Thursday 22 May
9h00 – Paralell Sessions
The Professionalization of LGBTIQ+ Health Community Services (1h - Auditorium)
Integrating Healthcare Professionals and Services in a Community Setting
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How do volunteer-driven or activist-led health projects transition into stable, recognized services without losing their community roots? This session examines training, funding, and governance models that blend professional standards with activism. Speakers highlight tensions between formalizing operations and preserving bottom-up engagement.
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Christophe Catin, Co-directeur, Dialogai, Genève
Milo Vieira, Directeur, Le Girofard, Bordeaux
Michal Albert Pawlega, Responsable de prévention, AHF Europe
Moderation : Nicolas Derche, Directeur, Checkpoint et Arcat (Groupe SOS), Paris
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Affirming and Accessible Trans Health Pathways (2h15 - Room F1)
Building Inclusive, Community-Led Care Models
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This session showcases trans-led health initiatives rooted in community care and self-determination. From Berlin to Bordeaux, Amsterdam to Zurich, the presentations highlight how peer support, health mediation, local cooperation, and professional training come together to create inclusive and respectful healthcare pathways tailored to the needs of trans people.
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Moderation : Aurore Dufrasne, Psychologue, Genres Pluriels, Bruxelles
Presentation of initiatives
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Phé Hofmann, Psychosocial Counsellor, Checkpoint BLN, Berlin
Jaron Soh, Co-funder and CEO, Voda.co
Giu Schmid, Trans Department, Checkpoint Zurich, Zürich
Samuel Crougneau, Chargé de mission - Médiateur santé pair, Le Girofard - Centre LGBTI+ Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Panel discussion
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Sandro Niederer, Officer on Sexual Health for Trans People, Swiss AIDS Federation, Bern
Dinah Bons, Exécutive Director, Trans United Europe-BPOC Transnetwork, Amsterdam
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Bridging Academia and Communities (10h00 - 1h15 - Auditorium)
Fostering Meaningful Collaboration for Better Knowledge Production and Use
Academia and grassroots groups can combine strengths to generate high-impact research. Presenters share models for equitable partnerships—like co-designed studies or joint data ownership—and detail how trust, transparency, and shared priorities enhance both scholarly outcomes and on-the-ground initiatives serving LGBTIQ+ health.
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Benjamin Hampel, Medical Chief/Researcher, Checkpoint Zurich/University of Zurich, Zurich
Clark Pignedoli, Researcher, Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, IRD, SESSTIM, ISSPAM, Marseille
Gabriel Girard, Researcher, SESSTIM (AMU - Inserm - IRD), Marseille
Thomas Kylo, Researcher, The Love Tank, London​
Moderation : Will Nutland, Co-funder, The Love Tank, London
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11h15 - Break
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11h45 – Parallel sessions
LGBTIQ+ Health Data: How to Collect, How to Use (Part 1 - Auditorium)
Inclusive Methodologies, Confidentiality, and Evidence-Based Practice
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Gathering sensitive information requires careful ethics, inclusive language, and robust consent. This session explores best practices for reaching diverse subgroups, managing privacy, and leveraging disaggregated data to improve interventions. By refining data collection and application, researchers can reveal hidden disparities and drive tailored solutions.
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Margot Annequin, Researcher, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille
John Gilmore, Assistant Professor, University College Dublin, Dublin
Lynda Sagrestano, Senior Researcher, Deutsches Jugendinstitut (German Youth Institute), Munich
Moderation : Cynthia Thöni, Clinical Psychologist, Zurich
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At the Intersection of Borders and Care (Room F1)
Community Health Initiatives for Queer Migrants and People of Colour
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This session highlights intersectional, community-led responses to the health and wellbeing needs of queer migrants and people of colour. From London to Athens, the presentations showcase inclusive models that center cultural relevance, peer involvement, harm reduction, and multilingual access. These initiatives challenge systemic exclusions by creating safe spaces, direct services, and new pathways to advocacy and healing.
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Robert Kocur, Project Coordinator, The Love Tank, London
Moran Perez, Coordinator of Refcheckpoint, Positive Voice - Refcheckpoint, Athens
Inês Correia, Health Co-coordinator, GAT, Lisbon
Moderation : Valentin Blaison, Responsable dépistage, Ex Aequo, Bruxelles
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Chemsex, Care and Community (Part 1 - Room F2)
Peer-Based Responses to Complex Realities
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This session explores the evolving landscape of chemsex across Europe through community-driven and clinical lenses. Presentations highlight peer-led harm reduction strategies, the mental health impacts of drug use in sexualised contexts, emerging substances like MDPV, and the role of sexual rights in response models. Together, they outline the need for holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive interventions rooted in community expertise and care.
