2021 was another challenging year for our Rainbow Family. The pandemic continued to disrupt lives and deepen inequalities, leaving many LGBTQ+ people without work, income, or a safe place to live. Once again, the PlanetRomeo Foundation adapted quickly and extended emergency relief funding to reach communities in urgent need.
Instead of regular funding rounds, the Foundation focused entirely on emergency support, providing €57,365 to 27 projects across 16 countries. Each project offered immediate help: food, shelter, medical care, and emotional support for those at risk.
Together with our donors, we kept the light of solidarity shining through another difficult year.
Asia
In Sri Lanka, funding helped deliver food, hygiene supplies, and essential medicine to trans communities experiencing extreme isolation after being cut off from work, family support, and healthcare.
In Indonesia, support ensured that HIV-positive LGBTQ+ individuals had access to life-saving medication and safe shelter during strict lockdowns, when movement was limited and medical access became uncertain.
In India, emergency housing and legal support offered queer women and trans people in New Delhi a safe place to stay and someone to turn to when discrimination and financial strain became overwhelming.
In Nepal, assistance helped trans sex workers cover rent, maintain nutrition, and access healthcare at a time when income disappeared and stigma made formal support harder to reach.
In Pakistan, funding strengthened efforts by trans activists to organize safe houses and distribute Covid relief packages, helping community members stay protected, informed, and connected.
And in Bangladesh, support kept digital mental-health services and peer helplines for LGBTQ+ youth afloat, crucial tools for staying grounded and supported while lockdowns kept people physically apart.
East Africa
In Kenya, support kept creative advocacy alive through community art projects and safe gatherings that offered connection despite ongoing restrictions. Additional funding ensured homeless queer youth and sex workers had access to emergency accommodation when lockdowns and discrimination pushed many into unsafe situations.
In Uganda, several initiatives provided vital protection for those at risk. Grants helped secure housing for lesbian and bisexual women facing eviction, offered temporary shelter and food to LGBTQ+ individuals affected by police raids, and supported queer families displaced by violence with rent and essential supplies.
In Rwanda, funding made it possible to offer safe housing and awareness programs for queer refugees, a group often overlooked in national relief efforts.
In Malawi, support helped people living with HIV stay healthy by funding access to medication and nutrition packs during ongoing disruptions to healthcare services.
Europe
In Armenia, funding provided temporary shelter and mental-health assistance for trans people facing heightened discrimination under lockdowns. This created a safe landing spot for those who were isolated or pushed out of their homes.
In Georgia, support went toward emergency food and rent assistance for LGBTQ+ individuals left out of state relief programs. The grant helped keep people housed, fed, and connected during a year when official safety nets simply didn’t reach them.
In Greece, continued support kept a shelter program running for refugees and homeless queer youth, offering stability, meals, and protection at a time when options were incredibly limited.
And in Serbia, further funding helped Roma lesbian and bisexual women access safety training and essential supplies, an important boost for a community often hit hardest by both the pandemic and ongoing discrimination.
Southern Africa
In South Africa, funding strengthened ongoing support for LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants in Cape Town where people who often fall through the local social safety net. The grant helped ensure these people had access essentials, navigate services, and find stability during ongoing pandemic restrictions.
In Lesotho, support reached queer youth in rural areas through emergency aid and community outreach. These efforts helped young people stay fed, informed, and connected at a time when isolation and stigma made daily life even harder.
In Zimbabwe, funding focused on protecting and empowering lesbian and bisexual women facing heightened threats. The support offered both practical resources and a sense of community resilience during a year of increased vulnerability.
And in Eswatini, where the environment remains extremely hostile, grants provided life-saving supplies alongside advocacy efforts, giving LGBTQ+ people not just material support, but also a louder, stronger voice in the fight for dignity and safety.
South America
In Argentina, funding assisted rainbow families with financial relief and access to educational resources, helping them stay stable and connected despite economic pressures from Covid..
In Brazil, support strengthened queer networks in rural settlements, providing food, healthcare, and advocacy. This helped communities maintain both physical well-being and a sense of collective resilience in areas where resources are often scarce.
In Venezuela, grants delivered basic necessities and mental-health support to LGBTQ+ people impacted by the ongoing pandemic crisis, providing lifelines in a time of compounding hardship.
In 2021, the world slowly began to reopen, but for many LGBTQ+ people, the crisis was far from over. Through small local actions, these 27 projects brought safety, hope, and dignity where it was needed most. Each project proved that community can overcome crisis and that love, in every language and every form, remains unstoppable.
The PlanetRomeo Foundation continues to support grassroots LGBTQ+ initiatives worldwide. Every contribution helps create safety, visibility, and empowerment where it’s needed most.