For those of us working within LGBTQI+ civil society in Greece, the gaps in mainstream education around gender, sexuality, and relationships are more than theoretical, they shape the everyday realities of young people growing up under the weight of stigma and silence. Even where sex education exists, LGBTQI+ youth are often rendered invisible, forced to seek information and navigate self-discovery in environments that can fuel anxiety, shame, or fear.

“Rainbow Rhythms” emerges precisely as a response to these systemic shortcomings, offering a bottom-up, arts-driven intervention that is as innovative as it is urgently needed. The project is co-funded by the European Union and it promotes a more positive stance towards inclusive Emotional, Relationship and Sexual Education (ERSE) for young people aged 16–35, while also equipping youth workers and educators with practical tools to address diversity in their work. By explicitly linking ERSE with visual arts – and particularly queer art – the project reframes sexual education not as a dry list of rules, but as a living, creative space where real stories, emotions, and identities can be acknowledged and respected.

At the heart of this innovation is the conviction that art can function as an empirical teacher. While traditional social studies often keep human experiences at a distance, queer visual art invites intimate encounters with the lives, bodies, and narratives that are usually marginalised. Through Rainbow Art Exhibitions and the personal stories of queer artists, “Rainbow Rhythms” creates spaces for dialogue that challenge toxic gender norms and stereotypes, making visible the struggles and resilience of LGBTQI+ youth across Europe. In doing so, it turns art into a powerful tool for redefining human rights, morality, and freedom of expression in a way that is accessible to young people and their communities.

The project does more than raise awareness, it delivers concrete educational resources. It develops updated, inclusive curricula and ready-to-use training materials that can be adapted by youth organisations, trainers, and educators, rather than remaining locked inside rigid national frameworks that exclude LGBTQI+ realities. These materials are designed to promote healthy, positive self-images and to reduce high-risk sexual behaviours, recognising that LGBTQI+ people are disproportionately affected by negative sexual health outcomes when their needs are ignored in policy and practice.

“Rainbow Rhythms” also looks beyond the classroom to the family and community. By involving parents and relatives in its activities, the project works to dismantle discrimination at home, supporting conversations around sexual orientation and gender identity that are often avoided or suppressed. This inclusive approach promotes active

citizenship and democratic participation, positioning young people not just as recipients of information but as co-curators of artworks and co-creators of more equitable social norms.

For us in the Greek LGBTQI+ movement, “Rainbow Rhythms” offers both a practical toolkit and a powerful political signal. It aligns with the EU Anti-discrimination Action Plan and the LGBTQI+ Equality Strategies 2020–2025 and 2026-2030, while responding directly to the lived realities of youth who face prejudice, segregation, and policy gaps during critical years of self-discovery. Above all, it shows that when we change how we teach – grounding sexual education in inclusion, creativity, and real lived experience – we change how we coexist, opening space for a society where every young person can learn, love, and express themselves without fear.

Nina Zabolotnia is a Master’s student in Political Science and Gender Studies at the University of Vienna, holding a BA in International Relations from the University of Milan. Her academic research focuses on gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights, urban justice, and the impact of right-wing populism on European youth.

Her professional background bridges human rights advocacy and evidence-based policy analysis. Currently a Human Rights Researcher at ReportOUT, she previously worked as an Administrative Assistant for the City of Vienna’s Department of European and International Affairs. Last year, she served as a Junior Researcher for the Strategies and Policies on Youth in the EU – EUSYP Think Tank, where she analyzed and presented research on the youth gender pay gap in Austria. Additionally, she has extensive NGO project management experience, having coordinated the EU-funded “Rainbow Bridges” project for Thessaloniki Pride and supported the Human Rights Conference as a Vienna Pride intern.

Methodologically, she is skilled in both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Fluent in English and Italian, and highly proficient in German, Nina Zabolotnia is dedicated to producing multilingual policy research that advances gender equality within the European Union framework.