NGO Identoba Plans Homeless LGBT Shelter

Georgian human rights NGO Identoba held a conference summarizing its 5-year work since their founding and announced their plans to build a shelter in Tbilisi for the homeless LGBT community.

The shelter will host young people who’ve been disowned by their families because of their sexual orientation or have been forced to leave their homes due to poor conditions.

Director of Identoba, Irakli Vacharadze said he purchased the shelter space with his personal funds.

Founded in 2010, Identoba (meaning ‘identity’) works on the issues of LGBT, women, disabled, disadvantaged youth, and Roma communities.

Identoba planned to open a shelter in 2013 as well, however the project was stopped because of homophobic threats from the Georgian Patriarchate.

Photo: Council of Europe

Ana Akhalaia