Let us tell you more about us.

Bilitis develops, supports and empowers the LGBTI community in Bulgaria.

In 2004, several gay and bisexual women formed an informal group to communicate with each other, driven by the need to be themselves and explore the diverse LGBTI culture. Thus a small cohesive community of queer women was formed and Bilitis was born, the first LGBTI organization led by women and focusing on women’s needs and rights. Monica Pisankaneva, the founder of the organization, chooses the name Bilitis. According to legends, Bilitis was the most faithful disciple of Sappho from the island of Lesbos, who continued the work of the legendary poet who extolled love between women.

Over the years, we have expanded the scope of our activities and managed to build a diverse and dedicated team. We are proud to have been part of the organizers of Sofia Pride since 2009 and to run the only LGBTI community center in Bulgaria – Rainbow Hub – together with our partners. With all our activities we strive to develop an active and united LGBTI community and believe that together we can build a more accepting and safe environment for all people in Bulgaria.

Activation Catalyst

Activation Catalyst

Activation Catalyst

Activation Catalyst

Activation Catalyst

for LGBTI people in Bulgaria

for LGBTI people in Bulgaria

for LGBTI people in Bulgaria

for LGBTI people in Bulgaria

for LGBTI people in Bulgaria

Bilitis Foundation

Mission and Values

MISSION

Our mission is to eliminate all forms of discrimination and achieve full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and intersex (LGBTI) people in Bulgaria.

 

VALUES

Our values are human dignity, freedom, democracy, rule of law, equality, solidarity, justice, inclusion, non-discrimination and human rights. Bilitis shares and promotes the values of the EU.

Bilitis Foundation

Visión and Approach

VISION

We work for a society where all people have equal rights and no one is discriminated against because of who they are.

 

APPROACH

Bilitis uncompromisingly defends equality, wholeheartedly supports and promotes community and shares its solid intersectional expertise. Our approach is grounded in human rights and the direct participation of our communities.

Bilitis Foundation

Objectives

In fulfilling our mission, we have identified four strategic priorities:

  • Develop, empower and support the LGBTI community across the country.
  • Advocating for changes in legislation and policies to fully respect the rights of LGBTI people, equal inclusion in all spheres of public life, recognition of LGBTI families, gender recognition, prevention of anti-LGBTI hate crimes.
  • Changing public attitudes and increasing levels of acceptance of LGBTI people in Bulgarian society.
  • Work at international level to raise awareness of the state of LGBTI rights and democracy in Bulgaria.

Bilitis Comunities

Team

Pol Naidenov
Director, Administrative Manager

Pol Naidenov

he/him

Pol Naidenov is the first open intersex activist in Bulgaria. He is a member and founder of Bilitis and T.I.A. (Trans, Intersex and their Allies). Paul is a founder and board member of the international intersex organization - OII-Europe.
His main interests are focused on the human and civil rights of intersex and trans people and children. He works on issues related to access to medical and social services, legal gender reassignment and social adaptation of trans and intersex people. She is a computer programmer and QA computer specialist by training.
Manuela Popova
Director, Communication Manager

Manuela Popova

she/they

Manuela has been an active volunteer in various projects and initiatives for over 10 years. She has participated in a number of trainings and workshops and is a certified Youth Exchange Leader. She studied public relations at New Bulgarian University and has many years of experience in digital communications and marketing activities. She joined the Bilitis team in April 2020 in the role of Communications Manager. The causes she supports are mainly related to feminism and LGBTI rights. She was awarded a special prize "Inspiration of the Year" by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee for her project aimed at breaking down stereotypes in society "Don't be offended, but..."
Project Manager