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Leonardo Pavam, Head of Development & Outreach, The Love Tank, London
Christos Nousis, Research associate, Aeginiteio Psychiatric Hospital Suicide Outpatient Clinic, Athens
Moderation : Sandrine Detandt, Professeur et Psychologue, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles
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Historical and Comparative Perspective: Lessons Learned from Past Movements (Room B1)
From Feminist and HIV/AIDS Struggles to Intersex People Activism and Beyond
Reflecting on earlier campaigns offers valuable guidance for current challenges. Speakers revisit influential movements—like the fight against HIV/AIDS or the push to end medical pathologization of intersex bodies—to show how grassroots organizing, crisis response, and policy advocacy evolved. Attendees glean actionable insights to adapt now.
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Louve Zimmermann, Coordinatrice, Acceptesss-T, Paris
Morgane Vanehuin, Archiviste, AIDES, Paris
Modération : Pablo Sanz, Président, Ex Aequo, Bruxelles
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13h00 - Lunch
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14h30 – Parallel sessions
Navigating a Troubled Context (Part 2 - 2h - Room F1)
The Impact of Anti-Gender and Anti-LGBTIQ+ Movements on Community Health Initiatives
Hostile rhetoric and legislation can disrupt vital programs. Speakers detail how far-right agendas, misinformation, or legal threats undermine LGBTIQ+ care, and share tactics to safeguard services. The focus is on mobilizing alliances, strategic communications, and emergency funding solutions that help communities remain resilient and visible.
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Moderation : Vincent Reillon, Senior Advocacy Officer, Forbidden Colours, Bruxelles
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Presentation
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Isa Borrelli, Researcher, Center of Research Politics and Theories of Sexuality Politesse, Roma
Fau Rosati, Researcher, Sapienza University, Roma
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Panel discussion
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Léo Manach, Researcher, Ceped, France
Maud Royer, President, Toutes des Femmes, Paris
Aron Le Fèvre, Executive Director, Global Equality Caucus, Buenos Aires
Marianne Blidon, Assistant Professor, Université Panthéon Sorbonnes, Paris
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Overlooked and Emerging Needs Within LGBTIQ+ Communities (2h - Room F2)
Addressing Ageing, Disabilities, Chronic Illnesses, and More
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Age, disability, and chronic illness often compound barriers to care for LGBTIQ+ people. This session spotlights underserved groups—like older adults, migrants, or those with disabilities—revealing how tailored outreach, adaptive services, and community alliances can bridge gaps in access, reduce isolation, and foster dignified care.
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Gae Colussi, Researcher, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Lausanne
Sinéad Kelleher, Researcher, Dublin City University, Dublin
Asad Zafar, Outreach coordinator, The Love Tank, London
Yagos Koliopanos, Researcher, ULB, Bruxelles
Moderation : Steven Wen, Coordinateur des programmes de prévention, Checkpoint Paris, Paris
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Queer Women's Sexual Health Beyond the Binary (2h - Room B1)
Centering Vulva-Owners and Gender-Marginalized People in Care
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This session highlights the barriers faced by queer women, vulva-owners, and gender-diverse people in accessing inclusive, affirming sexual healthcare. Presentations from Germany, Switzerland, and the UK challenge outdated protocols, heteronormative assumptions, and exclusionary risk frameworks. Together, they advocate for a new model of care—sex-positive, gender-informed, and grounded in autonomy, trust, and lived experience.
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Moderation : Myriam Monheim, Psychologue, Plan F, Bruxelles
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Presentation
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Anna Ponjoan, Researcher, IDIAPJGol, Girona
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Panel discussion
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Sara Krumminga, Co-Managing Director, Safer Sex Berlin, Berlin
Rafik Taibjee, Senior Academic GP, The University of Exeter, Exeter
Nina Cavarero, Chargée de projet en santé communautaire, Dialogai, Geneva
Alessandra Widmer, Co-director, Lesbian Organisation Switzerland, Bern
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Rethinking LGBTQI+ Health Campaigns (14h30 - 1h - Room B2)
Visibility, Empowerment, and Community Connection
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This session presents two national health campaigns from Germany and Switzerland that reimagine how to talk about LGBTQI+ health. Moving away from narrow prevention messaging, these initiatives promote mental well-being, inclusion, and body diversity while still addressing HIV and sexual health. Grounded in community voices and everyday realities, they offer models for public health communication that are affirming, intersectional, and impactful.
