It all began during Pride Month of 2024, when co-founders Tomás and Rey opened Aconchego House on Lisbon’s Rua de São Sebastião de Pedreira. Tomás, a trans man, wanted to create a trans-inclusive space that would support Portugal’s LGBTQIA+ community, and particularly the transgender community, by drawing on his own journey and experiences. His vision found the perfect partner in Rey, whose background in business incubation, brand and business launch, media, and market research added a strategic foundation to the venture. Together, they built Aconchego House not only as a haven for the community but as an incubator, helping members thrive through mentorship, resources, and a welcoming, supportive environment.

Aconchego House is trans-led and intentionally centers trans individuals, especially Black and Brown trans women and transfeminine people; trans migrants and asylum seekers navigating precarious legal statuses; and trans youth experiencing family rejection, school violence, and economic dependence. Our SOMA program prioritizes those who cannot afford gender-affirming care by negotiating discounted clinic rates and using solidarity funds to cover HRT-related appointments. Our trans support groups and therapy spaces are facilitated by a trans and non-binary disabled person of color. It is important for Aconchego House to be able to provide a psychologist with an intersectional lens, creating an environment where racialised trans people, asylum seekers, and disabled trans people can speak freely to a professional about experiences they cannot safely share elsewhere.

Why Aconchego House? In Portuguese, the word “Aconchego” means many things: “shelter”, “safety”, “coziness”, and "caring", which is exactly what Aconchego House is all about. Our logo depicts the connectivity aspect of Aconchego – the eight acronyms of the LGBTQIA+ community leading to the center and creating one powerful element – and is also deeply inspired by the Noble Eightfold Path.