In a world where we are all are expected to keep going no matter the cost, what happens when we choose to pause? In this special episode of The Frontline, we explore what it means to truly care for ourselves, particularly at the intersections of queerness, race, and mental health.Joining the conversation are Suranee Abeysuria, Director of Rainbow Mind, a mental health service by and for LGBTQIA+ people in the UK, and Uz Afzal, a senior practitioner and co-creator of Rainbow Mind’s radical self-care programme.From navigating the emotional toll of activism to confronting the layered impacts of racism and homophobia within the asylum system and other racist structures, Suranee and Uz offer hard-won insights and practical tools for sustaining ourselves and our communities.This episode isn’t just about stepping back to heal, it’s about reclaiming power, rewriting the rules of resilience, and a queer revolution grounded in healing.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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36:17
The Rainbow Map Red Alert
What the latest drops reveal about Europe's future. In this episode of The Frontline, we unpack the major headlines emerging from this year’s Rainbow Map, the annual ranking of European countries based on their legal and policy environments for LGBTI people.Hungary has plunged seven spots to 37th place, following the European Union’s first-ever Pride ban. Organisers have been criminalised, and authorities have been granted sweeping powers, including the use of facial recognition to identify and fine peaceful participants. Close behind, the United Kingdom has dropped six places to 22nd, after a Supreme Court ruling stripped key legal protections from trans people. Meanwhile, Georgia, once a hopeful EU candidate, has fallen seven places to 44th, after passing a harsh legislative package widely seen as mirroring Russian-style crackdowns on LGBTI expression.With expert insights from ILGA-Europe’s advocacy leads Katrin Hugendubel, Belinda Dear, and Cianán Russell, we explore the most significant collective decline in the Rainbow Map’s history. We ask: are Pride bans, court rulings like the UK’s, and other laws erasing LGBTI human rights becoming a wider European trend? And what does this all mean for everyone in Europe, not just LGBTI people? Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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42:18
Italy’s Surge in Anti-LGBTI Violence
A wave of anti-LGBTI attacks over the past month has sparked mass protests in Italy, as hate-fueled rhetoric from political leaders fuels an increasingly hostile climate. In this episode of The Frontline, we speak with leading activists about the growing crisis.Over the past month, Italy has seen a surge of LGBTI-phobic violence. There have been no less than four hate-motivated attacks in the last four weeks, while hate messages have appeared on the doors of the Cassero LGBTQIA+ centre in Bologna.The attacks have prompted large protests in both Rome and Milan, demanding the government to take urgent action. But all this is taking place at a time when openly LGBT-phobic rhetoric is used by Italy’s leaders, while legislative protection for LGBTI people in Italy is seriously lacking.In this episode activists from Italy speak truth to the alarming rise in hate attacks and how the government is failing to acknowledge the anti-LGBTI motives of the attackers, while at the same time creating a fertile ground for such attacks.Joining us to explore ways forward for the LGBTI movement, and what the EU should be doing, are Roberto Muzzetta from Arcigay, the largest LGBTI organisation in Italy, and Silvia Magino from Associazione Quore, which works with the community in Turin, and Rosario Coco, President of Gaynet, and Italy-wide association working on training and communication on LGBTI issues.Tune in now to stay informed on the situation in Italy, the actions activists are taking in response, and their demands, as the country’s leadership continues to politicise anti-LGBTI sentiment within the European Union.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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42:30
How to Remain United in a Divided World
The LGBTI activist movement has long been a beacon of social justice, achieving remarkable successes through solidarity and a shared sense of purpose. But in today’s polarised world, where political scapegoating and the divisiveness of social media test the very fabric of unity, how can we continue to stand together?In this episode of The Frontline we revisit an inspiring panel discussion from last October’s Annual Conference in Bucharest. The conversation, moderated by Simona Muršec from Ljubljana Pride, with Matt Kennedy from Trans Equality Together in Ireland, Nari Alibekova from TransDocha in Kazakhstan, and Simon Blake from Stonewall in the UK, explores how activists can build bridges across diverse identities and experiences to strengthen solidarity in the face of external challenges.delves into how we can embrace opportunities to build bridges across diverse identities and experiences.Discover the strategies, insights, and courage needed to nurture the unity that remains the cornerstone of the LGBTI movement.Tune in and be part of the conversation shaping the future of queer solidarity.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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37:19
Beyond Cancel Culture
In this episode of The Frontline, we explore a crucial question: What happens when the righteous anger driving social justice movements turns inward, targeting our own communities?Within the LGBTI movement, how has cancel culture influenced our work and relationships—and how can we move beyond it while staying true to our values? Sabah Choudrey’s inspiring talk at the ILGA-Europe Annual Conference in Bucharest last October unpacks this pressing question. Drawing from adrienne maree brown’s transformative book, ‘We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformational Justice’, Sabah examines the rise of cancel culture, explores compassionate alternatives to "calling out," and discusses how to address harm with accountability and care.This episode invites you to step back from the fast pace of activism and the reactivity of social media to reflect on how we can create healthier, more supportive activist spaces.If you’re ready to rethink justice, accountability, and the future of our movements, this episode of The Frontline is not to be missed.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Presented by ILGA-Europe, an umbrella organisation for over 600 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations across 54 countries, The Frontline is a podcast about LGBTI activism and lives in Europe and Central Asia. Deep-diving and analysing from a unique and informed perspective, The Frontline aims to bring you to the core of queer activism and give you an understanding on the complexities of what's happening, why it's happening, the wins and the losses, the challenges and commonalities, and the extraordinary ways in which the work of those on the frontlines continues in a rapidly changing world.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Colombia