A Journey of Resilience and Hope: My Activism and Vision for the Future

I am Deniz, no pronouns, a refugee, LGBTQIA+ activist, and volunteer at Regenbogenhaus Zurich. My life is a journey of survival, resilience, and transformation. My activism began at university in Tukey, where I explored personal boundaries, identity, and collective strength. This early focus on self-belonging soon became a mission to foster visibility, empowerment, and compassion for others.

With a background in Full Stack Web Development, I develop sustainable projects for Switzerland that amplify queer voices and encourage colla­boration. Grounded in mindfulness and behavioral science, I aim to build resilience and awareness and foster compassionate communication. One of these projects is LotusQueer.ch, a platform dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth across Switzerland. Through Lotus Queer, I strive to build visibility, acceptance, and empowerment for queer youth with different programs and projects. One of them is LotusQ-Report, a web application that distributes QR code stickers in schools and communities to connect teens to help­lines and resources for support.

Mindfulness has deeply impacted my life, offering refuge and strength in these hard times. Now, as I train to become a certified mindfulness instructor, my goal is to extend these benefits to the queer community. I’ve trained in different techniques that enrich my activism and created the LotusQAcademy with resources on mindfulness and resilience as a safe space for fostering dialogues of empathy.

The refugee experience is profoundly tiring, marked by past traumas, fears, and a deep desire to find a place of true safety. For me, Switzerland gra­dually became that safe home. It hasn’t been easy. In refugee camps, I faced queerphobic people, with hostility often directed toward my presence. But I could not hide who I am. I chose to express myself openly, often wearing pins, rainbow colors, pink nail polish, or even painting an LGBTQIA+ flag on my neck – a quiet form of activism. The Hate Crime Law here (261bis StGB) gives me secure feelings as an activist.

In refugee camps, the hostility was tangible: torn clothes, slurs, and attempts to erase my visibility. In one incident, someone tried to remove my nail polish, and someone else pushed me aside. Despite painful experiences, my visible identity gave hope to others. Some told me my open self-expression inspired them to find courage.

Amid these struggles, Regenbogenhaus Zurich has become a very safe space. From my first visit, I felt seen, respected, and valued. This safe space welcomes each person as they are, offering a warmth and sincerity I hadn’t felt in years. Volunteering here is a joy, knowing I can help others find the same safety and belonging I’ve found. I feel that Regenbogenhaus is my family, a place where I truly belong.

Reflecting on my journey, I find solace in my writing, a process that preserves my story and channels my thoughts. What began as unstructured notes during sleepless nights has become a book of over 120 pages filled with reflections, struggles, and hopes. I named it «The Small Flower: Resilience and Rainbow Activism» and hope to publish it in the next two years.

I envision being a queer parent. I dream of adopting a child and living peace­fully with my husband. I aspire to teach our child to play the piano. I dream of a world where love and friendliness replace impoliteness and hate.