TGEU Countries: Hungary ProTrans in Hungary B arnabas Hidasi is the President of Transvanilla Transgender Association. He is the main researcher of the organisation and responsible for outreach to trans and gender-non-conforming persons in the country, and he aims to empower them to fight for their rights and raise awareness about trans issues. The main impact of the ProTrans project for Transvanilla is that it has enabled the association to expand its activities to cover a broader range of issues, and the tools provided by the project have enabled it to communicate effectively to its constituencies using existing channels. K risztina Kolos Orban is the Monitoring Officer at Transvanilla Transgender Association. Their responsibilities, apart from monitoring transphobic incidents and providing counselling to trans, gender-nonconforming and intersex persons, include building alliances with governmental and non-governmental or- T he ProTrans project in Hungary was implemented Transvanilla was launched in 2008 as an information- by Transvanilla Transgender Association (TV), and al website for those seeking legal gender recognition it was the association’s first financed project. Because and trans-specific healthcare in the country. At first, it the association had not previously monitored and re- was an online information portal and community sup- ported transphobic incidents, it had limited informa- port group. Beginning in 2010, monthly meetings were The main impact of the ProTrans project for Transvanilla is that the association tion on transphobic discrimination, violence and hate held with lectures by experts and thematic discussions, has strengthened its position in both the broader civil society and the trans, crimes. The implementation of the project resulted in which became the main activity of the community. the introduction of new monitoring protocols and sev- Some of those who regularly attended these meetings eral related challenges. founded the organization in November 2011 in order ganisations in Hungary and at the European level to form coalitions for the fight against transphobia in society. gender-nonconforming and intersex communities. + 32 + + 33 +