We at the African Queer Youth Initiative are excited to announce the launch of our new website built in partnership with Out In Tech.
For LGBTQI persons living in countries where homosexuality is still violently criminalized, an online presence is usually their only way to form a community of sorts with others. Unfortunately, while there *is* community to be found online, there are also people given to catfishing with the intent of robbing and/or extorting vulnerable LGBTQI persons. In many places, there is state-sanctioned monitoring of online activity that leads to arrests, etc.
The website - Safe Queers, was designed to combat these issues. It provides tips on staying safe online, safely navigating such apps as Grindr and Jack’d, and preserving your anonymity. It also provides links for downloads for apps and web browser extensions, which help people stay safe online. There are also tools for building safety manuals that organizations can use to hold training within communities on online safety. There is also guidance on clearing browser history and masking location, thereby reducing the risk of detection. SafeQueers is intended for access and use by queer persons all over the world. To this end, the website operates on minimal internet speeds. It also offers an offline version that can be downloaded and turned into pamphlets for easy distribution. Designed to be as fully accessible as possible, there are built-in translation capabilities thus supporting different languages.
Who we are
Safe Queers is an online resource to educate LGBTQ+ organizations on how to protect and empower themselves in the digital world. This website focuses on simple steps they can take to use technology safely without compromising their security. Safe Queers is a joint initiative of the African Queer Youth Initiative and Out in Tech. It was made possible by Automattic and WordPress.com, who donated the website and all hosting fees.
Why online safety is critical for LGBTQ+ organizations
It is still illegal to be LGBTQ+ in over 70 countries around the world. In the last ten years, homophobic and transphobic institutions (including governments) have used technology to identify and persecute the community. At the same time, the digital space is vital to LGBTQ+ organizations to engage with their community, raise awareness, and advocate for policy change.