Every spring, Sopu-work, together with Pro-tukipiste, Helsinki Pride Community, and QTeatteri, organizes the Lyhty Group a closed peer support group for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and people with immigrant backgrounds who are part of our communities.
The Lyhty Group aims to create a safe and caring space where participants can learn about their rights and about life in Finland as an LGBTQIA+ individual. It is a space where participants and workers can reflect together, while fostering a sense of belonging and connection. Above all, Lyhty aims to create a space where no one has to feel alone.
The group meets approximately 8–10 times between the end of April and early summer. We usually begin by celebrating Vappu together, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere where participants can meet each other, learn about the group, and become familiar with the journey ahead.
Over the following weeks, we explore topics that can affect LGBTQIA+ people with migrant and asylum-seeking backgrounds. Each session is built around open conversation, mutual respect, and shared learning. Themes may include:
- Safety and wellbeing
- Personal boundaries
- Sexuality and pleasure
- Family and relationships
- Honour-related violence
- Sex work (rights, legal perspectives, risks)
- Identity, belonging, and other topics raised by the group
The discussions are guided by professionals and community workers, but the strength of the group comes from the participants themselves. Everyone is invited to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable. By listening to one another, participants discover that many experiences are shared, and that no one has to face them alone.
One of the most meaningful moments of the Lyhty Group is our visit to QTeatteri. During this special session, participants are invited to share stories, situations, or reflections inspired by the conversations from previous meetings. Professional actors then bring these experiences to life through playback theatre.
Seeing personal experiences reflected on stage can be a powerful and emotional experience. It allows participants to view their stories from a new perspective, feel seen and heard, and recognize the strength within themselves and one another. After each performance, we come together to reflect on what it felt like to witness these stories performed and what emotions or thoughts they brought up.
The group’s final gathering takes place at Pro-tukipiste, where participants learn more about the organization’s services and support available to them. We end the journey by sharing a meal, celebrating the connections we have built, and recognizing the courage, trust, and growth that everyone has contributed throughout the process.
The Lyhty Group is more than a series of meetings. It is a space where people can build community, strengthen their sense of belonging, and find support among others who understand their experiences. Through collaboration between Sopu-work, Pro-tukipiste, Helsinki Pride Community, and QTeatteri, we aim to create safer spaces where every participant is respected, valued, and empowered.
We are grateful to everyone who has been part of the Lyhty Group over the years and look forward to the next Lyhty Group spring 2027.
Text written by
Hassen, Specialist, Work against Honour-Related Violence