“It was so beautiful to see how art can really take people to greater heights,” said Drag Night Namibia co-founder Rodelio Lewis, who performs as Miss Mavis Dash.
Category: Stories
The following stories stem from Taboom’s regular workshops for journalists, editors and media professionals around the world. Since 2014 we have trained and mentored hundreds of journalists from more than 50 countries.
LGBTQ Youth Find Support After Family Rejection in Malawi
Meet Kambiri, a 23-year-old lesbian who grew up in a loving family in Lilongwe. When she was diagnosed with HIV in 2023 and revealed her sexual orientation to them, everything changed.
Locked Out: Queer Couples Fight to Start Families in Kenya
Queer Kenyans’ desire to start a family is often met with intrusive questions, legal hurdles, and societal disapproval, all of which can take a toll on their mental health.
The Silent Health Crisis Facing Malawi’s LGBTQ+ Community
Access to quality health care remains a challenge for LGBTQ+ people in Malawi who face discrimination at health facilities because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Families of Queer persons gather online and in person to overcome stigma
Across Africa, parents and families of queer persons are using WhatsApp support groups to help understand and accept their children as well as deal with the challenges and trauma of living with homophobia.
Early campaign propaganda worries Malawi’s LGBTQ community
Malawi will hold elections in September 2025. Official campaigning will only start in June, but unofficial canvassing has already begun, which is worrying the LGBTQ community.
“My privacy matters”: Tanzania’s new VPN policy leaves LGBTQ+ individuals exposed
In October 2023, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority mandated VPN users to register, alarming LGBTQ+ people in the country who rely on VPNs for privacy amid restrictive laws.
Sabel*, a gay man living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, uses pseudonyms to engage with other LGBTQ people online. Despite feeling somewhat anonymous, the fear of being arrested is ever-present.
LGBTQ+ Nigerians Face Hurdles In Quest To Access Healthcare
In early 2023, Toyin, a transgender woman from Lagos who spoke on the condition of anonymity, visited a health centre to treat an infection. After a stern look, the doctor told her, “You are wrong to alter God’s work.”
Lesbian woman finds liberation in conservative Malawi
In Malawi’s Central Region district of Dedza, Tamanda (not her real name) had a seemingly typical childhood. Yet, beneath the surface, she grappled with the weight of a profound secret; living between her true self and society’s expectations.
The Silent Storm: Mental Health After “Conversion Therapy”
This piece narrates Issa Otome’s traumatic experience of “conversion therapy”, shedding light on the mental health challenges endured by survivors. The article emphasizes the prevalence of such practices, especially among youth, and looks into the legal and emotional consequences.
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