My name is Ana Jovanović (36). I am a trans Roma woman. I was born and live in Novi Sad, where I graduated from the Higher Education Technical School of Professional Studies in 2012. I was among the first individuals of Roma nationality to complete higher education, thanks to affirmative measures. My activism began during my studies, where I helped my community achieve similar educational success. I participated in the local Roma student organization, focusing on preschool education, which aligned with my profession and interests. Later, I joined other Roma organizations addressing employment, housing, and various issues within the Roma community. I was involved in numerous projects as a youth worker and collaborator in administration and finance. As I embraced my gender identity, my focus shifted toward LGBTIQ+ activism, making my work intersectional and addressing discrimination against individuals with multiple marginalized identities. Since autumn 2019, I have been working with the Novi Sad LGBTIQ+ organization Group Come Out! (Serbian: IZAĐI!). In September 2022, I started working as a consultant at the European Roma Rights Centre, where I currently coordinate a project on increasing the visibility of Roma through artistic photography. Through Heartefact’s project, I aim to research methods to combat stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination, which are the primary causes of intolerance towards the Roma and LGBTIQ+ communities in society. My goal is to find effective ways to foster understanding and acceptance, addressing the complex layers of marginalization faced by these communities.
