Discourse around trans rights in recent years has intensified, often placing transgender individuals at the forefront of social and political debate, as anti-gender movements gain momentum. Trans people continue to encounter unique challenges, including legal discrimination, limited healthcare access, and social marginalisation. Thanks to your support, GiveOut’s grant partners are driving social, political, and cultural change that empowers trans individuals and advances their human rights. From community-building efforts to strategic legal advocacy, GiveOut’s partners are working to create a world where all trans people can live equally and with dignity.
Mongolia: Empowering Future Trans Leaders
In Mongolia, trans individuals face profound challenges, including societal prejudice, limited healthcare access, and lack of legal protections. Recognising these barriers, the Mongolia LGBT Centre prioritised outreach to Mongolia’s trans community, creating a more inclusive environment where trans voices are empowered to lead. Last year, the Centre launched its first Trans Leadership Programme, a six-month initiative focused on developing leadership, advocacy, and community-building skills within the trans community.
The Trans Leadership Programme provided more than basic training; it offered a safe space for participants to build confidence, develop critical activism skills, and learn effective tools for navigating structural challenges. Through workshops on policy advocacy, project management, and community mobilisation, as well as personalised mentorship, participants gained valuable insights into organising grassroots efforts within Mongolia’s challenging environment.
This year, the programme’s impact culminated in the creation of Trans for Unity, Mongolia’s first trans-led organisation. Formed and led by graduates of the Leadership Programme, Trans for Unity advocates directly for the needs of Mongolia’s trans community. With ongoing support from the Mongolia LGBT Centre, Trans for Unity has quickly become a cornerstone for trans-led advocacy in Mongolia, inspiring other trans Mongolians to believe in their potential to create change.
One programme graduate, now a core team member of Trans for Unity, shared, “This programme gave me a voice I didn’t know I had. We learned not only to advocate for our rights but to build something lasting, something that others can stand on in the future.”
The establishment of Trans for Unity represents a milestone for Mongolia’s trans movement, providing direct representation and solidarity. Through initiatives like the Trans Leadership Programme, Mongolia LGBT Centre is helping build a resilient and inclusive trans movement in Mongolia, demonstrating that with the right support, grassroots activism can drive meaningful social change.
Czech Republic: A Landmark Victory for Trans Rights
In the Czech Republic, GiveOut’s grant partner Transparent has supported Gilbert Noam, a trans man, in his fight for the right to legal gender recognition without the requirement of forced sterilisation. Gilbert’s experience exemplifies the systemic barriers faced by transgender individuals in the country, where trans people must undergo sterilisation—a procedure that permanently removes reproductive function—before their gender identity can be legally recognised.
For Gilbert, the sterilisation requirement represented not only a personal violation but also a significant human rights issue. Seeking support, he reached out to Transparent, which guided him through the complex legal process with the assistance of pro bono legal expert Petr Kalla. Together, they worked diligently to bring his case before the Czech Constitutional Court. Transparent also raised public awareness about the injustices facing trans individuals, fostering essential dialogue with lawmakers, medical professionals, and the public to build understanding and empathy.
“It may seem like minor details,” Gilbert shared, “but they can easily add up. If I could change my documents without an unwanted medical procedure, I’d have more privacy and choice about who I share my personal information with.”
In early 2024, after years of legal challenges, the Constitutional Court ruled in Gilbert’s favour, declaring forced sterilisation for gender recognition unconstitutional. The court recognised that such a mandate violated human dignity and autonomy, marking a major victory for trans rights in Czechia. This landmark ruling not only transformed Gilbert’s life but also set a legal precedent for future legislation, with the court mandating that lawmakers pass a new gender recognition law by June 2025 that excludes sterilisation.
This hard-won victory reflects the tireless advocacy efforts of Transparent, which provided Gilbert not only with legal support but also with psychological guidance to navigate the court’s ruling. Transparent’s work with Gilbert has advanced trans rights in Czechia and promotes a more inclusive legal framework, reinforcing the principles of bodily autonomy and personal freedom. Gilbert’s journey and Transparent’s advocacy lay the foundation for long-term change, empowering countless others to pursue justice and live with dignity.
Caribbean: Building Climate Resilience for Trans Communities
Transgender people in the Caribbean face pervasive discrimination, violence, and barriers to accessing justice, challenges only intensified by the region’s frequent climate disasters. Despite the Caribbean’s vulnerability to hurricanes, floods, and other climate-related events, little research has previously examined how these crises impact trans communities specifically.
The United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS) is filling this gap through research that examines how climate change uniquely affects trans individuals in the Caribbean. Their studies reveal that trans individuals face heightened vulnerabilities, including disrupted access to essential healthcare and life-saving medications during disasters. Economic insecurity forces many to live in flood-prone or otherwise hazardous areas, with many experiencing unstable employment or homelessness, which exacerbates their exposure to extreme weather events that regularly devastate the region.
In response, UCTRANS is leading efforts to improve climate awareness among trans communities and advocate for policies that protect them during emergencies. Their Climate Change Impact Study has shown that trans people are particularly vulnerable to non-communicable diseases due to social vulnerabilities, poor health-seeking behaviours, and limited access to trans-competent healthcare. Many trans people in the Caribbean have reported interruptions to essential health services, such as hormone care, following natural disasters.
UCTRANS is advocating for a comprehensive Caribbean Trans Health Strategy to address these issues. They are working closely with governments and stakeholders to develop policies that protect trans individuals from discrimination, and to create rights-based programmes and legislative frameworks that achieve health equity for the trans and non-binary communities.
Through initiatives like these, UCTRANS is pioneering a climate justice approach that centres the unique needs of Caribbean trans communities, ensuring that they are not left behind in the region’s response to the climate crisis.
Global Impact Through Local Action
From the Czech Republic to the Caribbean, these stories demonstrate the profound impact GiveOut’s grant partners are making worldwide. By addressing critical gaps in services, empowering individuals through education and leadership, and advancing legal protections, these organisations are working to create a world where trans individuals can live with dignity, autonomy, and respect. With your support, these grant partners are not only changing lives today but are also paving the way for a future of justice and inclusivity for generations to come.