Is the Conference only for TGD activists?
The conference is not a closed space, and anyone interested in the human rights situation of trans and gender diverse people was invited to attend. However, it is important that the space remains trans- and gender diverse-led, and this was a parameter taken into consideration as the final participants were selected.
Who is organizing the Conference?
GATE and its partners (the ‘Organizing Committee’) are jointly organizing the conference.
- GATE is a global trans-led advocacy organization dedicated to advancing gender equality for all. Find out more about GATE’s work.
The Organizing Committee is comprised of representatives from the following trans, gender diverse and sex worker networks and organizations representing all world regions of the world:
- APCOM – APCOM is a network of organizations that works to improve the health and rights of gay men, other men who have sex with men, and SOGIESC people across Asia and the Pacific.
- Asia Pacific Transgender Network – APTN is a trans-led organization that supports and advocates for the rights of trans and gender diverse people in Asia and the Pacific.
- East Africa Trans Health and Advocacy Network – EATHAN is a network of trans diverse activists & organizations in East Africa working to improve the livelihoods of gender diverse persons in East Africa.
- European Sex Workers Rights Alliance – ESWA is a network of sex work organizations working together to support the human and labor rights of sex workers throughout Europe and Central Asia.
- Gender Dynamix – Gender DynamiX is an LGBTIQA-led organization that works to advance, promote and defend the rights of trans and gender nonconforming persons in South Africa, Africa and globally using a human rights framework.
- International Trans Fund – ITF is a participatory grantmaking fund made up of trans activists and donors. The ITF aims to increase the capacity of the trans movement to self-organize and advocate for trans people’s rights, self-determination, and wellbeing
- RedLacTrans – REDLACTRANS is a network of trans-led organizations that works to achieve respect for the human rights of transgender persons across Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Transgender Europe – TGEU is a trans-led nonprofit for the rights and well-being of trans people in Europe and Central Asia.
- Trans United Europe – Trans United Europe is a trans-BPOC-led organization that strives for the empowerment of the BPOC trans community at a local, national, and international level.
- Transgender Law Center – TLC is a US-based trans-led organization that works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.
- Transgender Red Umbrella – TGRU is a network of transgender and gender diverse sex worker activists and groups dedicated to promoting the rights, well-being, and empowerment of transgender individuals and gender diverse communities in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.
- United Caribbean Trans Network – UCTrans is a network of trans-led organizations in the Caribbean that promotes the protection and recognition of the human rights of trans persons in the region.
How were the scholarships awarded?
We are pleased to announce that GATE has secured funding for 75 full scholarships for activists to attend the Conference. Unfortunately, the number of scholarships reserved was limited, and not everyone who had applied was granted one.
The Conference Organizing Committee, representing trans- and gender diverse-led organizations worldwide, conducted the selection process. Scholarship decisions were made according to the following criteria:
- Location and regional balance;
- Community diversity and representation;
- Reasons for you/your organization not being able to fund your participation;
- Relevancy of your participation in the trans and gender diverse movement and;
- Funding restrictions and available funding.
Strong preference was given to trans and gender diverse groups and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and countries. We especially encouraged applicants from further marginalized backgrounds to come forward, including Black people, Latinxs, Indigenous, People of Color, D/deaf and disabled people, people with a migration background, sex workers, people living with HIV, youth and people from the Global South. We encouraged applicants to mention their backgrounds and experiences, and we guaranteed that all information would be held confidential.
Furthermore, to ensure regional balance and a truly global experience for all, the Organizing Committee agreed upon the following way to distribute scholarships per region:
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia: 13 scholarships
- East, Southeast, South Asia and the Pacific: 13 scholarships
- North Africa and Southwest Asia: 13 scholarships
- Latin America and the Caribbean: 13 scholarships
- Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa: 13 scholarships
- Western Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA: 10 scholarships
What costs are covered for Scholarship recipients?
Scholarship recipients will receive full support from GATE for all costs as outlined below:
- travel to and from Munich that is booked by GATE
- accommodation in a private room for 19, 20 and 21 July 2024 in a hotel selected by GATE
- 3 meals a day. The majority of meals will be provided by the hotel, with per diem (in Euros) for meals not provided by the hotel
- visa support costs (if applicable)
- registration fee for Unite! Advocate! Thrive! Global Trans Conference
I also applied to attend the AIDS 2024 Conference, and I need a visa to enter Germany. How can my visa application process be adapted to participating in two events?
