According to various research and statistics, Slovakia is one of the countries within the European Union most affected by queerphobia and racism. For this reason, civil organisations that fight for the rights of minorities, whether they are national or sexual minorities, are extremely important. One of the key NGOs is PRIZMA, a counselling centre in Košice that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community. Richard Langdon, a young transgender Romani man, works there.

Richard is one of the most prominent figures not only in the Roma LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia. He is therefore an activist amplified on the other - he is proud of both his ethnicity and his gender identity, and he fights for the rights of both minorities in Prizma, a counselling centre in Košice that helps LGBTQ+ members who do not know what to do, find themselves in a difficult, seemingly unsolvable situation or just need information about their rights.

"I myself know very well what it is like to be assigned to the outcasts of society, for example because of my gender identity, but mainly because of my ethnicity. Being gay, trans, bi or otherwise different, like the people around you, doesn't make you a bad person and your Roma ethnicity doesn't make you someone worse. If I were to go back in time, I really couldn't imagine going through the process of transitioning at all, finding jobs, love, a place where I belong, when I've always been alone, without any support. I know that the journey to accepting one's otherness is a difficult one, but it can be done, after all, I did it too. Today, I truly have everything I thought I would never have... Like he sings in our anthem, the Roma anthem: Djelem djelem, lungone dromenca, maladinom bachtale Romenca, aven manca savo Roma. That's why you don't have to be alone in all this. I have hope that we, the LGBTQ+ community, will be granted the same rights, conditions and opportunities to live a good and quality life. After all, that is the foundation. Hate and ignorance are not the solution," says Richard in a video posted on the Facebook profile of Bratislava PRIDE.

The PRIZMA counseling center is unique in Slovakia in its focus and size, so it is important that Romani LGBTQ+ clients find "their person" here. Richard himself is aware of this in his daily practice:

"I consider the establishment of the community and counselling centre prizma to be a significant step forward, thanks to which LGBTQ+ Roma have also found a strong and supportive point on their journey through life. Of course, our entire counselling team deals with Roma clients, but as a transgender Roma I evoke a much greater sense of confidence. This is extremely important, crucial, in building the client-counsellor relationship and for effective help. The pillars of my work are my values, which are the same as those of our counselling centre. By working with queer Roma women and Roma men, I try to prevent their social exclusion or to mitigate the effects of such exclusion. In particular, I try to strengthen their self-esteem and give them a feeling of unconditional acceptance and understanding. The words they use to name their identity are also important. That is why, for example, I have created an informative and educational leaflet with basic terminology on LGBTQ+ issues in the Romani language."

Importantly for LGBTQ+ clients, Richard is available 3 times a week from 3pm to 6pm online on the counselling centre's Facebook profile. This also makes him an indispensable member of the PRIZMA team in Košice today.

GOALS OF THE KOSHER PRIZMA COUNSELING CENTER:

- Through continuous education of the LGBTQ+ community, community activities and counselling, to build an LGBTQ+ community that is ready to respond to the problems it encounters and actively contribute to solving social problems.

- reduce the negative impact of bullying, discrimination and other negative social phenomena experienced by individuals in the queer community through counselling and support

- to contribute to the respect of human rights and the fulfilment of our vision through public education

- to help create spaces for mutual understanding and solidarity through open dialogue and related activities with other marginalised groups and their representatives