WHO'SMYTRIBE is an online media campaign, led by Africans, which aims to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination against sexual and gender diversity including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The campaign has been developed by Accountability International as a means to show that sexual and gender diverse people are no different to others and must have equal rights and access to education, health, housing, work and other rights.
WHO'SMYTRIBE: an African campaign led by Africans
Images of African lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are almost non-existent both locally and internationally and if they are portrayed in the media it is generally from a very negative or stereotypical perspective. These inaccurate depictions do not portray lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Africans as human beings and as African citizens who deserve equality, respect and dignity. This project seeks to change that.
Through this campaign AI hopes to change perceptions through basic information which assists all people to realise that human sexuality is diverse and that heterosexuality is not the only sexuality which exists. We aim to be a small contribution to Africans understanding and accepting that there are African people who are attracted to the same gender. In the same way gender is also diverse; not all individuals identify with being male or female, and some people are transgender or gender non-conforming, somewhere on a spectrum of gender and not stuck in what we call a binary of one or two (male and female). We hope to encourage thinking around human diversity which includes sexual and gender diversity on the African continent and that all Africans regardless of their sexuality or gender identity are human beings and are part of African society and should be treated as such by others.
The Aims of WHO'SMYTRIBE
Humanize African sexual and gender diversity including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and gender non-conforming people.
Challenge the negative stereotypes, stigma, discrimination and images of sexually and gender diverse Africans.
Show that sexually diverse and gender diverse communities are a normal and natural part of any society including African society.
To provide basic information and interesting facts about sexual and gender diversity.
To demystify fears regarding sexual and gender diversity.
Who is Accountability International?
Accountability International (AI) is a human rights organisation focused on improving access to quality, affordable, accessible and acceptable health care for all people. AI uses accountability as a means to improve this access and focuses especially on the needs of the most marginalized people, especially women, girls, same-sex practicing and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Through the Destabilising Heteronormativity Project AI hope to positively affect access to health and human rights through the de-stigmitisation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in African communities.
AI uses a multi-pronged approach with targeted interventions with a variety of partners. AI acknowledges that there is a dearth of research and understanding of African sexual and gender diversity including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. There are gaps across most sectors in society in academic, legal, media and spiritual arenas as well as amongst regional bodies.
The Destabilising Heteronormativity Project is funded by Ford Foundation. Read more