FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (RNS) Human rights campaigners in the West African nation are cherry-picking which rights they defend on the basis of religion, culture, and tradition, leaving LGBTQ communities vulnerable.
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.
LGBTQI+ South Africans struggle to fund higher education
CAPE TOWN — Amid social and religious discrimination, sexual and gender minorities are often shunned by traditional support networks and struggle to access higher education.
Sex workers balance risk and reward in Lesotho
MASERU, Lesotho — Following a recent police raid and facing serious legal and health risks, sex work provides financial reward and opportunity to some women in this Southern African nation.
In Mauritius, transgender women fight prejudice and find themselves
PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — Fear of losing one’s job or being ridiculed by friends and family often pushes transgender people to hide their feelings and identities on the African island nation.
Gay and lesbian Nigerians seeking deliverance find mental health anguish instead
LAGOS — Distrust of Nigeria’s mental health system prevents many sexual and gender minorities from seeking professional help when coming to terms with their faith and sexuality.
For gays and lesbians in Mombasa, coming out cuts both ways
MOMBASA, Kenya — Members of Mombasa’s LGBTI community discuss the pain and pleasure of coming out to friends, family and society at large.
Clergy counselors stoke LGBT fears at Ghana high schools
KUMASI, Ghana — In Ghana, LGBT students are expelled for “sexual misconduct” or silenced for fear of being demonized by school counselors who double as religious leaders.
Nigerian megachurch’s claim to ‘pray the gay away’ bristles LGBT activists
LAGOS — Megachurch pastor and televangelist T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) claims to “drive demons” out of sexual minorities on live television. LGBT activists and psychologists say the practice can bring about new harms.
Cameroon’s outlawed sexual and gender minorities face a ‘cemetery peace’
YAOUNDE, Cameroon — “Some people may think LGBTI+ people live in peace in Cameroon. Their lives can only be compared to the peace and serenity of a graveyard. They are silent but live in distress.”
Zambia’s LGBT Community Pushes For Official Recognition In HIV Fight
KITWE, Zambia — A consortium of Zambian civil society organizations championing the rights of LGBT people has embarked on a campaign to advance their rights in the soon-to-be-launched 2016 – 2019 Zambia National AIDS Strategic Framework.
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