Seta (organization)

Seta ry
Founded29 May 1974; 50 years ago (1974-05-29)[1]
TypeNGO
FocusLGBT rights
HeadquartersHaapaniemenkatu 7-9, 00530 Helsinki
Location
Area served
Finland
ServicesGender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise
Online Youth house Loiste
Secretary General
Kerttu Tarjamo
Chairperson
Pekka Rantala
Vice Charperson
Anu Kantola
Vice Chairperson
Tanja von Knorring
Staff14 (during year 2024)
Websitehttps://seta.fi/
Seta's group at Helsinki Pride 2019. Secretary General Kerttu Tarjamo on the left side of the picture holding banner. Seta´s board members, staff and volunteers attend various Pride events in Finland.

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, awereness 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 encreases 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.

  1. ^ "Seta täytti 45 vuotta – minidokumentti julkaistiin" (in Finnish). Seta. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Allanssi in English". Allianssi. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  3. ^ "Family Federation of Finland". Väestöliitto. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  4. ^ Tara (2023-06-10). "Rainbow activists gather in Helsinki on Saturday - lesbian activism, male-specific issues, and a fresh study on socioeconomic disparities in focus". Helsinki Times. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  5. ^ "Seta's general assembly: trans people's rights must not be trampled in the name of feminism | Seta ry – English" (in Finnish). 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  6. ^ Avatud Vabariik (2024-02-11). Kerttu Tarjamo: Тhe importance of accepting marriage equality in Finland. Retrieved 2024-09-13 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Seta: systematic support of LGBTIQ+ youth in Finland". Europe Goes Local. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  8. ^ "Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise". Sukupuolen moninaisuuden osaamiskeskus (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  9. ^ "Membership | Seta ry – English" (in Finnish). 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-13.