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LGBTI Rights in Finland Seta (Seta ry), founded in 1974, is the main LGBT rights organisation in Finland. It is a national organization with several member organizations around the country. Seta´s secretary general is Kerttu Tarjamo and chairperson Pekka Rantala. The 11th President of Finland, Tarja Halonen, was the chairwoman of Seta 1980–1981.
Seta engages with the whole of society and collaborates with a wide range of institutions, governmental bodies and international organizations. Seta's work and activities are based on human rights and self-determination. Seta is a member of ILGA Europe, Transgender Europe, IGLYO and a supporting member of EuroCentralAsian Lesbian Community. In Finland Seta is a member of SOSTE, The Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi[2] and Family Federation of Finland.[3]
Seta aims for an equal society and individual welfare that includes everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Seta´s main goals are a national governmental LGBTI roadmap, recognition of non-binary identities, well-being of LGBTI children and youth, equal family rights, and combating rising hate crimes and hate speech.[4][5][6]
Seta's main functions are human rights work and advocacy, awareness raising and education, youth work[7] and supporting member organizations. Seta also offers social support at special units Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise[8] (Sukupuolen moninaisuuden osaamiskeskus) and Online Youth House Loiste (verkkonuorisotalo Loiste). Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise offers free fo charge counselling, short-term therapy and peer group activities to transgender, non-binary and intersex persons and their loved ones and increases public awareness about gender diversity. Loiste is a safe space on Discord to LGBTIQA+ youth aged 13 and up. Youth workers at Loiste offer group chats and counseling, and run a network of youth workers who organize LGBTIQA+-specific activities all around Finland.
Seta is a national umbrella organization with over 40 member organizations.[9] Some operate nationwide (e.g., Rainbow Families), while others function at the local or regional level. Activities are organized by a large number of volunteers and employees. Seta provides support, funding, and training for member organizations and acts as a forum for LGBTIQ+ organizations in Finland.
Seta awards the annual Asiallisen tiedon omena (the "Apple of Objective Information") to people or organizations that have improved the status of LGBT minorities or distributed objective information about the diversity of sexual orientation and gender.[10] It has been awarded to the following people or organizations, among others:
The Kunniarotta ("Rat of Honor") is an ironic anti-honor awarded to people or organizations that have contributed to discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity, or otherwise made the life of LGBT people more difficult.[10] The Rat has been awarded e.g. year 2008 to lord mayor Raimo Ilaskivi, MP Bjarne Kallis, and general Gustav Hägglund for their statements in the fuss caused by the puppet animation The Butterfly from Ural.[11]
Seta also awards LGBTI Youth of the year and Active participant recognition to active members of members organizations.
