The Courage to Care | Pocketmags.com

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The Courage to Care

Photo by Kenneth O’Halloran.

While most LGBT+ people In Ireland would agree that the struggle for equal rights may still have some way to go, it is still shocking that, in many parts of the world, queer activists face violence, harassment, arrest and even death for defending their communities.

In acknowledgement of this, the Irish-based human rights organisation, Front Line Defenders, held an award ceremony in Dublin Castle, honouring those activists who work so tirelessly and courageously in the face of oppression. This was the first time in the 14 year history of the awards that all those being honoured were LGBT+ human rights defenders.

Andrew Anderson, the Executive Director of Front Line Defenders, told those gathered, “Today we’re honouring the work of LGBT+ defenders and the incredible communities of resistance they cultivate every day. The work of queeridentifying activists and collectives continues to shape and reshape how we understand personal, political and contested struggles for freedom. There is no human rights fight that has not been strengthened by the intersectional analyses brought to the front lines by queer defenders. We hope this award can be small acknowledgement of the immense, often incomprehensible bravery required to visibilise oneself as both an activist and LGBT+ person in places that demean and criminalise each of these identities.”

The 2019 Laureates included Shinta Ratri, a trans woman from Indonesia who co-founded Pondok Pesantren Waria alFatah - an Islamic boarding school for transgender people. The school was attacked by an Islamic political group in 2016, but undaunted, Shinta reopened the building, continuing to provide a space for trans people to build community, practice their faith and support one another.

Shinta said, “Here we can believe we are not sinners for being trans. I want as many people as possible to get to know about us. I hope the day will come when anyone can pray together at the same place without feeling uncomfortable.”

Also honoured was Rosanna Marzán, Executive Director of Diversidad Dominicana. Rosanna strives for the equal rights of all LGBT+ people in the Dominican Republic, proudly representing the community in local and international policy meetings, acting as a spokesperson to the LGBT+ Caravan of Pride and was among activists at the first LGBT+ themed meeting of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Rosanna said, “We will go on fighting, we will not cease. This is about my life, about the lives of those around me, because violence, discrimination and homophobia are nothing more than a deficiency of love towards human beings.”

Also celebreated was Veronika Lapina. An activist from the Russian LGBT Network who risked both her life and freedom traveling into Chechnya, at times alone, to bring individuals to safety in Russia, evacuating more than 100 gay, lesbian and bisexual people, saving them from the imminent danger they were facing there.

Veronika stated, “I remember all the testimonies of the people we have helped, their stories will stay with me forever. It is very hard work, but it’s a struggle that continues and we won’t let it go”.

Malawi’s Nyasa Rainbow Alliance was recognised for the work it does to provide support services and openly advocate for the rights of the LGBT+ community and for providing a safe space for them to discuss health concerns, receive medical support, practice their faith, network, peer educate and collaboratively develop research projects.

When the organisation tried to officially register in 2018, they found themselves blocked by the Minister of Justice. Nevertheless, the group did not back down, challenging the decision in the High Court for being unconstitutional in violating their provision of freedom.

One of the groups founders, Eric Sambisa, who was also the first person in Malawi to come out as gay on national television in 2015, said, “Being gay in Malawi is always associated with negatives. I wanted to show the Malawian nation that we are human beings. It’s important to be visible. It’s important to love yourself. So that is what we are also doing; we’re encouraging people to be visible, to love themselves, to eliminate the spirit of self-hate.”

Badr Baabou, co-founder and Chairman of the Tunisian organisation DAMJ (meaning ‘inclusion’) which works for equality and justice for the LGBT+ community, was named the Global Laureate by the Irish jury.

Baabou is also co-chair of M-Coalition, the first regional network on MSM and HIV-related rights in the MENA region, which advocates for improved access to HIV services in member countries, and also previously worked for ATL, a national Tunisian organisation working to reduce rates and transmission of STIs and HIV among MSM communities.

Katherine Zappone, the Irish Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, presented Baabou with his award. He shared a message of visibility, believing that to remain anonymous only helped those who would deny the LGBT+ community space to exist - “Despite the attacks, the violence, and the aggression, I am no longer afraid. Our sexual orientation is just one aspect that defines us as human beings. Sooner or later, homophobia will become obsolete as a social issue.”

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