I was in Lagos Nigeria in 2014 when I heard about five young men in the north
heard about five young men in the north
heard about five young men in the north of the country who faced the death
of the country who faced the death
of the country who faced the death penalty for committing Gay X they were
penalty for committing Gay X they were
penalty for committing Gay X they were in the Sharia law controlled private
in the Sharia law controlled private
in the Sharia law controlled private part of the country so I went up to see
part of the country so I went up to see
part of the country so I went up to see them fortunately by the time I got up
them fortunately by the time I got up
them fortunately by the time I got up there their case had been dismissed and
there their case had been dismissed and
there their case had been dismissed and they were out of prison but they were
they were out of prison but they were
they were out of prison but they were homeless and they were very afraid and
homeless and they were very afraid and
homeless and they were very afraid and meeting them was was really difficult
meeting them was was really difficult
meeting them was was really difficult eventually I convinced them that it was
eventually I convinced them that it was
eventually I convinced them that it was safe and they they came to my hotel to
safe and they they came to my hotel to
safe and they they came to my hotel to meet me and I you know heard each of
meet me and I you know heard each of
meet me and I you know heard each of their stories and that’s where I met
their stories and that’s where I met
their stories and that’s where I met young Boo Jane so I was deeply moved by
young Boo Jane so I was deeply moved by
young Boo Jane so I was deeply moved by these stories of survival and that’s
these stories of survival and that’s
these stories of survival and that’s when I started I left northern Nigeria
when I started I left northern Nigeria
when I started I left northern Nigeria and started where love is illegal so I
and started where love is illegal so I
and started where love is illegal so I documented these stories of survival you
documented these stories of survival you
documented these stories of survival you know people who’d survived persecution
know people who’d survived persecution
know people who’d survived persecution from around the world people who’ve
from around the world people who’ve
from around the world people who’ve survived in prison imprisonment and
survived in prison imprisonment and
survived in prison imprisonment and violent attack and attempted murder and
violent attack and attempted murder and
violent attack and attempted murder and rape people who’ve been ostracized by
rape people who’ve been ostracized by
rape people who’ve been ostracized by their family members who fled their
their family members who fled their
their family members who fled their countries who’ve done all they can to
countries who’ve done all they can to
countries who’ve done all they can to hide who they are because they didn’t
hide who they are because they didn’t
hide who they are because they didn’t were not considered by their community
were not considered by their community
were not considered by their community as normal I told the stories of 77
as normal I told the stories of 77
as normal I told the stories of 77 different people from 16 different
different people from 16 different
different people from 16 different nationalities many of the people I met
nationalities many of the people I met
nationalities many of the people I met were afraid to have their stories told
were afraid to have their stories told
were afraid to have their stories told this is Sally she is afraid to show your
this is Sally she is afraid to show your
this is Sally she is afraid to show your face because in Syria the so-called
face because in Syria the so-called
face because in Syria the so-called Islamic state hunting down gay and trans
Islamic state hunting down gay and trans
Islamic state hunting down gay and trans people they want her dead because she
people they want her dead because she
people they want her dead because she identifies as a woman the Islamic state
identifies as a woman the Islamic state
identifies as a woman the Islamic state don’t want you to hear her story and
don’t want you to hear her story and
don’t want you to hear her story and this is J&Q from uganda they’re hiding
this is J&Q from uganda they’re hiding
this is J&Q from uganda they’re hiding their faces because they are a lesbian
their faces because they are a lesbian
their faces because they are a lesbian couple and they fear their community
couple and they fear their community
couple and they fear their community their community doesn’t want you to hear
their community doesn’t want you to hear
their community doesn’t want you to hear their story and this is Eve from
their story and this is Eve from
their story and this is Eve from Cameroon and Eve is hiding his face
Cameroon and Eve is hiding his face
Cameroon and Eve is hiding his face because that country arrests more gay
because that country arrests more gay
because that country arrests more gay men just for being gay than any other
men just for being gay than any other
men just for being gay than any other country in the continent those arresting
country in the continent those arresting
country in the continent those arresting and torturing the gaming of Cameroon do
and torturing the gaming of Cameroon do
and torturing the gaming of Cameroon do not want you to hear his story but the
not want you to hear his story but the
not want you to hear his story but the reason that these people are here on the
reason that these people are here on the
reason that these people are here on the screen behind me is that they want this
screen behind me is that they want this
screen behind me is that they want this story hood and they shared it because
story hood and they shared it because
