Covid-19: remote work and wellbeing resources for LGBTI communities


In the times of COVID-19, how is your activism going to change? How are you re-organising your work, and reaching out to communities on the ground?

In this page you will find a list of resources shared by ILGA World to help you: tools for remote working as you adjust your working lives, names of e-learning platforms, software to conduct webinars and so many more.  But we also want to think of your wellbeing: as many countries are increasingly shutting down, you will find here a list of queer-themed books, podcasts, shows, movies and music to enjoy to fight isolation while being at home.

This collaborative list is a work-in-progress: if you have tips to share, or can think of further categories to include, send them to [email protected] and we’ll add them! 

 

GENERAL RESOURCES

Take a look at some digital, physical and emotional protection tips by Frontline Defenders.
If you are a Pride organiser, you can access French and English resources - such as webinars, support groups and health tips - at Fierté Canada Pride.
ILGA-Europe have shared a 3-part plan to support the LGBTI movement in Europe and Central Asia.

 

REMOTE-WORK RESOURCES

 

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR WORKING REMOTELY

Check this useful guideline (via Zoom)

VIDEO-CONFERENCING AND WEBINAR PLATFORMS

  • Zoom
    offers free accounts, and free video conferences under 40 minutes for a maximum of three connected user at a time
  • GoToMeeting
    offers 3 months of free site-wide licensing for eligible organisations (including non-profits)
  • Google Cloud
    Those signed up to Google's paid GSuite service will be able to access additional free conferencing software until 30 September: up to 250 participants and 10,000 viewers for those planning larger events
  • Adobe Connect
    offers 90 days free online conferencing and digital coordination spaces to those who sign up before 1 July 2020

VIRTUAL WORKSPACES

  • Microsoft Teams
    Free for 6 months. As of March 2020, Microsoft has lifted restrictions on how many users can join a team or schedule video calls

SAFE FILES CLOUD STORAGE

  • Sync
    A secure file storage cloud of up to 5GB with end to end encryption
  • Mega.nz
    A file storage cloud with end to end encryption. The first 15GB are free

FILE TRANSFER PLATFORMS

  • WeTransfer
    allows users to send any file up to 2GB. Securely encrypted while sending, but subject to US Patriot Act laws and decryption by the receiver's email account, it is not recommended for highly sensitive information.
  • Tresorit
    Transfers files to other users up to 5GB in size, offering end-to-end encryption and password protection and deleting files after 7 days
  • box
    Unlimited secure file storage and sharing with a 3 month free trial

MESSAGING AND VOIP APPS

  • Wire
    allows users to exchange end-to-end encrypted instant messages, as well as make voice and video calls
  • Signal
    Open source, end-to-end encrypted app to share messages, voice and video calls

SURVEYS AND QUESTIONNAIRES

  • SurveyMonkey
    A survey-creator platform that has had free and paid packages, now includes new free tools and templates for organisations to use during the pandemic

E-SIGNATURES

  • DocuSign
    As many items can no longer be signed in hard-copy format, this 90-day free trial allows users to manage e-signatures on various documents

SECURITY

  • 1Password
    Password management system, with the 1 month free trial extended to 6 months during the pandemic
  • Cryptomator
    allows you to independently encrypt your files before uploading them to the web
  • Bitlocker
    allows for a full disc encryption to protect against unwanted access to sensitive data
  • VeraCrypt
    offers a tutorial on data encryption for beginners
  • Malwarebytes
    Free antivirus software to scan for malware or security breaches

VPN (LOCATION ANONYMISATION) PLATFORMS

  • Psiphon
    allows users in hostile environments to hide their true location for free for up to 500MB
  • HideMe
    allows users in hostile environments to hide their true location online for free, with more extensive paid packages
  • Tunnel Bear
    allows users to hide their true location online for free, with more extensive paid packages

GRAPHIC DESIGN TOOLS

  • Canva
    A free image and video editing tool, with a limited free option. The paid Enterprise version's free trial has been extended to 3 months for those working from home during the pandemic, and allows for collaborative design for businesses and organisations

E-LEARNING PLATFORMS

  • The Classroom
    Online lessons educating about LGBT+ experiences in society and queer readings of literature and media
  • LGBT+ History Month UK
    A collection of lessons and resources for teachers, parents, classrooms and single students
  • Future Learn
    offers thousands of free courses from universities all over the world. Certificate of completion must be purchased, however
  • Free Code Camp
    has compiled a list of 450 Ivy League university courses offered online for free. Certificate of completion must be purchased, however

 

WELLBEING

The resources provided here are provided by diverse activists, staff and board members of ILGA World from around the world in the spirit of sharing during a time of uncertainty. These resources are not, however, formally endorsed by ILGA World, and nor should their content be seen as reflecting the views of ILGA World on any topic.

WELLBEING TIPS

BOOKS AND COMICS

  • A Safe Girl to Love 
    An anthology of short love stories by and for transfeminine folk, by Casey Plett. 
  • Validation Comic 
    A webcomic following the life of a young trans woman balancing work and her aspirations of breaking into the comic-book industry
  • Assigned Male 
    An educational webcomic aimed at adults and children alike, looking at gender, sexuality and politics
  • The Princess 
    A webcomic about the everyday adventures of a young trans girl and her friends and family
  • Queer Africa 2 - New Stories
    An anthology of stories with contributions from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, and the USA celebrating "he diversity and fluidity of queer and African identities”. Check out more MaThoko's Books here.
  • XOXY - a memoir
    Meet Kimberly, a regular suburban housewife and mother, whose discovery later in life that she was born intersex fuelled her to become an international human rights defender 


LGBTI ARCHIVES AND RESOURCES

  • GALA Archive
    A South African LGBTI archive chronicling the history of the rainbow community in the region
  • KumbuKumbu Archive
    The Gay and Lesbian Archive of Kenya, available to the public to bring to light the untold history of queer communities in East Africa

MOVIES

  • Five Films for Freedom 
    LGBTIQ-themed films selected by the British Film Council (for free until 29 March 2020)
  • Alone with people 
    Short film on coming out in the American South
  • The Ants 
    Two teenage twins come to terms with the realities of growing up

PODCASTS

MUSIC

WEB SERIES

  • Potluck
    first lesbian webseries from Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Boxed In 
    A webseries about the problems that come from being "boxed in" to a specific identity
  • This Just Out: with Liz Feldman 
    A talkshow hosted from a kitchen table with a wide range of queer guests
  • Coming In 
    A comedy about a man coming to terms with waking up straight on the morning of his wedding
  • You Do You 
    A Buzzfeed webseries about the lives of queer women and their friends
  • Unfortunatly Ashly
    A young woman deals with the difficult and humorous parts of being a millenial
  • Her Story
    The story of a trans woman and the people in her life looking for love
  • Control (Kontrola)
    A story about lesbian life in Poland
  • Anne+
    A webseries about a young Dutch lesbian's tumultuous love life

OTHER SHOWS

APPS

  • Insight Timer - a smartphone app and online community for meditation, featuring guided meditations, music and talks posted by contributing experts
  • Headspace - free sign-up (for 10 days) app introducing users to meditation

 

STUDIES

Egale has published a study that highlights the impact of Covid-19 on the LGBTQI2S community in Canada.