The Community Voices project has started

GLAS Foundation, in partnership with Bilitis Foundation, the Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria and Oslo Pride, has launched the Community Voices project, implemented with financial support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Financial Mechanism. The project will be realized in Bulgaria mainly with the support and expertise of Oslo Pride.

In 2021, there are still no government policies and measures to reduce inequality, discrimination and violence against LGBTI people in Bulgaria. Many people continue to hide their sexual orientation, incl. from colleagues, friends and family. Often media, due to lack of knowledge of the specific challenges and experiences of LGBTI people, contribute to stereotyping and imposing false beliefs. The situation worsened dramatically in 2018 amid debates over the Istanbul Convention, when hate speech against LGBTI people became commonplace, and in 2019 the main narrative was the fake news of “taking children and sending them to Norway for adoption by gay couples”.

That is why the main goal of the Community Voices project is to increase the proportion of people who disapprove of the use of hate speech or aggression against LGBTI people. One way to achieve this goal will be to raise awareness and knowledge of LGBTI people through public campaigns to break down stereotypes and myths. Other key activities include training for journalists to increase their knowledge of the subject and objectivity in coverage, promoting active citizenship through training for community speakers and their advocates, exchanging experiences with Norwegian partners for capacity building and awareness rising, incl. and through media appearances by Norwegian experts. The project is aimed at the general public, journalists, LGBTI people, their parents and advocates.

In 2022, there will be five trainings for the improvement of communication skills and media presence of prominent LGBTI public speakers and activists in Bulgaria. The Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria will organize two information seminars for journalists from all over the country and will publish a practical handbook for better and fair coverage.

In recent months, the rights of LGBTI and women, civil society organizations have been targeted again, and there are already a number of misconceptions in society about the so-called genders, third sex, etc. Therefore, the goals of this project to dispel these myths and provide reliable information through communication activities are of strategic importance to both societies as a whole.

More information about the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria can be found at https://www.activecitizensfund.bg/