story hood and they shared it because they hope that by doing so that their
they hope that by doing so that their
they hope that by doing so that their situation might change for themselves
situation might change for themselves
situation might change for themselves and for people like them
and for people like them
and for people like them but for some of course a photo poses a
but for some of course a photo poses a
but for some of course a photo poses a risk for some if they are identified
risk for some if they are identified
risk for some if they are identified they could face further persecution well
they could face further persecution well
they could face further persecution well it could even be killed but many of them
it could even be killed but many of them
it could even be killed but many of them wanted to share their stories and I was
wanted to share their stories and I was
wanted to share their stories and I was really desperate to tell them but the
really desperate to tell them but the
really desperate to tell them but the only way that was going to be possible
only way that was going to be possible
only way that was going to be possible was if it was done on their terms when I
was if it was done on their terms when I
was if it was done on their terms when I met the young man in northern Nigeria at
met the young man in northern Nigeria at
met the young man in northern Nigeria at the time I was in Lagos Nigeria and I
the time I was in Lagos Nigeria and I
the time I was in Lagos Nigeria and I was shooting a story for National
was shooting a story for National
was shooting a story for National Geographic and I was using a large
Geographic and I was using a large
Geographic and I was using a large format camera and a Polaroid type film
format camera and a Polaroid type film
format camera and a Polaroid type film for those who not familiar with a large
for those who not familiar with a large
for those who not familiar with a large format camera it’s a it’s a big camera
format camera it’s a it’s a big camera
format camera it’s a it’s a big camera and it has bellows at the front and in a
and it has bellows at the front and in a
and it has bellows at the front and in a glass plate and you have to put your
glass plate and you have to put your
glass plate and you have to put your head under a hood to see everything
head under a hood to see everything
head under a hood to see everything upside down and the wrong way it’s not
upside down and the wrong way it’s not
upside down and the wrong way it’s not an easy process but you know as
an easy process but you know as
an easy process but you know as photographing these portraits with this
photographing these portraits with this
photographing these portraits with this Polaroid film and I and I wanted to
Polaroid film and I and I wanted to
Polaroid film and I and I wanted to continue it with this work initially I
continue it with this work initially I
continue it with this work initially I thought I’d continue with this work
thought I’d continue with this work
thought I’d continue with this work because I you know it was an aesthetic
because I you know it was an aesthetic
because I you know it was an aesthetic decision I like the look of it but I
decision I like the look of it but I
decision I like the look of it but I actually took on a I think an even more
actually took on a I think an even more
actually took on a I think an even more important purpose I gave each of the
important purpose I gave each of the
important purpose I gave each of the people that I photographed the option to
people that I photographed the option to
people that I photographed the option to destroy the picture if they felt that it
destroy the picture if they felt that it
destroy the picture if they felt that it somehow endangered them so and I think
somehow endangered them so and I think
somehow endangered them so and I think that they promise you know to put their
that they promise you know to put their
that they promise you know to put their hand over the picture and let them take
hand over the picture and let them take
hand over the picture and let them take it and destroy it was a real aid and
it and destroy it was a real aid and
it and destroy it was a real aid and building trust but I didn’t have to just
building trust but I didn’t have to just
building trust but I didn’t have to just destroy many and intercept because from
destroy many and intercept because from
destroy many and intercept because from the outset I adopted a new way of
the outset I adopted a new way of
the outset I adopted a new way of working these photographs were going to
working these photographs were going to
working these photographs were going to be a collaboration initially that was a
be a collaboration initially that was a
be a collaboration initially that was a you know and I had it was it was that
you know and I had it was it was that
you know and I had it was it was that the terms of the agreement was that I
the terms of the agreement was that I
the terms of the agreement was that I had to had to make it this do it this
had to had to make it this do it this
had to had to make it this do it this way but it’s a very different way of
way but it’s a very different way of
way but it’s a very different way of working because usually as photographers
working because usually as photographers
working because usually as photographers we like to control every you know we
we like to control every you know we
we like to control every you know we kind of control freaks we like to
kind of control freaks we like to
kind of control freaks we like to control every aspect of the shoot but
control every aspect of the shoot but
control every aspect of the shoot but here I was handing over control to the
here I was handing over control to the
here I was handing over control to the subjects themselves and I was allowing
subjects themselves and I was allowing
subjects themselves and I was allowing them to choose what they would wear how
