What was the pivotal moment that made you realize that you needed to become an activist for LGBTQI+ rights, and how did you feel in that moment?
I had just returned to my home country from a liberal one to a homophobic locale. I had an STI scare and didn’t know where to go or whom to turn to, and it made me think… How many like me go through this, sitting still with an STI destroying their body simply out of fear of the repercussions of seeking medical attention? How many lives are ruined because access to life-saving treatment is withheld because someone thinks it is more important to judge your being? I am a healthcare professional myself, and yet I was so lost. This ignited a flame in me to begin extensive Sexual rights and health advocacy.
Can you share a story about a specific project or initiative you worked on that significantly impacted the LGBTQI+ community, and how did you feel when you saw the effect it had?
I worked as a Peer mobilizer for a local NGO serving sexual minorities. I worked to improve access to health and mentor more LGBTQI+ members. I have worked proudly to develop strong-minded personalities who are now advocates in their own right. One is now an upcoming Trans advocate, and another is shaking up a storm in University cycles to make the conversation about LGBTQI+ people more relevant.
What is the most crucial issue facing LGBTQI+ persons in your community today, and how are you working to address it to inspire others to get involved?
I believe that the broader mental health epidemic is being ignored. Being LGBTQI+ in a country and a world that hates you is hard. Even when seemingly developed countries like the United States appear to be regressing. My organization is working hard to establish mental health screening tools to evaluate the many sexual minorities we encounter. We screen, counsel, support, and refer. We also raise awareness and educate our LGBTQI+ members on various mental illnesses and triggers.
How do you use storytelling to educate and raise awareness about LGBTQI+ issues in your community, and can you share a particularly memorable story that you’ve used to do so?
I am a writer, or at the very least, I aspire to be. I have been involved in community programs such as the Purple Hand Africa project, where I chronicled my coming-out journey—the journey of how I felt unworthy, unlovable, and as if I was cursed. I expressed my journey toward self-acceptance, of coming into my own as a queer person. This story was published in their compilation of stories released for many to read.
How do you balance the emotional toll of your work as an activist with the need to stay focused on the task at hand, and can you share a story about a time when this was particularly difficult?
I believe in resting the body and mind that work. I often take breaks away from social media, which I find more distracting and detrimental to one’s mental health. I also read affirming messages and books and now focus more on queer-oriented material. I recommend many to look up MaThoko’s books for African queer literature recommendations.
What is the most inspiring or heartwarming story you’ve experienced during your work as an activist, and how did it make you feel?
It has to be watching my mentee come into her own as a transwoman. Watching her grow into a proud advocate who is fearless, empathetic, and exudes intelligence and confidence but is also very brave. Trans people are brave.
What is your vision for the future of the LGBTQI+ movement, and can you share a story that encapsulates that vision?
My vision is a sexually liberated Africa that is no longer a slave to opinions and extremism. Aside from the decriminalization of queer bodies in Africa. I long for the development of health, educational and other services catered to us, including inclusion in all its spheres, primarily mental and sexual reproductive health. Uganda’s current bill jeopardizes this, but we will persevere.
Finally, can you share something you would like other activists, allies, funders, and partners reading this to leave with?
You are not alone; we exist.
