Welcome to the SSOGIE Series, Taboom Media’s introductory course on sexual and gender diversity and related human rights topics. Our SSOGIE Series includes 20 videos across two tracks, one for journalists and one for activists. The 10 videos below are designed to help journalists cover Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities, and Expressions (SSOGIE) with accuracy and respect. If you’re an activist, click here to watch our media advocacy videos for activists.
1. Tips for Reporting on Sexual and Gender Diversity
In this introductory video, Taboom Media’s co-founding director Brian Pellot offers eight practical tips for reporting on SSOGIE issues. For a deeper dive, see our free handbook “Covering Sexual and Gender Minorities & Religion in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Reporting Guide for Journalists (2nd Edition), which is also available in French: “Couverture des Minorités Sexuelles et de Genre et de la Religion en Afrique : Un Guide de Reportage pour les Journalistes : Version Française“.
2. Mythbusting SSOGIE Misconceptions with Welcome Mandal Lishivha
Welcome Mandla Lishivha is a journalist, editor, and author based in South Africa. In this video, Welcome sifts through 10 common statements about LGBTQI+ people to help us distinguish fact from fiction.
3. Reporting on Religion & SSOGIE Issues with Dr. Debra L. Mason
Debra L. Mason is COO and co-founder of Taboom Media and director and professor emerita at the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s Center on Religion & the Professions. In this video, Debra explains the importance of religious literacy when covering SSOGIE issues.
4. Sexual and Gender Diversity in the Bible with Rev. Hanzline Davids
The Rev. Hanzline R. Davids works towards the full recognition, celebration, and participation of LGBTIQ+ people in faith and civil society communities across Africa. In this video, he discusses sexual and gender diversity in the Bible and the importance of contextual intercultural interpretation. He also introduces Inclusive and Affirming Ministries’ Bible and Homosexuality Toolkit, which is available for free here.
5. Sexual and Gender Diversity in Islam with Imam Muhsin Hendricks
Muhsin Hendricks is an Islamic scholar, imam (religious leader), and human rights activist focused on sexual orientation and gender identity within Islam. In 2004, Muhsin founded The Inner Circle, the world’s largest formal organization that supports Muslims marginalized based on sexual orientation and gender. He now leads Compassion-Centred Islam (the CCI Network) along with Al-Ghurbaah Foundation and the Masjidul Ghurbaah project. In this video, he discusses the Quran, Hadith, and historical and contemporary Muslim attitudes towards gender and sexual diversity.
6. In Conversation with Journalist & Filmmaker Carl Collison
Carl Collison is a South African journalist and filmmaker who reports extensively on issues facing queer and other marginalized communities for the Mail & Guardian, New Frame, Daily Maverick, and international publications. In this video, Carl and Taboom’s co-founding director Brian Pellot discuss strategies for reporting on queer issues with sensitivity and respect and navigating backlash and safety concerns.
7. Reporting on Trans & Gender Diverse Communities with Greyson Thela
Greyson Thela is the former legal advocacy coordinator at Gender DynamiX, the first registered Africa-based public benefit organisation to focus solely on trans and gender-diverse communities. In this video, Greyson offers tips for journalists when reporting on trans, intersex, and gender-diverse communities.
8. Self-Care for Mental Health with Billy Hani
Billy Hani is a queer trans artist and activist based in Kenya. They use writing and photography to explore African queerness, sexuality, gender identity and expression, bodies, and mental health. In this video, Billy offers practical self-care tips for maintaining our mental health when covering sensitive communities and traumatic events.
9. Understanding Intersex with Crystal Hendricks
Crystal Hendricks is an intersex human rights defender. She serves as Iranti’s intersex rights programme officer, as Intersex South Africa’s administrator, as chair of the intersex steering committee at ILGA World, and on the advisory board of the Intersex Human Rights Fund. In this video, Crystal explains some intersex lived realities and offers tips for reporting on related issues.
10. Unboxing Gender Binaries with Akani Shimange
Akani Shimange (They/Them) is a black non-binary individual with a background in advocacy, research, and movement building. Their experience includes sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), transgender and gender diverse research, and capacity building and mobilization across the African continent. In this video, Akani defines some important SSOGIE terms (including gender, transgender, cisgender, non-binary, agender, genderqueer, and genderfluid) and offers tips for reporting on gender non-binary people.
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