10/01/2025
Katalina Jorjeuli, a 38-year-old transgender woman and former soldier, was forced to leave Georgia and seek refuge in Brussels. In addition to facing systemic discrimination and a hostile environment for LGBT people in her home country, Katalina has publicly shared her experiences of marginalization and exclusion by private companies, organizations, and public figures in Georgia.🇬🇪🏳️🌈
According to Katalina, many organizations and private sector representatives in Georgia refused to offer her employment or education opportunities due to her gender identity. Among the entities she named are the United Nations office in Georgia and others, where she was often told to “try her luck in another country” or to “become a man again.”
Now based in Brussels, where she feels safer, Katalina has openly called out the companies, NGOs, and influential figures responsible for the discrimination she faced:
• United Nations office in Georgia (Lela Akiashvili)
• Stamba Hotel
• Wendy’s
• Nikora
• Goodwill
• UMI (a private catering company)
• Ia Parulava (hotel)
• Gorgia
“This is not just my story,” she says. “It’s a systemic problem that the state and society must address.”
Katalina describes the EU as a symbol of equality, freedom, and unity.🇪🇺🏳️🌈
Today, Katalina continues her fight for LGBT rights and freedom from Brussels.🇧🇪🏳️🌈
