In Bulgaria, violence against LGBTI people based on gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender characteristics remains a critical, hidden, and tolerated problem by public institutions. The Courage to Speak Out project confronts this violence by mobilizing the LGBTI community and directly engaging target groups, including victims of violence and community leaders. Using methods such as facilitated discussions, creative workshops, and the creation of informational materials, we will raise awareness about victims’ rights, available resources and support, and help survivors of violence break free from stigma and stereotypes. Billitis Foundation and Queer Varna, will provide primary support services to survivors of anti-LGBTI violence. Community mobilisation activities will also cover Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo and will help to detect cases of anti-LGBTI violence earlier by encouraging reporting and seeking protection.

• – The development of a legal toolkit to identify and address anti-LGBTI violence and provide legal support to victims. 
• – Bilitis and Queer Varna will expand their primary care capacity by organizing community meetings and creative workshops in Sofia and Varna. 
• – We will hold regional events in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv and Varna, including an exhibition of personal stories, to mobilise against violence. 

We expect that by empowering LGBTI survivors of violence to speak out and by mobilizing community support, we will create an environment that will generate community strategies to overcome the problem by engaging public institutions.