Non-profit LGBTQIA+ organizations in Croatia
LGBTQIA+ organizations provide support to the LGBTQIA+ community, and they often work together on various efforts.
The number of LGBTQIA+ organizations and non-profit udrugas in Croatia has significantly risen through the years. The first one was founded in 1997, but most were founded during the 2000s in Zagreb, Rijeka, and Split.
For those seeking support, who want to meet others in the community, volunteer, or donate, we bring a list of Croatia’s most significant LGBTQIA+ organizations, including their mission. If you want to open a non-profit organization in Croatia, view this guide.
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Non-Profit LGBTQIA+ Organizations in Croatia
Non-profit LGBTQIA+ organizations in Zagreb, Croatia
#1 Zagreb Pride
Zagreb Pride is a queer-feminist and anti-fascist organization committed to achieving an active society of solidarity and equality free from gender sexual norms and categories and any other kind of oppression. Zagreb Pride exists to achieve social justice and systematically improve LGBTIQ rights through advocacy for the public good.
Zagreb Pride has been active as an informal group under various LGBTIQ and related organizations since 2002. The organization was officially registered as non-government on September 10, 2008. Zagreb Pride’s leading annual event is Zagreb Pride March which occurs every June.
[Read: All the pride parades in Croatia, including Zagreb Pride March]
Audience: LGBTIQ individuals and communities, non-normative families, and society as a whole
Founded: 2002
Address: Ulica Andrije Žaje 43a, 10 000 Zagreb
E-mail: info@zagreb-pride.net
Phone: +385 (0)1 5806 560
Web site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
#2 Udruga Domino – Queer Zagreb
Domino is a non-governmental, non-profit organization registered under the name Domino because it couldn’t get permission to register under Queer Zagreb.
Domino’s mission is to question traditional social patterns and to encourage the transformation of oppressive norms in transitional societies through culture, media, public policies, education, and collaboration with local and international organizations.
The vision of Domino is that in society, there is a continuous recognition of norms that disables the freedom of art and, more specifically, queer expression, which in its nature is subversive yet peaceful.
Aside from Zagreb Pride, the organization’s main annual event is the Queer Zagreb Festival. It is the most prominent queer festival in Southeast Europe, with more than 400 performers from all around the globe. The festival usually takes place in May.
Audience: LGBTIQ population, activists, artists, and the general public
Founded: 2003
Address: Petrinjska 38, 10 000 Zagreb
E-mail: udrugadomino@gmail.com; queerzagreb@gmail.com
Phone: +385 (0)1 3820 019
#3 Iskorak
Iskorak (Lunge) was founded to gather heterosexual and LGBT persons to prevent violence against the LGBT community. The organization strives to prove that violence against any minority equals violence against society.
Iskorak aims to promote and protect human rights, emphasizing LGBT persons. The organization accomplishes its goals through public, media, cultural, and health programs. They promote civil society’s values such as individual freedom, non-violence, equality, fairness, tolerance, diversity acceptance, humanism, and love.
Audience: LGBT persons, heterosexual people
Founded: 2002
Address: Petrinjska ulica 27, 10 000 Zagreb
Phone: 385 (0)91 244 4666
#4 Kontra
Lesbian Group Kontra is a non-governmental organization that advocates for the human rights of lesbians and bisexual women. Kontra operates according to feminist and anti-militarist principles and opposes all forms of discrimination.
Lesbian Group Kontra was founded by women active in the first feminist groups in Croatia. Kontra opened the first lesbian SOS and info telephone line and counsel in Croatia. The group often collaborates with its sister organizations, Iskorak and Domino. Kontra was also a co-organizer of the first Zagreb Pride and Split Pride.
Audience: Lesbians, bisexual women, feminists
Founded: 1997
E-mail: kontra@kontra.hr; pravnitim@kontra.hr
Phone: +385 (0)1 45 733 72; +385 (0)98 238 308
#5 Trans Aid
Trans Aid has been promoting the rights of trans, inter, and gender-variant people since 2012. The organization was registered to strengthen the TIRV community by promoting TIRV topics and community.
The mission of the non-governmental organization Trans Aid is to promote and protect the human rights of trans*, inter*, and gender-variant persons, deconstructing cisnormativity, the gender binary, patriarchy, and heteronormativity, as well as achieving the full equality of persons of all genders, gender identities and/or gender expressions, through empowerment, advocacy, direct work and support, education, sensitization, research, and other activities.
Audience: Transgender, intergender, and gender-variant people
Founded: 2012
Address: Krapinska 27, 10 000 Zagreb
E-mail: info@transaid.hr
Phone: +385 (0)1 5514 207
Web site | Facebook | Instagram
#6 qSPORT
qSPORT was founded to articulate queer perspectives and promote the contemporary field of gay and lesbian sports. The organization aims to promote the LGBTQ community in other sports, cultural, and social contexts.
qSPORT is set up to give impetus to local LGBTQ initiatives, groups, and individuals who want to meet for sports and recreational activities, be it local sports practice or to participate in international LGBT sports events and institutional networks. Besides that, qSPORT (re)presents unique perspectives of developing countries within different international LGBTQ and sports institutions/organizations.
