TGEU Countries: Moldova With the opportunities provided by the ProTrans pro- outreach to previously underserved individuals, namely ject, GENDERDOC-M has increased its capacity to cross-dressers, which was mainly done on-line through work with trans individuals and become more trans dating websites. inclusive, while its staff, consisting of cisgender lesbi- F or me, as for a trans person, participation in group meetings Fortunately, I haven’t faced any aggressive manifestation of and other activities organised by GENDERDOC-M is a transphobia in Moldova yet. However, there have been instanc- lucky opportunity to feel accepted, to feel that I belong without es when strangers have bothered me with questions about my needing to hide or being ashamed of my gender identity. The identity and private life or, walking behind me on the street, ans, gays and heterosexuals, has expanded organisa- During the ProTrans project implementation period, support I receive is priceless. Outside GENDERDOC-M, I also have commented on my actions and called me “it”. There are tional knowledge on trans-specific issues. During the GENDERDOC-M continued to provide free and confi- have a circle of friends who know about my gender identity and plenty of sidelong glances and grins, but I haven’t experienced project-implementation period, new transgender and dential psychological counselling and legal aid to trans have nothing against it, but I have a sense that I look weird in any violence. I’m cautious, and I try not to provoke any poten- gender non-conforming people reached out to the or- individuals in cases of discrimination and psychological their eyes. This makes it difficult; it creates barriers. Participat- tial transphobes, but I dislike the fact that I need to be careful. ganisation and even became volunteers. The organisa- and physical violence, as well as in the legal gender-rec- ing in GENDERDOC-M’s activities, I feel there’s a place for me I want to be open. I want to be able to talk about myself in the tion published a leaflet for trans people and the gener- ognition process. in the world. male gender without fearing any aggressive reaction, ridicule or al public with useful information on the trans issues it questions. I understand those trans people who prefer to stay in works on and the trans-specific services it provides. The It is important for LGBT organisations, such as GENDER- the shadows without attracting any attention. However, I disa- same information, including information about the sup- DOC-M, to work more on improving the situation of trans gree with this position. I’m fine with being trans, and I want to people in the country and fighting for their rights, because trans be trans, even if I transition and pass for a “true” guy. I want to people are part of this society and their interests must be taken tell society, “I am, and this is the way I am” and hear in response, into account. I believe many trans people are uncomfortable “Ok, we get it. We’ll keep this in mind.” However, for this to with the fact that, formally, there are only men and women in happen, we must do something so others see and hear us and, port group for the trans community, was published on In July 2015, my husband and I GENDERDOC-M’s website in a separate section and is visited a friend of mine for her birthday accessible to everyone. 1 in the village where I come from. At around midnight, my friend was visited by a GENDERDOC-M held eight bimonthly meetings on male acquaintance of hers who came in with society. Personally for me, it causes a great deal of inconven- eventually, get used to us as another type of normal. various topics, including transphobic violence, for the seven other men. He insulted us, calling me a “fag” ience, which would not be the case if there were a place for us. S, 26-year-old trans man trans community, facilitated a movie screening and and questioning whether I was a man or a woman. If people get used to the fact that we exist and thus perceive us discussion on the International Transgender Day of Re- Then he physically assaulted us. membrance, organised another movie screening and I immediately called a GENDERDOC-M representative, supported the trans-solidarity flashmob2 held on the who advised me to call the police and International Transgender Day of Visibility. The idea undergo a forensic medical examination. to carry out the flashmob came from a human-rights When we returned to Chișinău, activist whose 18-year-old daughter is a trans person. Another activity, the multimedia collective reading per- of course, we need to fight. Structural and institutional violence The Law on Civil Status Documents contains a single we asked for psychological counselling with the Currently, Moldova lacks any legal gender-recognition provision (Article 66, “Request of modification, correc- GENDERDOC-M’s psychologist. mechanism to regulate or facilitate the procedure of tion or completion of a civil status document”4) that im- formance,3 held on International Coming Out Day, fea- While the police investigation is underway, changing identification documents issued by the state plicitly refers to transgender individuals and their right tured personal stories of transsexual individuals from we are benefitting from the counselling (including birth certificates) for transgender individu- to have their preferred gender (male or female only) Moldova. A Trans Round was included in the two LGBT because GENDERDOC-M is the only place als. The lack of documents corresponding to one’s de legally recognised. Paragraph 2 of Article 66 stipulates Trivia Quizzes, which aimed to raise awareness about we could receive it from. facto physical appearance and identity constitutes a that “The State Registry Office satisfies the request of real obstacle to employment, border crossing, voting modification, correction or completion of a civil status and opening a bank account, as well as in other spheres document if there is no litigation between the parties where documents are required. concerned in cases when: c) applicant submits an offi- trans people and issues among members of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community who participated in this entertainment activity. Another project achievement was + 60 + as something natural, our lives will improve. And for this, S, 32-year-old transsexual woman + 61 +