LGBTI advice centres in Valencia

THE Valencian council has outsourced advice to gays, lesbians, transsexuals, bisexuals and intersexuals to the most well-known associations in the region.

The programme, named Orienta, is a pioneering initiative in the Valencian Community and one of the few public services of this type in the country. Its function is to inform and guide members of the LGBTI community, friends and families who need help in matters of gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as psychological, social, legal, administrative or health support.

“We help from trans people who are starting the process to people who have suffered aggressions or any other hate crime,” says the director of the service, Victor Sanchez.

Although it has been active since July 1, the launch of the programme will take place in September. The service is staffed by seven professionals with different profiles, most of them graduates from LGTBI activism networks and social work.