GATE is in conversation with the IAS to ensure we have a streamlined process for providing information for visa applications where a participant is attending both events. If you will be receiving support from the IAS with your visa (e.g. you are a full or partial scholarship recipient), please notify us as soon as possible by emailing conference@gate.ngo.
What type of support will GATE give to participants in the visa application process?
Once you have confirmed your attendance (see ‘My application to attend the Unite! Advocate! Thrive! Global Trans Conference was successful. What are the next steps?’), you will receive the following documents:
- A formal, signed invitation letter
- Confirmation of your hotel accommodation (provided by GATE)
- Your proposed flight itinerary (please note, where applicable, that this will not be purchased until your visa is approved, so please keep the GATE team informed of this process)
- Proof of Schengen Travel Insurance (provided by GATE)
- Visa Guide (where applicable)
NOTE: Please bear in mind that it is your responsibility to obtain a visa. Additional stand-by support for participants who experience challenges with the visa application process will be available. The possibility to appeal and/or re-apply, if needed, will be dealt with, case-by-case. It is essential that you inform GATE as soon as possible if you are experiencing any difficulties with your visa application process in order to facilitate support.
What will I need to prepare for my visa application?
If you need a visa to travel, you will receive a guide with specific information about the process in early April. To get started, you will need to:
- Locate your closest German Consulate/ Mission/ Embassy and proceed with booking an appointment.
- Fill out the visa application form and print out all the necessary documents for your application. Some of these documents will be sent to you by GATE.
- Ensure your passport is in order – see the latest guidance from the EU (this is something you can check in advance), and prepare passport-size photographs.
- (if you are employed) Ask for a letter permitting your leave from work for the dates of the conference, inclusive of travel dates.
The visa application will cost €80, which will be reimbursed by GATE upon receipt of proof of payment.
A full and detailed list of requirements will be provided in the Visa Guide that will be sent to you in early April.
My application to attend the Unite! Advocate! Thrive! Global Trans Conference was successful. What are the next steps?
Once you have been notified of the success of your application, you will be given two weeks to confirm your attendance by completing a form that will collect some of your personal information. This will be held strictly confidential and will only be used to facilitate bookings and visa application processes (where applicable). If you need a visa, you will receive guidance with specific information about the visa application process in early April.
When will I hear if my application was successful or not?
We are currently in the process of sending out notifications. Due to a high volume of scholarship applications far surpassing our scholarship allocation, as well as numerous other applications, including self-pay applications, the Conference team is taking extra care to avoid any errors. We understand that some applicants may require visas, and we are giving priority to those applications. Regrettably, if you have not received a notification by the end of April, your application was not successful.
I have been accepted to attend the conference, but I cannot proceed with my confirmation as I don’t have my passport yet, and the system is requesting a copy. What can I do?
If you are currently in the passport application process but will not receive it before the deadline to accept your place at the conference, please proceed with your acceptance by uploading one of the following documents instead:
- (PREFERRED) Proof that you have applied for a passport and are waiting for it to arrive (e.g., a copy of a document from the passport office confirming your passport application has been received).
- (Other option) An alternative document, such as an ID card or a 1-page document with text stating that you are currently not in possession of a passport but have started the application process.
This will allow you to bypass the system and proceed with your confirmation.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not yet have your passport, you MUST begin the passport application process immediately. We cannot proceed with your hotel reservation, flight booking, visa invitation, and Schengen travel insurance until you provide us with a copy of your passport. This method is not a waiver for supplying a copy of your passport. It is a temporary measure to allow you to proceed with the confirmation process until you receive your passport.
As soon as you receive your passport, please send a copy to conference@gate.ngo in order to remove the hold on your confirmation and complete the necessary travel requirements.
I have been notified that my IAS scholarship application was successful, and they will cover my hotel expenses. How should I proceed?
If you have been offered accommodation as part of your IAS scholarship, please accept this offer and notify us as soon as possible by emailing conference@gate.ngo. Your timely communication is greatly appreciated. We will support your transport between your hotel and the conference venue for the duration of the Global Trans Conference.