SolidarityNow, with a vision to support the most vulnerable members of society without discrimination and with a belief in the value and power of solidarity, supports Athens Pride 2023. SolidarityNow employees and volunteers will meet on Saturday 10 June at 19.00 at Kotzia Square, to proudly walk by the side of the LGBTQI+ community the path towards acceptance and equality.

“Once upon a time …I claimed, and I got.” With this as this year’s motto and with the hope that the struggles of the LGBTQI+ community will be the beginning of a fairy tale with a happy ending in the future, Athens Pride is demanding civil marriage for all, adoption and the right to recognition of LGBTQI+ children, the elimination of stereotypes and homophobic verbal and physical attacks, the right to self-determination of body and identity, and the prevention of interventions on intersex people.

10 years by the side of anyone in need

SolidarityNow to date has actively supported more than 350,000 people, without discrimination. The mission of the organization is to stand by the side of anyone in need and of course anyone who is censored for their choices, denied the right to self-determination.

In its 10-year journey, the organization has implemented specialized support and care programs for refugees and migrants, members of the LGBTQI+ community, who face double stigma both because of their gender identity and nationality. Through specific actions SolidarityNow has provided assistance (housing and psychosocial support) to more than 90 refugees, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and has trained more than 150 field professionals on legal and other issues concerning LGBTQI+ asylum seekers.

In addition, through the services offered free of charge (psychological, social, accounting, employment) at the organization’s Athens Solidarity Center, members of the LGBTQI+ community, regardless of country or origin, benefit in various ways. Noteworthy is the assistance of the Center’s Legal Service in the process of legal recognition of gender identity, an issue of utmost importance for which there were legal gaps until recently. To date, the Legal Service has supported more than 39 people to complete the process and now live as they wish.

With smaller or larger interventions, SolidarityNow always seeks to be there for both the LGBTQI+ community and the workers/experts who support this population.  Through such an intervention, the organization published recently “A Useful Guide for Professionals in the LGBTQI+ Migrant, Refugee, Asylum Seeker field”, which is available here (only in Greek).