1 minute read

Ghana goes All Out

GHANA IS ONE OF MANY AFRICAN NATIONS FIGHTING EXISTING OR PROPOSED REPRESIVE LAWS AIMED AT THE LGBTI+ CIMMUNITY - BUT IN GHANA THE FIGHT IS BEING TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA ...

On the 17 May LGBT+ activists, organisations and supportive governments all over the world recognise IDAHOBIT. A day that is meant to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. The theme for this year was “Our bodies, our lives, our rights”, a reminder of the injustices LGBT+ people are subjected to across the world.

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It is on this day that Voices of Ghana was launched, an audio collection of powerful stories of survival and resistance from the LGBT+ community in Ghana. Voices of Ghana is not just about resistance and survival, it is also about love, hope and freedom. The stories are a manifestation of our shared humanity and a compelling reminder that love is liberation.

As you may have heard, in July 2021, 8 members of parliament in Ghana brought forward a bill that would criminalise the country’s LGBT+ community and its allies. LGBT+ activists and allies in Ghana have since opposed the Bill and are fighting to prevent its passage into law. Together with partners in Ghana, All Out started a petition to the Constitution and Legal Affairs Committee, and the President of Ghana, to reject and dismiss the Bill. Ghanaians continue to defy oppressive state and religious institutions by existing unapologetically and speaking out against injustice. Go to: https://campaigns.allout.org/voices-of-ghana to listen to the podcasts and sign the petition in support of the campaign for LGBT+ rights in Ghana.

Totally worth it.