Associação Íris Angola

Associação Íris Angola is the country's best-known LGBTI+ organisation and the first to win legal registration in Angola, a milestone recognised in 2018 after years of advocacy. Based in Luanda with a presence in Benguela and Lubango, Íris works on health, human rights, community support and public education, and has organised the Festíris cultural festival in several years, often around the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (17 May). The organisation operates in a difficult climate — its founder, Carlos Fernandes, was killed in early 2024 in a case that remains unresolved — and much of its work happens through trusted networks rather than open public events. For visitors and locals alike it is a genuine point of contact for community, resources and support. Reach out through its Facebook and Instagram channels rather than expecting a walk-in public venue.