RFSL Ungdom is the Swedish Youth Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights. We work to fight heteronormativity in society and to create meeting places where young people can meet others and just be themselves. Our target group is young homosexual, bisexual, transgender, queers and intersex people up to the age of 30.

RFSL Ungdom was established in 1999 as a section of the Swedish Federation for LGBT Rights (RFSL) in an aim to include young people in the struggle for their rights. Development moved quickly and, in 2003, RFSL Ungdom became a federation of its own, as an element in strengthening the voice and influence of LGBT youth in Sweden. Since then, we have been working hard to change society for the better.

Local, national and international

RFSL Ungdom has local districts all across the country, where young people themselves arrange social activities: everything from local pride festivals to movie nights and exhibitions. In many towns and cities, locally arranged RFSL Ungdom events are the only organized gatherings that give you the opportunity to meet other young LGBT people. If you would like to get involved, please contact us to find the district nearest you!

At the national level, RFSL Ungdom arranges camps and other social meeting places, seminars and events. We also offer education to various target groups, such as teachers, care providers, politicians and young people. Important issues at the national level include the struggle to create safe meeting places for young LGBT people, better sex education in schools, and better health care and reception of LGBT youth, especially young transgender people.

At the international level, RFSL Ungdom is active in both IGLYO and ILGA. We have also cooperated with similar organizations in other countries in Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as countries in Africa like Uganda and Namibia.

RFSL Ungdom and LSU will hold a seminar on LGBTQ youth in the UN assembly

On Wednesday, October 5:th 2011, RFSL Ungdom, in collaboration with LSU - Swedish youth organizations and supported by the Swedish Government, will hold a seminar at the UN General Assembly. The theme of the panel discussion is rights, exclusion and ill health among the world's LGBTQ youth. The seminar will be the first in the United Nations to lift LGBT issues from a youth perspective. It is also the first occasion that the term Queer is raised in the UN.

- Human rights should apply to everyone, everywhere and without exception. Unfortunately, this is far from reality in many places of the world, says Emelie Mire Åsell, Chairman of RFSL Ungdom. We are pleased that the Swedish government wants to work with us to put a light on how young LGBTQ people must be included in the strengthening of human rights globally.

LGBTQ youth often live in social exclusion, in many countries in the world. This leads to higher risk of illness, risk of unemployment and homelessness. The seminar will feature young LGBTQ activists from Zimbabwe, Russia, USA and Sweden raising their voice and tell their stories - a seminar focusing on young LGBT people has never been implemented before in the UN context.

- This is part of a long term process to strengthen young LGBTQ people's access to their human rights globally. LGBTQ issues must not be reduced to an area that only affects adults, Emelie Mire concludes.