them to choose what they would wear how
them to choose what they would wear how they would pose and how they would
they would pose and how they would
they would pose and how they would express themselves and of course how
express themselves and of course how
express themselves and of course how much of their face they wanted to show I
much of their face they wanted to show I
much of their face they wanted to show I also wanted them to tell their own
also wanted them to tell their own
also wanted them to tell their own stories and in their own words so ask
stories and in their own words so ask
stories and in their own words so ask each of them to
each of them to
each of them to right their own testimony which would
right their own testimony which would
right their own testimony which would accompany their photographs and when we
accompany their photographs and when we
accompany their photographs and when we share their testimonies on on the
share their testimonies on on the
share their testimonies on on the website we always you know quite the
website we always you know quite the
website we always you know quite the mess with idli directly and here for
mess with idli directly and here for
mess with idli directly and here for many of them for the first time they had
many of them for the first time they had
many of them for the first time they had control over how they were seen and how
control over how they were seen and how
control over how they were seen and how they were heard but of course handing
they were heard but of course handing
they were heard but of course handing over control meant that there were
over control meant that there were
over control meant that there were sometimes some unexpected results and
sometimes some unexpected results and
sometimes some unexpected results and tell you the story about a young
tell you the story about a young
tell you the story about a young transgender woman Jessie she lives in a
transgender woman Jessie she lives in a
transgender woman Jessie she lives in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon and
Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon and
Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon and her young life has been this what one of
her young life has been this what one of
her young life has been this what one of extreme hardship she’s been bullied and
extreme hardship she’s been bullied and
extreme hardship she’s been bullied and thrown out of school she has been raped
thrown out of school she has been raped
thrown out of school she has been raped and most shockingly her brother and
and most shockingly her brother and
and most shockingly her brother and father in order to protect the family
father in order to protect the family
father in order to protect the family honor Heather on several occasions
honor Heather on several occasions
honor Heather on several occasions attempted to murder her her story was
attempted to murder her her story was
attempted to murder her her story was this list of horrendous abuses and
this list of horrendous abuses and
this list of horrendous abuses and instinctively I wanted to make a
instinctively I wanted to make a
instinctively I wanted to make a photograph that reflected that story but
photograph that reflected that story but
photograph that reflected that story but she didn’t so we start the session and I
she didn’t so we start the session and I
she didn’t so we start the session and I find a corner of a room of some nice
find a corner of a room of some nice
find a corner of a room of some nice light and I set up my camera on the
light and I set up my camera on the
light and I set up my camera on the tripod and you know this is big camera
tripod and you know this is big camera
tripod and you know this is big camera and I wind out the bellows and I put the
and I wind out the bellows and I put the
and I wind out the bellows and I put the lens on the front and I have my my
lens on the front and I have my my
lens on the front and I have my my cassette film i shutter my cape I asked
cassette film i shutter my cape I asked
cassette film i shutter my cape I asked her to come into the end of the frame
her to come into the end of the frame
her to come into the end of the frame and she covers her face below these
and she covers her face below these
and she covers her face below these large dark eyes with a scarf in order to
large dark eyes with a scarf in order to
large dark eyes with a scarf in order to protect her identity
protect her identity
protect her identity and she starts posing and she pushes out
and she starts posing and she pushes out
and she starts posing and she pushes out her buttock and she tilts up her head
her buttock and she tilts up her head
her buttock and she tilts up her head and starts to seduce the camera with her
and starts to seduce the camera with her
and starts to seduce the camera with her eyes and I looked through the frame and
eyes and I looked through the frame and
eyes and I looked through the frame and I think this is not the photograph I
I think this is not the photograph I
I think this is not the photograph I plan to take but but she is beautiful
plan to take but but she is beautiful
plan to take but but she is beautiful and from the camera and strong and
and from the camera and strong and
and from the camera and strong and empowered and I had to remind myself
empowered and I had to remind myself
empowered and I had to remind myself that you know I was having to give over
that you know I was having to give over
that you know I was having to give over control as I was to let her allow her to
control as I was to let her allow her to
control as I was to let her allow her to portray herself as she would like so
portray herself as she would like so
portray herself as she would like so despite this photograph not matching her
despite this photograph not matching her
