Hey everyone! My name is Luca, I m a French Scottish sex workers' & LGBTI rights activist based in Brussels.
Like many people i am witnessing with fear and anxiety continuous attacks on many communities around the world- women, LGBTI and in particular trans people, black people and people of color, Roma, migrants to name a few. It is a very tough time and made even worse by the uncertainty about our future due to pandemic and climate crisis.
One thing that really lift me up is seeing amazing and courageous individuals take a stand and fight back against all forms of oppressions.
One of these people is Antonella Lerca! I met her a couple of years ago at a conference on human rights in Bucharest and have been lucky to work alongside her since then to improve sex workers' rights in Romania. She is an amazing woman and powerful community activist. With her colleagues in Romania she has done so much for her community: bravely speaking in media, coordinating campaigns and protests and working tirelessly for the rights of Roma, LGBTI people and sex workers and for a better society for all. Her ferocious activism has even led to members of parliament attacking and threatening her publicly.
Now we can show her our support!
I am fundraising to raise 3,000 euros for her campaign :)
Here is how the money will be spent:
500 euros for a functioning computer and web-cam which would really help with doing interviews and run the campaign
500 for printing of campaign flyers with info about Antonella and her objectives
500 for diverse costs of running the campaign (transports, renting a venue for meetings etc)
500 for masks, face visors, sanitiser etc to do outreach to voters and for public meeting
500 for a social media video campaign
500 for food & cafe of the outreach team who will do door-to-door canvassing :)
I know there are many fundraisers out there but i hope you will support Antonella, even with a couple of euros/dollars/pounds or other currency :) If you can not contribute maybe you can share it in your social networks? This would be really appreciated! The situation is tough for many people in Romania and having an inspiring candidate such as Antonella would make a huge difference. Together we can help her win!!
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More info about Antonella and her campaign below:
Who I am
I am LERCA Antonella, independent candidate for the Local Council of Bucharest, Sector 2. My wish is to make our sector a space for everyone.
I’m 30 years old, I am a transgender woman (as listed on my ID - Lerca Vlad Andrei), I am a roma person, a human rights activist and a sex worker. Four years ago, I came back to Romania in Sector 2, after having lived abroad for a decade. I came back because I want to make a change in Romania and in the communities I am part of.
I want the local administration to take the issues of the most marginalised citizens seriously and to govern for the community. I will bring to discussion different topics than the ones traditional politicians speak about and I will propose solutions that fight poverty, discrimination and social vulnerability. Moreover, I will make sure to inform and periodically consult the people who live in Sector 2, regarding the initiatives that I will bring for debate in the Local Council.
I want to fight for the causes that matter:
Social protection and public services:
Funds and investments in social housing and rent capping
Community centres and sports centres with free access
Warm meal programmes in schools and social cantines, as well as “after school” programmes
Reducing unemployment rates through investments in local infrastructure and through education & training programmes
Women rights and anti-discrimination
A safe street: investments in programmes and measures that combat harassment and sexual abuse
Training programmes on discrimination for the local administration
Specialised assistance centres that provide 24/7 and emergency support
Permanent and mobile centres which distribute menstrual pads and cups, as well as hygiene products to persons in need
A greener city
More green public spaces and community gardens and responsible pruning of urban greenery.
Taking over sanitation services by the Municipality of Sector 2
Continuation of thermic rehabilitation of buildings in Sector 2, for citizens from all social categories
Collaboration with the General Municipality to establish a new urban mobility plan
What I have done so far
-I have personally consulted hundreds of inhabitants of Sector 2 regarding their issues on a local level and potential ways to solve them together
-I have created the first Romanian organisation which fights for sex workers’ rights, Sex Work Call, which has a headquarter in Sector 2.
-I have participated in Bucharest Pride, where I held a speech on intersectionality and solidarity in front of thousands of people, but also in other protests and civic actions, such as the march called “Together for women safety!” (Ro: ”Împreună pentru siguranța femeilor!”)
-I have been elected in the board of MozaiQ, community organisation for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Together, we have organised the first job fair for transgender people, a community that suffers from frequent discrimination on the job market.
-I have spoken out on discrimination, poverty, gender identity, sex work, decriminalization and other political matters in several media appearances, as well as in international and national conferences in Timișoara, Cluj, Iași and Bucharest.
-I have lived for 10 years in Italy, where I collaborated with human rights NGOs and where I learned about what makes a different kind of public administration.
