Foundation Glas - Bulgaria

GLAS Foundation (Gays and Lesbians Accepted in Society) is a non-governmental organization, founded in 2014, which strives to bring forth a positive change to the lives of LGBTI people in Bulgaria, guarantying them full equality and protection from all forms of discrimination. The organization’s goal is the complete inclusion of LGBT people in all aspects of life and society. Our mission is to empower LGBTI people to become strong advocates, inspire businesses to create an integrated work environment for LGBTI employees in Bulgaria, and campaign against social injustices.

Projects

Sofia Pride – the biggest annual activist event in Bulgaria
Sofia Pride aims to counteract the methods and mechanism of oppression towards LGBTI people in Bulgaria and to bring forth their individual and social empowerment, not just through their equal treatment without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity, but also through public acceptance and improvement of their living standard. Since its founding in 2014, The GLAS Foundation has been one of the main organizers of Sofia Pride, alongside The “Bilitis Resource Center” Foundation, The LGBT Youth organization “Deystvie” and the Bulgarian Helzinki Committee. The first pride march was held on July 28, 2008 under the motto “Me and my family” and about 100 people took part in it. The 16th annual Sofia Pride was held in 2023 under the motto “Our Family Invites You to Pride” brought together over 12 000 people in the capital.

Rainbow Hub – The first LGBTI community center in Bulgaria
Ranbow Hub is the result of the collaborative work of the GLAS Foundation and “Bilitis Resource Center” Foundation and other individual LGBTI activists. Its purpose is to provide a safe space for all the LGBTI people in Bulgaria, where they can receive useful information regarding their rights and their health, communicate, meet in groups based on their interests, as well as support groups. The Hub, which officially opened in early 2018, also serves as the headquarters of Sofia Pride, and as an office for the three national LGBTI organizations.

Work It OUT – A business platform for a more diverse and integrated working environment
The business platform Work It OUT brings together local and global organizations, based in Bulgaria, that seek to make their corporate culture more accepting and diverse. The goal is to encourage the formation and development of a positive business and economic environment for equality and opportunity of every single employee in Bulgaria. The platform, which was created by the GLAS Foundation in 2017, hosts a variety of corporate and educational events, seminars and initiatives with the purpose of introducing companies and their managers to the innovative methods of LGBTI inclusion. The platform helps and cooperates with firms in the structuring of long-term strategies for engaging resources in support of integrating this group of employees. Presently, Work It Out works in partnership with 18 organizations including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, EY, British Council, SAP and others.

Wearetolerant.com – a platform for online reporting of hate crimes and homophobia
In 2015 The GLAS Foundation started the platform Wearetolerant.com. in order to help people who have experienced or have witnessed homophobic or transphobic hate crimes share and report what had transpired. The collected information is presented to the proper authorities so as to improve the treatment of LGBT people. The initiative aims to increase public consciousness regarding the seriousness of homophobic hate crimes, to monitor their types and scope within Bulgaria, as well as to encourage people to report these incidents. On the basis of all the signals to the platform between May and October 2017, the GLAS Foundation published a report in early 2018, according to which the most frequent type of incident, reported by people with non-traditional sexual orientation or gender identity in Bulgaria, are threats. Data shows that among the public places that have the highest amount of registered threats are schools, homes and bars.

Proud.bg – The first ever Bulgarian LGBTI online media
GLAS Foundation aims to give an opportunity to members of the LGBTI community to share their personal stories and to give society a clear example through the work that they do. We have addressed this goal by creating the online magazine Proud.bg. It is a media, created by the community for the community, which strives to bring about normality in the perception of gay people, and to make up for the existing lack of such media in the Bulgarian market. The project started in 2013 and quickly became the leading platform for LGBTI news in the country. It is viewed by more than 20 thousand visitors per month.

Sofia Pride Arts – The festival of modern LGBTI art during Sofia Pride
Sofia Pride Arts is one of the significant initiatives during the culture program of the most important LGBTI+ event in Bulgaria – Sofia Pride. After 7 years and over 100 presented projects of LGBTI performers from across the world, including Bulgaria, as of 2018. The Art festival has been extended from a week to a month and that is why the name was changed from Sofia Pride Art Week to Sofia Pride Arts. The Art initiative of the GLAS Foundation and Sofia Pride’s organizing committee has been held since 2012 as a preceding program to Sofia Pride in June. The Festival is curated by the GLAS Foundation and it includes a series of events and galleries with the purpose of showing the LGBTI’s community’s beauty, diversity and accomplishments on a global and national level.