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

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 LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More movement in Europe and Central Asia.

Check this useful guideline (via Zoom)

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• The Classroom
  Online lessons educating about LGBT+ experiences in society and queerpreviously used as a derogatory term to refer to LGBT individuals in the English language – and still perceived as offensive by some - queer has been reclaimed by people who identify beyond traditional gender categories and heteronormative social norms. Although not universally accepted, it is often used as a catch-all to include many people within the larger community of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. More 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

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.

• How to cope with stress – how to help children cope with stress during the outbreak (World Health Organization)
• Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health (BBC)
• Advice on staying physically active while on lockdown (The Commonwealth)
• Meditation playlist on YouTube

• 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 transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More 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 genderrefers to a social construct which places cultural and social expectations on individuals based on their assigned sex. More, 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 intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More fuelled her to become an international human rights defender

• GALA Archive
  A South African LGBTI archive chronicling the history of the rainbow community in the region
• KumbuKumbu Archive
  The Gayadjective to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional
  attractions are to people of the same gender. Men, women and non-binary people may use this
  term to describe themselves. More and Lesbianadjective/noun to describe a woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. More Archive of Kenya, available to the public to bring to light the untold history of queer communities in East Africa

• 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 outthe process for a person to tell someone/others about their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Not to be confused with “outing”, which refers to the act of exposing someone’s identity to others without their permission. More in the American South
• The Ants
  Two teenage twins come to terms with the realities of growing up

• Afroqueer
  A podcast about queer Africans and African diaspora
• Nancy
  Stories about modern LGBTIQ life
• Queery: with Cameron Esposito
  Discussions with stand-up comic, Cameron Esposito, and a wide range of guests
• Disability After Dark: with Andrew Gurza
  A podcast about disability, sexuality, kink and everything in between!
• Getting Curious: with Jonathan van Ness
  Queer Eye‘s Jonathan van Ness speaks to experts on wide-ranging topics affecting our modern world
• Making Gay History
  Through a decades old audio archive of rare interviews, this podcast creates intimate, personal portraits of both known and long-forgotten champions, heroes, and witnesses of our movement.

• 50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride (via Pitchfork)
  Listen to selections from this list on Spotify or Apple Music
• Eight LGBTQ+ artists keeping Chilean indie music subversive (via Bandcamp)

• 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

• Nanette by Hannah Gasby: a must-watch on Netflix
• Selection of queer slam poetry: Ash Hardell, Andrea Gibson
• Selection of queer stand-up comedy and theatre:
  in Spanish: the shows by Las Reinas Chulas
  in English: DeAnne Smith, Margaret Cho, Jen Brister, Mae Martin, Mateo Lane, Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, Wanda Sykes, Tig Notaro, Gina Jashere, Fortune Feimster, Joe Lycett, Rhys Nicholson, Joel Creasey.
• I don’t Bi it 
  YouTube series debunking queer stereotypes

• 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

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