Mira Mars

she/her

Mira joins the Bilitis team as a Project Manager in 2023. Defender of human rights and equality for all. One of the organizers of See It Be It Bulgaria - an event that gathers speakers from all over the world and over 400 visitors every year to continue the theme of gender equality.
Mira graduated from Coventry University, BA Advertising and Media Honors Degree. In England, she works as a Marketing Assistant responsible for the social networks of the international office of Coventry University. Mira's career in the Advertising industry in Bulgaria began as an Account Manager at Noble Graphics, then developed as a video producer and event coordinator at SWITCH. She continues as a PR and Event Manager for Goodvertising. By joining Bilitis, Mira shares that she is happy to use her magic for good.
Coordinator

Robin Zlatarov

he/him

Robin has been an active volunteer in various initiatives for nearly 7 years. Prior to joining the organization in 2022, he was involved in Bilitis activities and helped maintain the Rainbow Hub Community Center. He has experience in organizing events and leading workshops on various topics.

In 2021, with the help of Bilitis, he started the TransMission youth trans group, through which the Live Your Truth exhibition was created, as well as an Instagram account raising awareness on trans issues. He is currently studying psychology at New Bulgarian University and is interested in the mental health of the LGBTI+ community. As a non-binary activist, a key focus of his work is the well-being and development of the trans community in Bulgaria.

Coordinator

Kalin Kisyov

he/him

Kalin is an aspiring youth worker and social activist. He has graduated from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organisational Management & Human Resources. Kalin has also taken the role of Equality and Inclusion Representative at the Business School of Leeds University, where he co-developed a training on E&I that all students should complete at the beginning of their academic journey. Kalin shows a profound interest in the fields of human rights, politics, history, geography and diplomacy. He has taken parts in multiple trainings under the Erasmus+ programme, has experience in organizing workshops, and dreams to expand Bilitis’ capacity as a host organisation of such initiatives. Kalin speaks Bulgarian, English and Spanish at a fluent level.

Associates

Miroslava Manavska
Sports Coordinator

Mira Manavska

she/her

Miroslava has been actively involved in sports since her childhood. In 2018, she transferred her experience from the field of sports to her volunteer work at Bilitis as a Sports Coordinator. Together with the organization's team, she further developed Sofia Pride Sport (the sports program accompanying Sofia Pride), and initiated a series of sports activities for the community throughout the year. Alongside this, Miroslava works on a number of international projects and activities of Bilitis in the field of LGBTI rights and sport.
She has interests in holistic health, non-formal education and psychology, which she actively uses in her volunteer work. She is currently completing her Master's degree in Psychology at VSU and is training at the Institute of Neo-Reichian Analytical Psychotherapy in Sofia.
Silviya Petkova
Attorney at law

Silvia Petkova

she/her

Sylvia is a Master of Laws student at Sofia University "Sv. She is a graduate of Sofia University. She is the author of over 150 scientific publications in Bulgarian and foreign legal publications and has lectured at a number of training seminars for civil servants. Sylvia is an initiator and participant in numerous public discussions related to the problems of legislation in the field of criminal law and human rights. She has numerous specialisations in the field of human rights protection at the Council of Europe, including the right to respect for private and family life; combating racism, homophobia and xenophobia; combating hate speech and hate crimes; violence against women and domestic violence.
Attorney at law

Natasha Dobreva

she/her

Natasha Dobreva holds a Master's Degree in International Human Rights Law (2007) and is a lawyer from the Sofia Bar Association (2007), specializing as an attorney for victims of crime. She is a strategic litigator at the ECtHR, where she has won 22 cases and 3 interim measures. Before the ECtHR she filed complaints on behalf of transgender persons against the governments of Bulgaria and Russia. Her landmark cases defending the right to gender identity are Y.T. v. Bulgaria and Savinovskikh et al. v. Russia. She currently has 3 complaints registered with the ECHR against Bulgaria on behalf of women in same-sex partnerships and their children, and one complaint alleging a violation of freedom of assembly - the Burgas Pride case. At the national level, Atty. Dobreva has litigated gender recognition cases in 7 cities across the country. She represented Ms. K.H. in the 2024 preliminary ruling proceedings at the European Court of Justice on the right of European transgender citizens to access to justice and the primacy of EU law over national definitions of gender.

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