RISE – Ressources for Intersectional Solidarity and Empowerment

FLINTA is an acronym. It stands for: women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender people.

FLINTA is more than just a list of identities. FLINTA individuals often experience exclusion, violence, or discrimination because they are not (or not only) perceived as men. The term FLINTA is frequently used in activist and political contexts to highlight those who are particularly affected by sexism and patriarchal structures.

Trans and intersex men also experience discrimination and can be affected by patriarchal violence. However, since they are perceived as men in many areas of society, they often do not face systemic disadvantage through sexism in the same way.

The goal of the program is to empower FLINTA individuals—especially through offerings focused on empowerment, protection, and education for people affected by patriarchal violence.

We are aware that the term FLINTA is not perfect. Language is constantly evolving, and we observe these developments closely. We reserve the right to further develop and adapt our terminology and definitions in the future in order to reflect as many perspectives as possible.

Many FLINTA experience difficult situations – due to the way our society is structured.
Empowerment means: regaining strength or power.
Empowerment is about:
FLINTA should feel strong. They should be able to decide for themselves what they need. They should be able to improve their life circumstances.
This can happen, for example, through:
Meeting other FLINTA (networking)
Learning together
Community events
Counseling and support

All of this helps people not feel alone – and make change happen.

Some people experience discrimination – meaning unfair or unjust treatment.
For example, because they are a woman. Or because they have a different skin color. Or because they are poor or have a disability.

Intersectionality means:
A person can be affected by several reasons for discrimination at once. These reasons overlap and interact.
Example:
A woman with a disability can be discriminated against because of her gender and her disability.
Or: A Black lesbian woman can experience racism, sexism, and homophobia all at once.

These types of discrimination belong together – they sometimes reinforce each other.
That’s why it’s important not to look at them individually, but together.

Intersectionality helps us understand:
Not everyone experiences discrimination the same way. Some people are affected in multiple ways – and this needs to be seen and understood.

These are people who had to leave their home country because it was too dangerous – for example due to war, persecution, or threats.
They have often experienced racism, violence, and traumatic events while fleeing. They live in insecure conditions in refugee shelters, are still in the asylum process, and don’t know if they can stay in Germany.

These are people who themselves or whose families moved or fled to another country to live there. They may have had to learn a new language, experienced racism, and faced challenges in finding a job or housing.
This group also includes people whose parents fled to Germany, but who themselves were born or grew up in Germany, live here with a secure residence permit, and have their own housing.

Many young FLINTA experience early on that they are not taken seriously. They face discrimination – for example, because of their gender, background, or because they are queer. Often, others decide what is good or bad, right or wrong for them.
That’s why it’s important for young FLINTA to feel empowered. They should be able to connect with others, learn to express their opinion, know their rights, and shape their future.

LBTIQ+ is an abbreviation for different groups of people whose sexual orientation or gender identity differs from the majority.
L stands for Lesbians: women who fall in love with other women
B stands for Bisexual: people who can fall in love with both men and women
T stands for Trans: people who live as a different gender than the one assigned to them at birth
I stands for Intersex: people who do not clearly have only male or female physical sex characteristics
Q stands for Queer: people who do not identify with the traditional categories of “man” or “woman” or do not see themselves as heterosexual
The + stands for all other people who don’t fit under the letters LBTIQ, but are still part of the community.
Together, LBTIQ+ is a term for all these groups. They often have similar experiences – for example, with discrimination or the feeling of not fully belonging in society.

Many FLINTA with disabilities / disabled FLINTA experience discrimination – often in multiple ways. That’s why one goal of this call for proposals is to support organizations and initiatives that work towards greater self-determination and participation for FLINTA with disabilities / disabled FLINTA.

Many Black FLINTA / FLINTA of Color in Germany experience exclusion, racism, and sexism—that is, discrimination because they are neither white nor male. That is why they need specific support.
We want organizations to create programs that empower Black FLINTA individuals / FLINTA of Color individuals — for example, through networking and counseling.

By Sintizze and Romnja, we mean: Women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender individuals from the Sinti and Roma communities.

Sintizze and Romnja have lived in Germany for a very long time. Nevertheless, many of them still face exclusion, prejudice, and violence. FLINTA individuals from these communities are often affected by multiple forms of discrimination — such as racism, sexism, and other intersecting oppressions.

That is why organizations should also be able to offer specific programs for this target group — for example, safe spaces and empowerment groups.

Inclusivity means that everyone feels addressed and able to participate. But not all groups need to be open to everyone at all times. Sometimes it is important for specific groups to have their own space. These spaces allow people with similar experiences to connect and support each other.

However, there are also situations where groups exclude or discriminate against others – often unintentionally. For example, a group might not take trans people into account, or it might only focus on people who speak a certain language.

It is important that you explain in your application who is allowed to participate and why – and also who is not, and why. The point is not that every group must be open to everyone, but that you are clear about who your group is for, who it is not for, and the reasons behind that.

A rural area is a region not close to a large city – usually small villages or countryside. These places often offer fewer opportunities for people to connect, exchange, and collaborate.
For example:
Community centers or meeting spots
Events where people can get to know each other
Programs to learn or work together, such as workshops or networking meetings
In rural areas with little infrastructure, these opportunities are often missing – making it harder for people to connect and engage in community.

The eastern German states are those that used to be part of East Germany (GDR): Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.
In recent years, the AfD (Alternative for Germany) has gained more voters in these areas. The party appeals to many people who are unhappy with political changes since reunification. Some far-right groups take advantage of this to spread extreme ideas.
That’s why activities that counter this development are especially important in these regions.

In some states and cities – for example, Berlin – counseling services for LGBTQ+ people are being cut back. Support for asylum seekers is also being reduced. Please describe the political challenges and background in your application.

filia does not fund organizations with an annual budget larger than €500,000. The reason is: we want to support grassroots organizations and small initiatives that do not (yet) have the structures to apply for funding elsewhere. If you are formally part of a larger umbrella organization, it is important for us to know both your group’s budget and that of the umbrella organization. If you are applying through a fiscal host, we only need to know the amount of money your own group has access to.

A fiscal host is an organization with recognized non-profit status and an up-to-date tax exemption certificate that receives the funds on your behalf.