Audience: Gay and lesbian athletes and those interested in sports
Founded: 2003
Address: Ulica Zvonimira Rogoza 7, 10 000 Zagreb
E-mail: info@qsport.info
Non-profit LGBTQIA+ organizations in Rijeka, Croatia
#1 LORI
Lesbian Organization Rijeka – LORI was founded because the institutional support for the LGBTIQ population in Croatia wasn’t sufficient enough. Since the LGBTIQ community is often discriminated against, hated, and offended, LORI was founded to fight for the right of these individuals to create and shape their identities.
The organization aims to promote and protect the human rights, identity, and culture of the LGBTIQ population, to inform and sensitize the public to accept the LGBTIQ community, to eradicate prejudice and homo/bi/transphobia in society, to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, and empower and ensure support for LGBTIQ persons.
LORI’s most famous project in recent years has been the Smoqua Festival. Smoqua is a festival of Queer and Feminist Culture that takes place in Rijeka and celebrates communion, solidarity, activism, and arts. Smoqua is a combination of art and activism, which serves as a networking platform for art/activist projects and for creating and strengthening collaboration among diverse audiences.
Smoqua’s visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history and significance of queer and feminism and to question social, gender, and other norms and notions of normality and normativity through different workshops, panel discussions, performances, exhibitions, and sharing experiences.
Audience: LGBTIQ population and community
Founded: 2000
Address: Janeza Trdine 7/IV, 51 000 Rijeka
E-mail: loricure@yahoo.com
Phone: +385 (0)51 212 186; +385 (0)91 493 4133
Non-profit LGBTQIA+ organizations in Split, Croatia
#1 Rišpet
Rišpet is an NGO founded by Split Pride volunteers. Since the very beginning, Rišpet has been the main organizer of Split Pride. They also founded the LGBT Center Split and have organized many formal and informal activities for Split’s LGBT community.
Rišpet fights to eliminate discrimination and violence based on gender and sexual orientation. They stand for improving LGBT rights, healthcare, social services, and quality of life. Rišpet stimulates social changes through education, activism, promoting human and citizen rights and freedom, and volunteering.
Audience: LGBQ population
Founded: 2013
Address: Ulica kralja Tomislava 8/1, 21 000 Split
E-mail: rispet.split@gmail.com
Phone: +385 (0)91 620 8990
#2 Queer Sport Split
Queer Sport Split was founded to promote the queer culture through sport and recreation. It is the first organization of that kind founded in Split and the region.
The QSS aims to develop recreational and sports activities and to popularize sports in the LGBT community as well as society in general. It wants to encourage the integration of LGBT individuals into the sport, affirm the LGBT community through sporting and cultural-social activities, and inform both LGBT populations and the overall population of the LGBT Society’s activities on sporting and cultural-social issues.
Audience: Gay and lesbian sports athletes and those interested in sports
Founded: 2011
E-mail: qss@qsport.info
Web site | Facebook | Instagram
Other LGBTQIA+ non-profit organizations in Croatia
#1 Dugine obitelji
Rainbow Families Croatia is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to fight for the family and parent rights of LGBTIQ persons. The NGO supports and helps LGBTIQ parents, their children, and LGBTIQ persons’ parents through information, education, and active participation in the transformation process of society.
Dugine obitelji (Rainbow Families) started as a psychosocial support group under Zagreb Pride’s activities. After only two cycles of support, attendants continued to meet and hang out as an informal civil initiative. They launched a forum and a website to communicate online.
Rainbow Families was officially registered as an udruga in 2017. In 2018, they launched a picture book titled My Rainbow Family for pre-schooled children. The book depicts same-sex couple families and is the first Croatian picture book of that kind. If you wish to purchase the book, contact the organization directly.
Audience: Parents, individuals, and families which have children
Founded: 2011
E-mail: info@dugineobitelji.com; info.dugineobitelji@gmail.com
View our other LGBTQIA+ articles
- Interview with Vicko Lazo of Milk, the first gay bar in Dubrovnik
- All the pride parades in Croatia
- How to obtain a life partnership for same-sex couples in Croatia
- LGBTQIA+ friendly cafe bars and nightclubs in Croatia
- LGBTQIA+ web sites & Facebook communities
- Non-Profit LGBTQIA+ organizations in Croatia
- Rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Croatia
Sources:
Zagreb Pride
Domino
Iskorak
KolekTIRV
qSPORT
Kontra
LORI
Rišpet
Queer Sport Split
Dugine obitelji
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
