RESPONSES

Project Status:
Ongoing
Implementation period:
24 months (June 2025 - May 2027)
Partners:
GLAS Foundation, the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria), and the Bulgarian Society for Psychoanalysis and Group Analytic Psychotherapy (BSPGAP).
Financed by:
European Social Fund Agency, European Union

About the project:

RESPONSES is a two-year initiative aiming to counter the rising tide of online hate speech and disinformation targeting LGBTI+ people in Bulgaria. The project is implemented between June 2025 and May 2027, with funding from the European Union’s CERV-2024-CHAR-LITI programme. It is coordinated by GLAS Foundation, in partnership with the Bilitis Resource Center Foundation, the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ-Bulgaria), and the Bulgarian Society for Psychoanalysis and Group Analytic Psychotherapy (BSPGAP).

Project objectives and activities:

  • – In-depth research and hate narrative mapping, examining dominant hostile narratives, disinformation trends, and community perceptions.
  • – A national awareness campaign, aiming to reach over 200,000 people with messages countering hate and promoting solidarity.
  • – A digital guide titled “Surfing Through Hate”, offering practical tools and strategies for LGBTI+ individuals to navigate and respond to online hostility.
  • – Investigative journalism and fact-checking, including the publication of key reports and analyses of hate speech and disinformation cases targeting LGBTI+ people.
  • – Specialized media training, preparing at least 20 journalists and editors to cover LGBTI+ topics in an inclusive, ethical, and informed manner.
  • – Community resilience and mental health support, through workshops and sessions facilitated by the Rainbow Hub, providing assistance to over 70 individuals affected by online abuse.