Gender Stream is a feminist organization that implements practices of gender equality, inclusion and respect for diversity, promotes the strengthening and development of the LGBTQI+ community. Our team unites Ukrainian and international activists and carries out its activities on the basis of honesty, transparency and responsiveness to the needs of the target audience.
Gender Stream works in partnership with national and international organizations, and also cooperates with the security sector (State Emergency Service, police, border guards), state institutions (mayors, regional administrations, universities), media and business to overcome the challenges faced by people excluded from state processes.
During its work, the organization has conducted more than 100 safe LGBTQI/feminist events and information campaigns in Ukraine.
OUR HISTORY
2016
Establishment of Gender Stream organization in Dnipro.
Launching a school of tolerance for police officers, teachers, and journalists.
2017
Training of police units within the framework of the “POLINA” project: identification and countermeasures against domestic violence.
2018
Holding the forum “Development of female leadership” in Dnipro. The event brought together about 50 women and girls who gained important knowledge and skills about decision-making processes, learned the art of oratory and had the opportunity to act in local self-government bodies.
2019
The start of the Gender Stream Research Lab: the study was conducted within the framework of the project “Gender problems of the security sector”. The goal is to contribute to the solution of the problem of gender inequality in the ranks of the Head office of the National Police, Patrol Police department and State Emergency Service of Dnipropetrovsk region.
Creation of an informative support platform “POBACH” for people who have suffered from violence. The goal of the project is to spread information about organizations that provide legal, psychological, and advisory assistance to people affected by violence.
2020
Launch of the “Fight Like a Girl” information campaign, an educational initiative that includes legal, sexual education and self-defense tips.
2021
Start of the “YUPI” project in cooperation with juvenile prevention.
2022
The full-scale invasion of russia in 2022 increased inequality in Ukrainian society, and socially vulnerable groups found themselves in even more vulnerable conditions. We faced numerous challenges, high levels of public homo-, bi- and transphobia, lack of legislation that would protect us from marriage discrimination and provide equal opportunities in work, health care, housing and other areas of life. Ukrainian authorities still do not have LGBTQI+ friendly programs, and during the invasion this group of people is left out of the attention of state authorities.
In 2022 Gender Stream:
Opened a hub Sister’s HUB in Uzhhorod for IDP women and girls.
Provided psychological assistance to 120 LGBTQI+ people.
Provided financial assistance to more than 500 LGBTQI+ people.
Now part of our team remains in Ukraine, the other part has relocated and works abroad. But despite the distance, we continue to stick together, because this is our superpower!
2023
We continue to work on initiatives aimed at supporting LGBTQI+ Ukrainian men and women, combating domestic and gender-based violence, building an inclusive society where democracy, freedom and diversity are valued. In the near future, we will announce the DniProPride human rights event.
CURRENT AREAS OF GENDER STREAM ACTIVITIES:
Shelter for LGBTQI+ and IDP women in Uzhhorod (temporary housing, food, legal and psychological assistance, advisory support);
Shelter for LGBTQI+ and IDP women in Bratislava (temporary housing, food, legal and psychological assistance, advisory support);
Transit shelter in Dnipro (apartment for IDPs for up to 14 days);
Legal support for LGBTQI+ people during the war in Ukraine;
Evacuation and relocation of LGBTQI+ people, IDP women;
LGBTQ+ friendly psychologists provide individual counseling for the community;
Work with trans* people in Ukraine: provision of psychological, legal and medical assistance, evacuation, advisory support;
Advocacy work regarding the adoption of draft law 9103;
The development of an information web resource, which primarily contains mapping – a description of the activities and services of Ukrainian LGBTQI+ organizations. It has become a functional tool for redirecting clients depending on the requested services;
Research and advisory projects related to humanitarian aid and rehabilitation programs for LGBTQI+ refugees from Ukraine;
Trainings for business structures: “Target Gender Equality: the beginning or why business should be included in D&I issues”.
