Athens, August 21, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Subject: «Cooperation with the Aids Healthcare Foundation to support vulnerable trans and LGBTI persons due to the consequences of covid-19».

The Greek Transgender Support Association (GTSA), is a voluntary non-governmental organization that promotes the rights and freedoms of trans, gender-diverse, intersex and LGBTI persons in general, as well as sex workers, following its actions to support vulnerable trans people due to the consequences of covid-19, informs about its cooperation with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation for this purpose.

Specifically, in the framework of our cooperation with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the GTSA received financial support of 2,133.00 (two thousand, one hundred and thirty three) euros, in order to support as directly as possible the most vulnerable members of the trans and LGBTI community, whether they are members of the GTSA or not, due to the consequences of covid-19.

Financial support in all cases concerns trans and LGBTI people living in the Attica region and in particular, financial coverage of either part of rent or part of bills (electricity or water) that are pending with priority to those who are at risk of water or power cut, or coverage of part of medical expenses (including expenses of participation costs of hormone therapy) and will be given the same amount on each individual.

In all cases, it will be necessary to provide a tax clearance that will show the financial weakness of the person, as well as evidence that will ensure it is the rent of the person that resides there, or it is a bill that is in danger of being cutting and belongs to the requested person, or in the case of coverage of insured participation costs of hormone therapy the prescription document will be needed, while the money will be deposited online by the GTSA to the pending coverage of individual via electronic payment.

The persons who are interested should contact us to make an appointment from Monday 24 to Thursday 27 August, from 10:00 to 14:00, at 210.92.10.697, while each appointment will be made in compliance with all necessary measures due to pandemic.

This emergency financial support, is in addition to the other actions of the GTSA to strengthen the trans and LGBTI community in general in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, while the GTSA will also issue legal documents and receipts as well as this funding will be recorded in the annual financial report that the GTSA publishes every year in the context of transparency in Civil Society.

At the same time, the process of providing financial support from the Department of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the Council of Europe to vulnerable people of the trans community living in the Attica region, who face extremely the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic, with priority given to trans people who are older and working in sex, has already started and will be completed in August- beginning of September [1].

Also, in the context of supporting and empowering the most vulnerable members of our community, the monthly food supply by the Bodossaki Foundation continues, as well as the individual sessions of psychological support, either live or via teleconference.

We warmly thank the AIDS Healthcare Foundation for their support in our efforts to strengthen in the best possible way the trans community, which has faced and continues to face the consequences of covid-19 to maximum.

We recognize that the above cannot, of course, meet all the needs of the trans people, who have been severely affected by the effects of covid-19, which should have already been addressed by Greek State through its own solidarity mechanisms, and we hope that the more urgent and basic needs will be covered.

Finally, we reiterate and express our particular frustration with the State that it should be the first to respond to the support needs of the most vulnerable groups experiencing to the fullest the consequences of the pandemic, including trans people and trans sex workers, as the GTSA has repeatedly requested[2].

THE BOARD OF MEMBERS

GREEK TRANSGENDER SUPPORT ASSOCIATION

79 Sygrou Street, 3rd floor, Athens, 11745

Tel. 210.9210697

Office hours: Monday to Friday

09.00-14.00 & 17.00-20.00

http://tgender.gr – http://www.transgender-association.gr/

contact@tgender.gr – transgender.support.association@gmail.com

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[1] See relevant GTSA press release – 7.7.2020: “Cooperation with the Council of Europe to support vulnerable trans people due to the consequences of covid-19”, http://tgender.gr/press-release-cooperation-with-the-council-of-europe-to-support-vulnerable-trans-people-due-to-the-consequences-of-covid-19/

[2] Press Release, 19.3.2020, “The Greek Transgender Support Association calls on the Government to provide financial support for sex workers as a result of the spread of COVID-19” http://tgender.gr/press-release-the-greek-transgender-support-association-calls-on-the-government-to-provide-financial-support-for-sex-workers-as-a-result-of-the-spread-of-covid-19/