender binaries as part of the problem and overcoming them as essential, because we believe every individual should be free to be who they are, without fear, stigma or suffering.
I am LGBTQIA+ where can I find support and/or connect to a community?
LGBTQIA+ is an acronym used to express people with different gender identities and sexualities.
Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other women
Gay: A man who is attracted to other men (though can also be used to describe lesbians too)
Bisexual: Someone who is sexually attracted to people of more than one sex and/or gender
Transgender: someone whose gender expression or identity is not congruent with the sex assigned at birth
Queer: a political term that suggests someone who rejects gender and sexual norms and binaries
Intersex: someone born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit into the sex binary
Asexual: someone who generally doesn’t have sexual desire towards others
“+” : this is designed to signal that these categories are not fixed or exhaustive. Anyone who feels they do not fit into the categories of gender or sexuality dominant in society, may be included.
As an LGBTQIA+ person, you can contact any NGO supporting refugees in Greece, as they all offer their services without discrimination, but here you find also two initiatives offering specialised assistance for LGBTQIA+ people:
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Emantes – (support line for LGBTQIA+ persons)
WhatsApp +30-6971693446. Email: info.emantes@gmail.com
https://www.emantes.com/contact
Safe Place International – (Activities and support for LGBTQIA+ persons)
Tel. +30-6986752325 -
Intersex Greece - (Support of people with innate natural differences in sex traits or reproductive anatomy)
Sometimes children are born with a body that does not fit within the usual definitions of “male” and “female”. If you identify yourself or your child/ren as belonging to this group of people, you can contact Intersex
Greece for more information.
Contact: Rinio Symeonidou
Tel. +30-6977660860. Email. info@intersexgreece.org.gr
Transgender Support Association - (not specifically for refugees)
Tel: +30-2109210697. E-mail:
transgender.support.association@gmail.com and www.transgenderassociation.gr
What are my rights as LGBTQIA+ person in Greece?
People with different gender identities and sexualities are legal in Greece and have gained increasing rights. Amongst others, same sex sexual activity was legalised already back in 1951. Marriage is not legally possible, but cohabitation agreements among same-sex couples have been possible for almost one decade and include the same legal rights as marriage. Nowadays, same-sex couples can also foster children. Also, in recent years a number of anti-discrimination laws were passed in Greece - including gender, as well as laws against hate speech and hate crimes. Moreover, transgender people have the right to have their gender identity recognized and to change their legal sex without having to undergo surgical alteration of their genitals in order to have key identity documents changed, but a court decision is needed.
However, despite these positive developments LGBTQIA+ people may still encounter discrimination and racist violence in daily life and at work.