INTRODUCING THE PROUD CONTINENT ZINE

As a feminist organisation, AWDF provides crucial support to women’s movements working to end patriarchy, human rights abuses and gendered violence in Africa. Our core values of respect, diversity, feminist leadership, solidarity and partnership are demonstrated in the material, technical and institutional support that we provide to LBQT+ organisations fighting for the safety and freedoms of marginalised Africans.

This June, we have teamed up with our LBQT+ grantee partners in countries such as Angola, Tanzania and Uganda to highlight the experiences and convictions that shape the work they are doing. Our grantee partners are all courageous and committed individuals who work hard to secure rights, combat stereotypes and ultimately make society more welcoming for queer and trans people. These grantee organisations create safe spaces, provide much-needed healthcare and peer support, and mobilise around pressing issues in order to create a reality where all people are free to enjoy their human rights.

As we highlighted with our #LoveAndFreedomAfrica campaign last year, queer and trans people in Africa experience high and sometimes extreme levels of social isolation, physical and sexual violence, discrimination in workplaces and places of learning, and human rights abuses at the hands of the state and private actors. Trauma and suffering are however not the entire story of queer and trans life, and with the #AfriPROUD campaign we aim to highlight the complexity, beauty and courage that underpins the lives of our African LBQT+ sisters and siblings.

Pride Month is here and we see this globally recognised celebration as an opportunity to focus on LBQT+ Africans, while also reinforcing how crucial it is that we all act urgently to protect the rights and freedoms of our sisters and siblings.

We have compiled this Zine to spotlight the activism, resilience, and courage of Africans whose sexual orientation, gender identity, and social performance transcend conservative norms.

Download the ZINE here

Proud Continent – June 2022 (English) by Square HQ