For our Local Matters series on transgender children and youth, I stopped by at Cigale. Every other week, the centre for the LGBTIQ+ community in Luxembourg hosts a self-defense class. “Many of our community are aggressed on the streets”, Maura Pianaro explains. She organizes these workshops. “We have this safe space here, but after they leave our centre, they don’t feel safe, even when they walk from our centre to the train station or home. Some people of our community are scared to walk home.” Many of them experience verbal attacks every time they go outside and sometimes even physical aggressions. “We are all different, how we look, how we behave”, Maura says. “If you don’t fit in according to the society, there will always be people judging and attacking you.” During the self-defense class, they learn how to use their fists and feet to fight, but mainly the training shall help build up their self-confidence. After the class, they sit together on the sofa, talking about their experiences. “The discussion afterwards is an important part”, Maura says. “You get to know other people who face the same struggles.” Cigale aims to strengthen the community and offer its members a place where they feel understood and welcome.