TINA KOLOS ORBAN

The global trans community received a sad shock recently, when the news filtered out from Hungary that former TENI CEO, TGEU Co-Chair and Vice President of Transvanilla, Tina Kolos Orban, had passed away on February 2. Tina had been struggling with cancer for several years and had returned, in the summer of 2023, from Ireland to Hungary to recuperate and be with their family and friends.

I first met Tina at the fourth Transgender Europe Council in Dublin City University in September, 2012. It was just a brief hello, followed by a short chat. Tina was so excited to be there. I knew then we would become friends.

In 2011, along with some colleagues, they had formed Transvanilla, the Hungarian trans organisation. As Vice-President, Tina was responsible for international relations and advocacy, and they were already building alliances across Europe.

By 2014, Tranvanilla were hosting the fifth Transgender Europe Council in Budapest and Tina was at the forefront of organising it. We hardly got to speak, as they were so busy. Every time I saw them someone was asking “What do we do with this?” “How do we do that?” This was how I got to know Tina, always making space for other voices, creating safe spaces and central to organising everything. In Budapest, Tina was fundamental to a fantastic council.

During the Council, Tina was elected to the TGEU board and became treasurer. They then served as Co-Chair between 2016 to 2018. By mid-2019, it was clear that TGEU was having issues. Several community members stepped in to propose and oversee a transition. Tina, stepping in as Co-Chair and as an Interim highest officer was essential to ensuring it survived.

In April 2022, Tina joined TENI as Chief Executive Officer. TENI at that point was going through a period of instability and it was clear that we needed a strong, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable leader to steer the organisation into calmer waters. Tina was the perfect person to do just that, and we were delighted when they moved to Ireland. However not long after, their health issues, which had been troubling them between 2020 and 2021, had returned. Their term in TENI was to be short, lasting just over a year but critical to its future.

Over the years, as I had thought, we became friends, meeting at numerous conferences, TGEU councils or just staying connected online. Tina was constantly active but was much more than an activist. For as long as I had known them, Tina was so passionate about the farm they had with their partner, Barnabás, in Hungary. The fact that they raised foxes as pets always intrigued me. They would search globally for rare breeds, raising and training them before sending them on to loving homes. When we would talk about our families, Tina would always proudly share stories about their daughter, their family, Barnabás, and the animals on the farm.

Tina loved relaxing with cross stitch, a good jigsaw, a trip to the zoo or the cinema or just a quiet afternoon or evening with friends. We would love to chat over Zoom, while they sat outside among the animals and in the fresh air. They loved nature, and despite many trips to Greystones, we never did get that trip to Glendalough.

Tina was most of all a good friend, someone who always had time for you and was always considerate and compassionate. Everyone had a good word for them. They were inspiring, professional, and a visionary leader. They will be missed by their many friends around the globe.

Rest in Power, dear friend, Sara R Phillips Co-Chair TGEU