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Reflections from the other side of the world - International convenings are important for connecting and exploring different or similar ideas. As a youth activist, it has taken quite a lot of work and effort in getting the opportunity to attend these. This is common for many that do not have institutional backing that can allow access, eligibility or selection. I was lucky toContinue reading Reflections from the other side of the world → To Her, With Pride - I dedicate my pride to her; the girl on the phone a few steps away from me, exclaiming. A girl for all appearances who is like every other girl, her legs dangling off a chair, a tired Nigerian speaking about her with a familiar tone of amusement. A girl who rises and squeals when sheContinue reading To Her, With Pride → Botswana continues to set example in the rule of Law for LGBT persons in Africa - Today marked the beginning of a progressive new era in the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals in Botswana. The High Court ruled to decriminalise same-sex intercourse, interpreted in our colonial era penal code under ‘carnal knowledge’, ‘unnatural acts’ and ‘immoral acts’. The beauty of the judgement lies in its scope, as it canvasses all possible opposition ranging from public opinion, morality, the bible, Africaness to privacy. Although theContinue reading Botswana continues to set example in the rule of Law for LGBT persons in Africa → For immediate release: African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania - November 6, 2018 For Immediate Release African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania African Queen Youth Initiative (AQYI) is deeply concerned and saddened to hear about the current conditions in the LGBTIQ community in Tanzania. On the 29th of October, Paul Makonda, regional commissioner for Dar es Salaam, announced a crackdown onContinue reading For immediate release: African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania → #ComingOutStories 4: An extended coming out - “Coming Out”, in the sense of making a grand announcement about my life feels distant to me now. I remember calling each of my close friends, about 10 years ago, to tell them I was crushing on a girl from school. Group chats didn’t exist then. It was not nerve-racking for me. Each of myContinue reading #ComingOutStories 4: An extended coming out → #ComingOutStories 3: We are all humans, sexuality does not count - My coming out story is one of the thing that gives me joy, though it was not as easy as it may sound. I found out who I was at the age of six; that was the first time I had a crush on a beautiful women.. Funny as it may sound. I grew upContinue reading #ComingOutStories 3: We are all humans, sexuality does not count → #ComingOutStories 2: Lollitah and self acceptance - I am Lollitah... Having been brought up in a strict Christian background I have always refuted me being Queer to my parents, my peers and even to myself...Continue reading #ComingOutStories 2: Lollitah and self acceptance → #ComingOutStories 1: “Some call it coming out, I call it self-affirmation” - “He looks good, she isn’t bad either” … The little straight nose, red smiling lips, wide gleaming eyes, straight hair; expressions of awe, mischief, startled… Like the slipping sands in one’s hand, memories of childhood fade with the passing time.Continue reading #ComingOutStories 1: “Some call it coming out, I call it self-affirmation” → Politics and LGBTQ people of Morocco: When politically sponsored hate-speech threatens Moroccan’s sexual and gender minorities. - Is it the trend in Morocco for LGBTQ+ people to be the punching bag of politicians? Last year, after the scandalous statement made by the Moroccan Human Rights Minister, Dr. Mustapha Ramid in 2017 tagging LGBTQ+ people as “scums” in a response to a journalist’s question; former Prime Minister of Morocco, Abdelilah Benkirane has recentlyContinue reading Politics and LGBTQ people of Morocco: When politically sponsored hate-speech threatens Moroccan’s sexual and gender minorities. → Mauritius: A quagmire between increased acceptance of LGBTQ people and homophobia - Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan research network published its No. 225 bulletin on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in its 3rd publication for Mauritius. The two previous ones were in 2012 and 2014. Since its independence in 1968, Mauritius has taken pride in promoting its development based on democracy, good governance, human rights andContinue reading Mauritius: A quagmire between increased acceptance of LGBTQ people and homophobia → Like this: Like Loading...
Reflections from the other side of the world - International convenings are important for connecting and exploring different or similar ideas. As a youth activist, it has taken quite a lot of work and effort in getting the opportunity to attend these. This is common for many that do not have institutional backing that can allow access, eligibility or selection. I was lucky toContinue reading Reflections from the other side of the world 
To Her, With Pride - I dedicate my pride to her; the girl on the phone a few steps away from me, exclaiming. A girl for all appearances who is like every other girl, her legs dangling off a chair, a tired Nigerian speaking about her with a familiar tone of amusement. A girl who rises and squeals when sheContinue reading To Her, With Pride 
Botswana continues to set example in the rule of Law for LGBT persons in Africa - Today marked the beginning of a progressive new era in the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals in Botswana. The High Court ruled to decriminalise same-sex intercourse, interpreted in our colonial era penal code under ‘carnal knowledge’, ‘unnatural acts’ and ‘immoral acts’. The beauty of the judgement lies in its scope, as it canvasses all possible opposition ranging from public opinion, morality, the bible, Africaness to privacy. Although theContinue reading Botswana continues to set example in the rule of Law for LGBT persons in Africa 
For immediate release: African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania - November 6, 2018 For Immediate Release African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania African Queen Youth Initiative (AQYI) is deeply concerned and saddened to hear about the current conditions in the LGBTIQ community in Tanzania. On the 29th of October, Paul Makonda, regional commissioner for Dar es Salaam, announced a crackdown onContinue reading For immediate release: African Queer Youth Initiative statement on the situation in Tanzania 
#ComingOutStories 4: An extended coming out - “Coming Out”, in the sense of making a grand announcement about my life feels distant to me now. I remember calling each of my close friends, about 10 years ago, to tell them I was crushing on a girl from school. Group chats didn’t exist then. It was not nerve-racking for me. Each of myContinue reading #ComingOutStories 4: An extended coming out 
#ComingOutStories 3: We are all humans, sexuality does not count - My coming out story is one of the thing that gives me joy, though it was not as easy as it may sound. I found out who I was at the age of six; that was the first time I had a crush on a beautiful women.. Funny as it may sound. I grew upContinue reading #ComingOutStories 3: We are all humans, sexuality does not count 
#ComingOutStories 2: Lollitah and self acceptance - I am Lollitah... Having been brought up in a strict Christian background I have always refuted me being Queer to my parents, my peers and even to myself...Continue reading #ComingOutStories 2: Lollitah and self acceptance 
#ComingOutStories 1: “Some call it coming out, I call it self-affirmation” - “He looks good, she isn’t bad either” … The little straight nose, red smiling lips, wide gleaming eyes, straight hair; expressions of awe, mischief, startled… Like the slipping sands in one’s hand, memories of childhood fade with the passing time.Continue reading #ComingOutStories 1: “Some call it coming out, I call it self-affirmation” 
Politics and LGBTQ people of Morocco: When politically sponsored hate-speech threatens Moroccan’s sexual and gender minorities. - Is it the trend in Morocco for LGBTQ+ people to be the punching bag of politicians? Last year, after the scandalous statement made by the Moroccan Human Rights Minister, Dr. Mustapha Ramid in 2017 tagging LGBTQ+ people as “scums” in a response to a journalist’s question; former Prime Minister of Morocco, Abdelilah Benkirane has recentlyContinue reading Politics and LGBTQ people of Morocco: When politically sponsored hate-speech threatens Moroccan’s sexual and gender minorities. 
Mauritius: A quagmire between increased acceptance of LGBTQ people and homophobia - Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan research network published its No. 225 bulletin on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in its 3rd publication for Mauritius. The two previous ones were in 2012 and 2014. Since its independence in 1968, Mauritius has taken pride in promoting its development based on democracy, good governance, human rights andContinue reading Mauritius: A quagmire between increased acceptance of LGBTQ people and homophobia