A Pan-African virtual LGBTQI+ Pride will take place from 14 to 16 August 2020 under the theme “Our stories, our voices, our Pride.” Kehinde Bademosi, the project organiser, speaks about the event.
A broad coalition of African lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI+) activists, continental grassroots organisations and allies are preparing for the virtual queer event, dubbed Pride Afrique.
Organisers say they aim to celebrate and uplift LGBTQI+ people and groups across the African continent and in the diaspora. The event will be streamed on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Zoom.
Some of the confirmed participants include the former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, John Amaechi, the first former NBA player to come out, and South Africa’s Jabu Pereira, Director of LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Iranti.
“It’s about who we are beyond our sexual identities and associated stereotypes, what we do to contribute to our societies, and what resources we have available at our disposal as LGBTQI Africans,” commented Nigerian public figure, writer and brand expert Kehinde Bademosi, the Project Director.
“We intend to inspire and inform both our LGBTQI communities and allies that our gender and sexual identities are never a barrier to what each of us can achieve. This event is primarily organised for those queer Africans who think they’ll never attain self-actualisation owing to who they are. We also want to inform the continent and the world that our sexual and gender identities are very much part of this continent’s history and narrative.’’
The three-day Pan-African event will spotlight LGBTQI Africans creating change in the grassroots despite the harsh realities on their various communities. There will be intergenerational and intersectional conversations to empower the audience.
The event will also highlight diverse personal stories through multiple digital media content in Arabic, English, French and Portuguese. It is intended to attract the participation and attendance of queer people in Africa, queer African families, allies, corporate and non-governmental organisations, government institutions, and all Africans and their friends worldwide. Read more via MambaOnline