despite this photograph not matching her story I decided to take the pictures
story I decided to take the pictures
story I decided to take the pictures anyway then afterwards we were talking
anyway then afterwards we were talking
anyway then afterwards we were talking about herstory some more and she’s
about herstory some more and she’s
about herstory some more and she’s continued to explain the situation with
continued to explain the situation with
continued to explain the situation with her family and you know she’s daily at
her family and you know she’s daily at
her family and you know she’s daily at grave risk of being murdered by her own
grave risk of being murdered by her own
grave risk of being murdered by her own her own flesh and blood and you know I
her own flesh and blood and you know I
her own flesh and blood and you know I listened to her and I said look I
listened to her and I said look I
listened to her and I said look I understand that you identify as a woman
understand that you identify as a woman
understand that you identify as a woman but given the threats that you face
but given the threats that you face
but given the threats that you face wouldn’t it just be better to pretend to
wouldn’t it just be better to pretend to
wouldn’t it just be better to pretend to be a boy and she looked up at me in a
be a boy and she looked up at me in a
be a boy and she looked up at me in a shock and she said I was born this way
shock and she said I was born this way
shock and she said I was born this way and I will die this way and in that
and I will die this way and in that
and I will die this way and in that moment I understood her gender identity
moment I understood her gender identity
moment I understood her gender identity is fundamental to who she is I’ve never
is fundamental to who she is I’ve never
is fundamental to who she is I’ve never had my identity challenged she’s
had my identity challenged she’s
had my identity challenged she’s threatened every day because of how she
threatened every day because of how she
threatened every day because of how she presents herself with that statement
presents herself with that statement
presents herself with that statement I understood just his courage and her
I understood just his courage and her
I understood just his courage and her strength and her photograph was perfect
strength and her photograph was perfect
strength and her photograph was perfect this is her story she sees herself as a
this is her story she sees herself as a
this is her story she sees herself as a beautiful young woman a sexy young woman
beautiful young woman a sexy young woman
beautiful young woman a sexy young woman and that is who she wants you to see
and that is who she wants you to see
and that is who she wants you to see what happened to her is not who she is
what happened to her is not who she is
what happened to her is not who she is so I have this belief and that is that
so I have this belief and that is that
so I have this belief and that is that storytelling is fundamental to the human
storytelling is fundamental to the human
storytelling is fundamental to the human experience is how we communicate with
experience is how we communicate with
experience is how we communicate with each other and it’s even how we
each other and it’s even how we
each other and it’s even how we communicate with ourselves but of course
communicate with ourselves but of course
communicate with ourselves but of course the types of stories that we tell are
the types of stories that we tell are
the types of stories that we tell are really important and there are stories
really important and there are stories
really important and there are stories that connect and there are stories that
that connect and there are stories that
that connect and there are stories that divide and I think you know I this also
divide and I think you know I this also
divide and I think you know I this also this belief that you know to look for
this belief that you know to look for
this belief that you know to look for difference in each other is a is a
difference in each other is a is a
difference in each other is a is a natural human instinct and that
natural human instinct and that
natural human instinct and that sometimes and for some of us in order to
sometimes and for some of us in order to
sometimes and for some of us in order to feel like we belong we sometimes also
feel like we belong we sometimes also
feel like we belong we sometimes also feel this need to exclude so I’ve been
feel this need to exclude so I’ve been
feel this need to exclude so I’ve been trying to tell what I’m calling
trying to tell what I’m calling
trying to tell what I’m calling authentic personal stories which stories
authentic personal stories which stories
authentic personal stories which stories that come just as much from the people
that come just as much from the people
that come just as much from the people on photographing as they do for myself
on photographing as they do for myself
on photographing as they do for myself where their point of view their voice
where their point of view their voice
where their point of view their voice and their vision is included in the
and their vision is included in the
and their vision is included in the construction of the picture so I have
construction of the picture so I have
construction of the picture so I have this belief also that these these
this belief also that these these
this belief also that these these authentic personal stories have great
authentic personal stories have great
authentic personal stories have great power to break down these barriers that
power to break down these barriers that
power to break down these barriers that divide us barriers of race and religion
divide us barriers of race and religion
divide us barriers of race and religion and nationality and gender and sexuality
and nationality and gender and sexuality
and nationality and gender and sexuality and I really hope that they help us to