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Jonathan Gregory and Ahmet Sitki Demir, Campaign Management, Deutsche Aidshilfe, Berlin
Florian Vock, Deputy Director, Swiss AIDS Federation, Zürich
Moderation : Rafal Majka, Researcher, Jeden Åšwiat, Poland
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Reclaiming the Body (15h30 - 1h - Room B2)
Movement, Awareness, and Wellbeing in LGBTQI+ Lives
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This session brings together innovative approaches that center the body as a site of healing and empowerment for LGBTQI+ communities. From mind-body therapies for queer Iranians in exile, to somatic research on body awareness, to inclusive sports for trans and gender-diverse youth, these initiatives explore how movement, embodiment, and physical spaces can counteract exclusion, foster resilience, and support mental and physical health in affirming ways.
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Andrès Marchant, Researcher, University of Lleida, Barcelona
Moujan Mirdamadi, Board Member, Spectrum, Prague
Moderation : Christos Nousis, Research associate, Aeginiteio Psychiatric Hospital Suicide Outpatient Clinic, Athens
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​16h30 - Break
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17h00 – Parallel sessions
Taking Part in Public Health Policy (Part 2 - Room F1)
Obstacles, Emergencies, and Opportunities
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Engaging policymakers is key to sustainable change, but barriers abound—such as limited representation or urgent crises that overshadow LGBTIQ+ issues. Panelists clarify how laws, regulations, and guidelines differ, and present real-world examples of campaigns that shaped public debate. Attendees gain insight into effective lobbying and coalition-building.
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Gerard Funés, Health Project Officer, Stop SIDA, Barcelona,
Franck Barbier, Responsable Programmes et populations, AIDES, Pantin
Moderation : Justin Varney-Bennett, Regional Director, Department of Health & Social Care, Birmingham
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Mediation in Community Health (Part 1 - Room F2)
Bridging Gaps Through Patient Advocacy, Conflict Resolution, and Cultural Brokering
Dedicated mediators help build trust between LGBTIQ+ communities and health systems. Panelists explore roles like patient navigation, peer advocacy, and conflict resolution, emphasizing how such initiatives reduce stigma and miscommunication. The discussion covers training, funding, and real-world successes in connecting vulnerable groups to care.
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Louve Zimmermann, Coordinatrice, Acceptesss-T, Paris
Nicolas Derche, Directeur, Checkpoint et Arcat (Groupe SOS), Paris
Rémy Cappanera, General Practitioner, Essonne sexual health center, Paris
Giu Schmid, Trans Department, Checkpoint Zurich, Zürich
Moderation : Valentin Blaison, Responsable dépistage, Ex Aequo, Bruxelles
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LGBTQI+ Mental Health (Part 2 - Room B1)
Building Community Responses Amid Institutional Gaps
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This session brings together initiatives from across Europe that address LGBTQI+ mental health through community-based, peer-led, and structural approaches. In the face of limited public policies, unequal access to care, and hostile environments, these projects create alternative networks of support, advocacy, and healing. Presentations explore mental health mediation, partnerships with institutions, professional training, and the recognition of lived experience as expertise—highlighting how collective resilience and community care can bridge the gaps left by institutional systems.
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Alessandra Widmer, Co-director, Lesbian Organisation Switzerland (LOS), Bern
Matej Vrebac, Programe Coordinator, Sarajevo Open Centre, Sarajevo
Moderation : Leceo Harvard, Ingénieur d'étude, SESSTIM, Marseille
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Expanding Access to HIV Prevention (Room B2)
Community-Led PrEP and Care Models
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This session brings together innovative models for improving access to PrEP, PEP, and ART. Presentations showcase community-led Checkpoints, peer navigation, and digital outreach tools that challenge stigma and healthcare exclusion. Together, they advocate for trans-affirming, decentralized, and evidence-based HIV prevention strategies that can be scaled across regions where institutional support remains limited.
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Milos Peric, Program Coordinator, Asocijacija DUGA/Association RAINBOW, Belgrade
Mihai Lixandru, Project Manager, ARAS, Bucharest
Eliane Nininahazwe, Director, HIV Stigmafighter, Amersfoort
Moderation : Kai Jonas, Chair in Applied Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht
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​18h15 - End of the day
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19h30 - Dinner