Fifteen years ago, a group of homo- and bisexual women formed an informal group where to communicate with people like them, led by the need for a female community in which to be themselves and explore their sexual and gender identities, and the diverse LGBTI culture.<\/p>\n
Gradually, the group starts to organize different activities like a literary club and sport events, as well as a self-help group, where everyone can share freely and receive advice and support from the others. And just like that in 2004 a small, close-knit community of queer women is formed and Bilitis is born \u2013 the first LGBTI organization led by women and focused on women\u2019s needs and rights. Bilitis\u2019 team has changed over the years, its mission, however, remains the same today \u2013 empowering LGBTI people to stand up for their rights, along with eliminating all forms of discrimination and reaching complete equality for LGBTI people in Bulgaria.<\/p>\n
15 years may not seem like a long time, but for a small community organization on the Balkans it actually is an awful lot (of time). These 15 years make Bilitis the oldest active LGBTI organization in Bulgaria and we are proud of standing the test of time despite the political obstacles and still being on the frontlines in the fight for equality of LGBTI people in Bulgaria. Bilitis is an activist incubator. Many of the leaders of the LGBTI movement today started their activism as Bilitis volunteers.<\/p>\n
Let us recount the way we\u2019ve walked until now, the difficulties and successes, the obstacles and the victories. We invite you to join us in celebrating our anniversary and to take part in our activities, so that we can build the future of our community together.<\/p>\n
Monica Pissankuneva is the first Bulgarian lesbian-feminist who, in the 2000s, publicly talk about her sexual orientation and the need for legal recognition of lesbians and gay men in Bulgaria. In 2004, Monica brings together a group of like-minded women with whom the foundation \u201cResource Center Bilitis\u201d is launched. The name Bilitis is well-known in the lesbian community \u2013 the first lesbian bar in Sofia, which had a brief existence in 2000-2001, also carries this name. Legend has it that Bilitis was Sappho of Lesbos\u2019 most devoted student, who continued the legendary poet\u2019s work, praising love between women. Monica chooses the name Bilitis as a code name for an organization which links its mission to the rights of lesbians and bisexual women. Few people in Bulgaria know the legend of Bilitis, which allows the organization to grow without putting its members at risk of disclosure.<\/p>\n
For the purpose of legal registration 7 women (out of over 20 who regularly have been coming together in a self-help group since 2003) provide their personal data; most of them, however, do not agree to their names being publicly announced.<\/p>\n
Bilitis emerges as an organization whose initial aim is to build a community and provide a safe communication space for lesbian and bisexual women.<\/p>\n
Through its close work with the community, the team of Bilitis notices a need for further development of young activists\u2019 potential, their familiarization with the history of the international LGBTI movement, as well as for developing their skills in working with institutions. That is why, in August 2015 in Varna, the first activist summer camp for lesbians and bisexual women is organized. The camp attracts 15 participants from across the country. Over its course, the idea is born that participants report about the initiative through a photography exhibition, which, in consequence, gets developed further and the first edition of Sofia LGBTI Art Fest, later Sofia LGBTI Community Fest, is born. The Center for Culture and Debate \u201cThe Red House\u201d is the main host of the fest and a valuable partner of Bilitis for 10 years, during which they provide a safe space and free support for the realization of the art initiative.<\/p>\n
In December 2019 Sofia LGBTI Community Fest also celebrates its 15th<\/sup> anniversary, offering a rich program consisting of workshops, discussions, exhibitions, a theater spectacle, magic sessions and a final party with drag performances.<\/p>\n Monica Pissankuneva\u2019s main goal as Bilitis\u2019founder is to contribute to a change in attitude towards LGBTI people in all areas in the country. Already at the beginning of the 2000s, Monica teaches an optional course called \u201cSexual identities\u201d at New Bulgarian University, where she creates awareness among the students about the history of sexual and gender identities, as well as the history of the lesbian, gay, and trans equal rights movement. Framing the topic as an object of academic research is one of the methods Monica uses in order to achieve a critical re-thinking of the norms which discriminate against LGBTI. Despite the students\u2019 interest, the course is dropped from the program 2 years later. That is when Monica decides to transfer the role for the development of scientific studies on sexual and gender identities over to the foundation established by her. This idea finds its continuation in a number of studies and publications realized by Bilitis. Recognizing the importance of this type of research, Bilitis develops as an intersectional organization, which from its very beginning focuses on a deep\/complex understanding of sexual and gender identities, initiating studies and analyses on the diversity in the LGBTI community.<\/p>\n Bilitis is among the first who start taking up cases on the legal gender recognition of trans people; in 2012 it publishes an analysis on the legal practice in this sphere from 2000 on. The foundation gets in touch with a couple of Bulgarian attorneys with experience in human rights and helps raise their sensitivity to the needs of trans and intersex people. In 2015 Bilitis opens the first case for legal recognition of an intersex person\u2019s gender in Bulgaria, which has a successful outcome in 2017. Over the years the foundation provides individual consultation in support of trans and intersex people, including directing them to suitable doctors and lawyers and providing help in the form of clothes and covering the medical expenses of people living in extreme poverty. The aid the organization provides to trans and intersex people, however, is not limited to people outside of Bilitis. Over time, it becomes clear that some of the board members, who self-identified as lesbians when the organization was founded, are intersex or trans people. The support they\u2019ve received from Bilitis gives them the courage to disclose their gender identities.<\/p>\n This way Bilitis becomes the first organization in Bulgaria to include trans and intersex people in its executive team and from 2009 on starts systematic work for their visibility and rights.<\/p>\n From its very founding in 2004, Bilitis starts organizing self-help groups aimed at lesbians, bisexual women and trans people. The only meeting locations back then are the so called \u201csafe spaces\u201d such as private homes or LGBTI-friendly public spaces like the The Center for Culture and Debate \u201cThe Red House\u201d and some of the community\u2019s pubs. At the end of 2017, the self-help group for lesbian and bisexual women is reborn under the name QueerFemme, including trans and queer women. Inspired by its success, with the active participation of Bilitis\u2019 members, two more self-help groups are brought to life: a group for LGBTI youth named BraveLab and T.I.A. for trans and intersex people. These groups provide their participants with a safe space for sharing, receiving and giving support, developing their abilities and contributing to the development of the LGBTIA community.<\/p>\n3. Contribution to academic studies on sexuality<\/h2>\n
4. Defender of trans and intersex rights<\/h2>\n
5. Self-help groups \u2013 our trademark<\/h2>\n
6. Bilitis takes over the organization of Sofia Pride<\/h2>\n