and I really hope that they help us to
and I really hope that they help us to see
see
see the person are not just a label and it’s
the person are not just a label and it’s
the person are not just a label and it’s my hope that in seeing the person we can
my hope that in seeing the person we can
my hope that in seeing the person we can see you know what connects us so I
see you know what connects us so I
see you know what connects us so I believe that we need more stories that
believe that we need more stories that
believe that we need more stories that connect but this work actually is a
connect but this work actually is a
connect but this work actually is a testament to the destructive power of
testament to the destructive power of
testament to the destructive power of the other kind of stories divisive
the other kind of stories divisive
the other kind of stories divisive stories allow the casual discrimination
stories allow the casual discrimination
stories allow the casual discrimination of LGBT people and divisive stories also
of LGBT people and divisive stories also
of LGBT people and divisive stories also allow for their rape and their torture
allow for their rape and their torture
allow for their rape and their torture and their murder so what happens when
and their murder so what happens when
and their murder so what happens when all there is is the voice of hate
all there is is the voice of hate
all there is is the voice of hate bigotry thrives with those discriminated
bigotry thrives with those discriminated
bigotry thrives with those discriminated against a silenced where they are
against a silenced where they are
against a silenced where they are disallowed the right to tell their own
disallowed the right to tell their own
disallowed the right to tell their own stories and this is repeated time and
stories and this is repeated time and
stories and this is repeated time and time again throughout history with every
time again throughout history with every
time again throughout history with every human rights issue where loves illegal
human rights issue where loves illegal
human rights issue where loves illegal is made to interrupt the narrative that
is made to interrupt the narrative that
is made to interrupt the narrative that to be LGBT is an attack on society
to be LGBT is an attack on society
to be LGBT is an attack on society against nature or an insult to God it is
against nature or an insult to God it is
against nature or an insult to God it is made to amplify the voices of survivors
made to amplify the voices of survivors
made to amplify the voices of survivors of discrimination and allow them to have
of discrimination and allow them to have
of discrimination and allow them to have their stories heard stories that I
their stories heard stories that I
their stories heard stories that I believe can connect and stories that I
believe can connect and stories that I
believe can connect and stories that I believe can help us to empathize so I
believe can help us to empathize so I
believe can help us to empathize so I spent a year documenting these stories
spent a year documenting these stories
spent a year documenting these stories of survival and the next important step
of survival and the next important step
of survival and the next important step was to make sure that they were heard I
was to make sure that they were heard I
was to make sure that they were heard I wanted to reach the widest audience
wanted to reach the widest audience
wanted to reach the widest audience possible and I want that audience to
possible and I want that audience to
possible and I want that audience to feel like they could do more than just
feel like they could do more than just
feel like they could do more than just read the story but they could be in some
read the story but they could be in some
read the story but they could be in some way involved so I created some social
way involved so I created some social
way involved so I created some social media accounts and I created a website
media accounts and I created a website
media accounts and I created a website and I started sharing these stories
and I started sharing these stories
and I started sharing these stories online but then I also invited other
online but then I also invited other
online but then I also invited other people from the LGBT community to share
people from the LGBT community to share
people from the LGBT community to share their own story so it wasn’t just about
their own story so it wasn’t just about
their own story so it wasn’t just about my photographs all those stories that I
my photographs all those stories that I
my photographs all those stories that I recorded
recorded
recorded but people from around the world were
but people from around the world were
but people from around the world were able to use new this platform that that
able to use new this platform that that
able to use new this platform that that I’ve created and we started getting
I’ve created and we started getting
I’ve created and we started getting stories from coming in from all over the
stories from coming in from all over the
stories from coming in from all over the place from Italy from Israel from Iran
place from Italy from Israel from Iran
place from Italy from Israel from Iran Venezuela Australia United States Jordan
Venezuela Australia United States Jordan
Venezuela Australia United States Jordan South Africa Kuwait South Korea and many
South Africa Kuwait South Korea and many
South Africa Kuwait South Korea and many many other places and the goal was to
many other places and the goal was to
many other places and the goal was to create this global voice of people who
create this global voice of people who
create this global voice of people who refuse to be silenced by bigotry now
refuse to be silenced by bigotry now
refuse to be silenced by bigotry now these voices I’m proud to say you know
these voices I’m proud to say you know
