Support the European LGBTI movement

As attacks on democracy and freedom grow across Europe and beyond, LGBTI movements are inherently at the forefront of resistance. To mark the beginning of 2026, we sat down with the newly elected co-chairs of ILGA-Europe’s board, Simona Muršec and Mamikon Hovsepyan, to chat about the times our movement finds itself navigating and what keeps us hopeful as activists. 

Q: As we move into 2026, what makes you feel optimistic about the LGBTI movement’s ability to shape its own future?

Mamikon:
“The region is again in a very turbulent situation. In some countries, we see better developments; in others, especially in Eastern Europe or Central Asia, we see anti-democratic actions targeting the LGBTI movement. But what matters is that we break borders between countries. We are united in supporting each other, taking care of our security, and pushing for change.”

Simona:
“It is not easy to be very hopeful about what is happening in the world. But one thing is clear to me: there is a lot of power in our movement.
Hungary is a clear example. Pride was banned, yet activists, Pride organisers, and broad support within the country mobilised. The huge march last June showed that authoritarian legislation and prohibition are not going to fly.
At the same time, in the Hungarian city of Pécs, Pride organisers are now being threatened with up to one year of imprisonment. So why am I still hopeful? Because of how the international human rights community is organising around this. We may not have the power to change legislation directly, but there is power in how we protest and how we protect individual protesters.
We have resilience built through decades and centuries of oppression. This is not the time to stand down. It is the time to fight oppressive laws and regimes.”

Q: This year, what would meaningful progress for LGBTI movements look like for you?

Simona:
“Meaningful progress is recognising which struggles are truly fundamental and deserve most of our energy. We cannot fight on all fronts equally.
Often, the biggest battles are not immediately visible as LGBTI issues. In Slovenia, one of the key struggles is protecting civil society itself. The extreme right is trying to weaken non-governmental organisations, their independence, and their funding. Without civil society, there is no accountability and no mobilisation for justice.
The same applies to bodily autonomy, including abortion rights. These are not always seen as core LGBTI issues, but structurally they are decisive in the medium and long term.”

Mamikon:
“Governments are finding new ways to silence human rights defenders. This is not only happening in Russia or in countries copying Russian laws. Every country has its own mechanisms to put pressure on civil society, and we have to connect and work together across borders.
Digital safety is one priority. It is no longer just about passwords. In some countries, where activists cannot operate openly, digital activism becomes essential.
Technology is changing fast. Artificial intelligence, social media, new systems: they can be harmful or useful. We need to take what is useful for our activism and avoid the harm.
Laws are important, but they are not enough. When we cannot fight authorities directly, we need to work with society to change attitudes towards our communities and towards human rights more broadly.”

Read the whole interview with Simona and Mamikon here.

Supporters like you make it possible to continue vital work for real progress. We hope we can count on your continued support in 2026. Thank you from all of us at ILGA-Europe! 

Links:

• How LGBTI activism is defending democracy