Photos: Ariel Gutraich/Archive Presents and courtesy of Pride in Struggle

In response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, organizations worldwide are building networks to support people in situations of extreme social vulnerability. In Argentina, the LGBTQ+ activist movement created the LGBTI+ Network "We Take Care of Each Other" in the wake of Covid-19.

This initiative, which they are inviting people to join, aims to assist and support LGBTI+ people in situations of extreme social vulnerability through various actions: donation campaigns, support in accessing emergency state subsidies, and monitoring of specific public policies, among others. 

"The measures are vital but they expose vulnerability."

The LGBTI+ Network emerged from an initiative by 100% Diversity and Rights and La Rosa Naranja, along with organizations from the Pride and Struggle space. Greta Pena explained that “Quarantine, preventive isolation, and social distancing measures are vital. However, they also expose situations of vulnerability. This Network seeks, through community-based solidarity actions, to alleviate the hardship faced by LGBTI+ people in social emergencies and to help ensure that public policies reach those who need them,” said Greta Pena, director of 100% Diversity and Rights. 

From La Rosa Naranja, trans activist Marcela Tobaldi describes what many of her peers are going through: “The situation of social vulnerability in which transvestite and trans people find themselves is structural, with enormous barriers to accessing basic human rights such as education, health, formal work, and housing. The necessary mandatory social isolation measures have worsened this situation, as they prevent the development of subsistence activities, and in response, we are strengthening our territorial organizing networks.”

To the entire country

The network is already working to reach different cities in Argentina. In one week, it delivered 60 aid kits to the trans population in the City of Buenos Aires (in the neighborhoods of Constitución and Villa Crespo) and in the province of Buenos Aires (Morón and Lanús). 

“In the coming days, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), we will distribute 260 kits for LGBTI+ people, especially transgender migrants, in the cities of Neuquén, Rawson (Chubut), Salta, Mendoza, Posadas (Misiones), Mar del Plata, Tigre (Buenos Aires Province), and the City of Buenos Aires,” they informed this publication. The kits currently include 18 items: rice, noodles, grated cheese, peas, oil, tomato puree, crackers, jam, tea, yerba mate, sugar, pâté, mayonnaise, alfajores (a type of cookie), nougat, toothpaste, hand soap, and bleach.

This week they delivered to the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity and the Ministry of Social Development a national survey of transvestite and trans people to be incorporated into the "Hacemos Futuro" program, so that they can access a monthly income, in addition to channeling the distribution of direct aid from those agencies.

“Within this framework we received a donation from the UNILEVER Foundation, of cleaning and personal hygiene products, and from the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), of money that will be used to continue addressing emergency situations.”

You can participate too

The LGBTI+ Network "We Take Care of Each Other" thanks everyone for their solidarity and continues to encourage donations and participation through this platform: http://bit.ly/ .

Who are the members of Pride and Struggle?

100% Diversity and Rights, Afro LGBT. Xangó Group, Friends for Diversity, La Rosa Naranja Civil Association, Transvestites and Trans for Human Rights, Diverse Families Association (AFDA), Equal World Association (AMI – Mar del Plata), Argentine Homosexual Community (CHA), Conurbanes for Diversity, 7 Colors Cooperative, Diversity in Action – Tigre, Free Childhoods, La Cámpora Diversia, La Sublevada – NE. Mala Junta-Vamos, Argentine Trans Women (MTA), Popular and Feminist Social Root, Scouts for Equality.

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