these voices I’m proud to say you know have now reached millions around the
have now reached millions around the
have now reached millions around the world so many of the people that I met
world so many of the people that I met
world so many of the people that I met while doing this work spoke of how alone
while doing this work spoke of how alone
while doing this work spoke of how alone they felt how they grew up in societies
they felt how they grew up in societies
they felt how they grew up in societies that told them that who they are is
that told them that who they are is
that told them that who they are is wrong and in these environments when all
wrong and in these environments when all
wrong and in these environments when all one hears is the voice of intolerance
one hears is the voice of intolerance
one hears is the voice of intolerance many sadly believed it but as bandwidths
many sadly believed it but as bandwidths
many sadly believed it but as bandwidths continue to grow in technology spreads
continue to grow in technology spreads
continue to grow in technology spreads so does the voice of these once hidden
so does the voice of these once hidden
so does the voice of these once hidden stories social media remarkably allows
stories social media remarkably allows
stories social media remarkably allows people to connect in some cases feel
people to connect in some cases feel
people to connect in some cases feel less alone and in this context it is
less alone and in this context it is
less alone and in this context it is really as a remarkable tool because it’s
really as a remarkable tool because it’s
really as a remarkable tool because it’s allowing people who otherwise would
allowing people who otherwise would
allowing people who otherwise would struggle to be heard to have a platform
struggle to be heard to have a platform
struggle to be heard to have a platform to have their to be hood so in the first
to have their to be hood so in the first
to have their to be hood so in the first three months we had a hundred thousand
three months we had a hundred thousand
three months we had a hundred thousand followers on Instagram and the support
followers on Instagram and the support
followers on Instagram and the support was really overwhelming and there’s a
was really overwhelming and there’s a
was really overwhelming and there’s a National Geographic contributing
National Geographic contributing
National Geographic contributing photographer I was able to post on the
photographer I was able to post on the
photographer I was able to post on the National Geographic Instagram site so
National Geographic Instagram site so
National Geographic Instagram site so you know for this picture alone we had
you know for this picture alone we had
you know for this picture alone we had 240,000 people like it you know and
240,000 people like it you know and
240,000 people like it you know and given that our goal was to amplify the
given that our goal was to amplify the
given that our goal was to amplify the voices of those peoples silenced by
voices of those peoples silenced by
voices of those peoples silenced by bigotry social media was really giving
bigotry social media was really giving
bigotry social media was really giving us a helping hand but it wasn’t just a
us a helping hand but it wasn’t just a
us a helping hand but it wasn’t just a you know online that we were creating
you know online that we were creating
you know online that we were creating this work we and sorry it wasn’t just my
this work we and sorry it wasn’t just my
this work we and sorry it wasn’t just my my photographs
my photographs
my photographs it was photographs from the other people
it was photographs from the other people
it was photographs from the other people sharing their stories too for as an
sharing their stories too for as an
sharing their stories too for as an example as CJ who is here from the US CJ
example as CJ who is here from the US CJ
example as CJ who is here from the US CJ is from a Christian family she lives in
is from a Christian family she lives in
is from a Christian family she lives in a very conservative area CJ was drugged
a very conservative area CJ was drugged
a very conservative area CJ was drugged and gang-raped by four young men she was
and gang-raped by four young men she was
and gang-raped by four young men she was semi-conscious during the rape and
semi-conscious during the rape and
semi-conscious during the rape and remembers wanting them one of them
remembers wanting them one of them
remembers wanting them one of them telling her
telling her
telling her that he was saving her from burning
that he was saving her from burning
that he was saving her from burning eternally in hell CJ is a lesbian CJ
eternally in hell CJ is a lesbian CJ
eternally in hell CJ is a lesbian CJ told us that you know she was it was
told us that you know she was it was
told us that you know she was it was very liberating for her to share her
very liberating for her to share her
very liberating for her to share her story but she also talked about how she
story but she also talked about how she
story but she also talked about how she still felt a deep level of shame we were
still felt a deep level of shame we were
still felt a deep level of shame we were flooded with comments of love and
flooded with comments of love and
flooded with comments of love and support for CJ and many people including
support for CJ and many people including
support for CJ and many people including myself and the volunteers that were
myself and the volunteers that were
myself and the volunteers that were lovers illegal were deeply moved by her
lovers illegal were deeply moved by her
lovers illegal were deeply moved by her story again social media was allowing
story again social media was allowing
story again social media was allowing people to connect but the impact is not
people to connect but the impact is not
people to connect but the impact is not just online and we’ve been having this
just online and we’ve been having this
just online and we’ve been having this work you know go into traditional media
work you know go into traditional media
work you know go into traditional media and into exhibitions and from in many
and into exhibitions and from in many
and into exhibitions and from in many different countries and it’s just a you
different countries and it’s just a you
different countries and it’s just a you know the many different ways and
know the many different ways and
know the many different ways and platforms that we are able to have these
platforms that we are able to have these
platforms that we are able to have these voices heard including things like doing
voices heard including things like doing
voices heard including things like doing talks like this but as I said earlier
talks like this but as I said earlier
talks like this but as I said earlier raising awareness is not enough so with
raising awareness is not enough so with
raising awareness is not enough so with some volunteers I created this
some volunteers I created this
some volunteers I created this organization witness change which is a
organization witness change which is a
organization witness change which is a 501 C 3 and you know some volunteers
501 C 3 and you know some volunteers
501 C 3 and you know some volunteers came forward some of them are not here
came forward some of them are not here
came forward some of them are not here tonight which is very nice and impact
tonight which is very nice and impact
tonight which is very nice and impact became a major driver in the work that
became a major driver in the work that
became a major driver in the work that we do and we keep asking ourselves where
we do and we keep asking ourselves where
we do and we keep asking ourselves where is the change in what we’re doing how
is the change in what we’re doing how
is the change in what we’re doing how are we making a difference and we wanted
are we making a difference and we wanted
are we making a difference and we wanted to make sure that we’re getting the work
to make sure that we’re getting the work
to make sure that we’re getting the work in front of people who could really make
in front of people who could really make
in front of people who could really make a difference in giving them avenues to
a difference in giving them avenues to
a difference in giving them avenues to make change happen so and that’s what
make change happen so and that’s what
make change happen so and that’s what we’ve been doing so in every country
we’ve been doing so in every country
we’ve been doing so in every country where I worked
where I worked
where I worked I would collaborate with a small
I would collaborate with a small
I would collaborate with a small organization grassroots organization or
organization grassroots organization or
organization grassroots organization or a couple of people who are working with
a couple of people who are working with
a couple of people who are working with the LGBT community and we thought okay
the LGBT community and we thought okay
the LGBT community and we thought okay if we can help to support them some of
if we can help to support them some of
if we can help to support them some of them who are very poorly resourced that
them who are very poorly resourced that
them who are very poorly resourced that would be making a difference so we
would be making a difference so we
would be making a difference so we raised some money and we supported an
raised some money and we supported an
raised some money and we supported an organization in South Africa who are
organization in South Africa who are
organization in South Africa who are helping LGBT refugees and we raised the
helping LGBT refugees and we raised the
helping LGBT refugees and we raised the money we helped it helped a organisation
money we helped it helped a organisation
money we helped it helped a organisation in Uganda who are tackling homophobic
in Uganda who are tackling homophobic
in Uganda who are tackling homophobic attitudes and when the
attitudes and when the
attitudes and when the young guys who helped me in northern
young guys who helped me in northern
young guys who helped me in northern Nigeria when they reached out to me and
Nigeria when they reached out to me and
Nigeria when they reached out to me and said this for young men who have been
said this for young men who have been
said this for young men who have been arrested for committing gay acts and
arrested for committing gay acts and
arrested for committing gay acts and they are in prison and we don’t have
they are in prison and we don’t have
they are in prison and we don’t have bail we can’t afford legal
bail we can’t afford legal
bail we can’t afford legal representation so we turned to social
representation so we turned to social
representation so we turned to social media and we posted this and within 24
media and we posted this and within 24
media and we posted this and within 24 hours we raised the money to get the
hours we raised the money to get the
hours we raised the money to get the bail and enough money to get them legal
bail and enough money to get them legal
bail and enough money to get them legal representation so we got them out of
representation so we got them out of
representation so we got them out of prison and the lawyers got the charges
prison and the lawyers got the charges
prison and the lawyers got the charges dropped so you know where love is legal
dropped so you know where love is legal
dropped so you know where love is legal has not by any stretch changed the world
has not by any stretch changed the world
has not by any stretch changed the world for LGBT people but for these four year
for LGBT people but for these four year
for LGBT people but for these four year it really made a world of difference
[Music]
[Music] Oh
”
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