[STATEMENT] BEYOND AND TOWARD, IRANTI’S SAFETY DIGNITY AND FREEDOM CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED ON IDAHOBIT

17 MAY 2020 – On May 17, 1990 – the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. This gave rise to IDAHO – International Day Against Homophobia. Since then this day has grown in inclusivity, first adding the ‘T’ for Transgender and then adding the ‘B’ for Bisexual which has resulted in millions of people coming together every year to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). This day exists so that LGBTIQ+ persons and their allies can celebrate who they are and celebrate the people around them who love us and support us in the journey to attaining equity. This year again, tens of thousands of us will speak up. We will take the space that is rightfully ours, because our voices, our stories, our lived realities matter!

Much has been said specifically about the novel virus COVID-19 and about pandemics more broadly. Less articulated are the ways sexual minorities will be affected by lockdown, how the networks created through chosen community and family will be disrupted, and queer people forced to go into lockdown with homophobic family members in homophobic communities. This year, IDAHOBIT falls during a time when queer people are facing new challenges posed by the lockdowns, Iranti considers it pertinent to fight these challenges and break the silence around the violence, discrimination and stigma that LGBQTI people have experienced during this time.

Iranti chose this day to launch its Safety, Dignity and Freedom campaign, called Beyond and Toward. The past two years have been an important foundation-building process for the Safety, Dignity and Freedom campaign. This campaign, with partner organisations in five countries; namely, Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO); Lesbian, Intersex, Transgender, and Other Extensions (LITE) in Malawi; Wings to Transcend in Namibia; Intersex South Africa (ISSA), and Transgender Research, Education, Advocacy and Training (TREAT) in Zimbabwe, is a courageous journey of engaging on how authentic, accurate and human-interest stories can help change hearts and minds on the continent.

We aim to look Beyond reporting that is rooted in violence and prejudice and Toward media that is sensitive, accurate and inclusive. We begin to look Beyond religious and healthcare-related discrimination and Toward accessibility and acceptance in all spaces. We look Beyond the binaries and Toward understanding terminology and the dynamic nature of the queer community. The. Safety, Dignity and Freedom campaign’s priority is thinking on how we can look beyond and shape and protect our existences going forward. #BeyondAndToward. This amazing project, although small in terms of its reach made a significant difference to creating journalism language for reporting and creating collective empathy on bringing important stories back to the people,” notes Iranti director, Jabulani Chen Pereira.

With two years of research in the making, the campaign takes the knowledge and findings of the baseline study, looking into media sensitivity to LGBTI+ issues as well as a series of focus groups between organisations and media practitioners, and aims to challenge homophobic and anti-queer mindsets and the attached stigma and discrimination. It builds on this, with the overarching objective of informing media and dealing with violence and stigma through content that strategically communicates LGBTI+ issues. Through a series of campaign messaging, online media training and webinars as well as Media Awards that aims to encourage media practitioners to engage and report accurately and fairly.

This campaign looks to tackle media coverage directly, ensuring that their role in shaping how society views certain topics or communities is unbiased and ensures that all people have safety, dignity and freedom.

Therefore, Iranti will be adding our voice behind this day, so mark your calendars for a busy few weeks ahead:

17 May 2020 – June 2020 Beyond & Towards Podcast Series

For this year’s theme of theme of Breaking the silence we chat to activists about the role of the media and providing positive queer representation for the broader queer community at large. Interviews include: Tiffany Mugo from Hola Africa, Kim Windvogel from Iranti, Jade Jacobs from Iranti and many more.

19 May 2020 – Iranti will be hosting a conversation with activists from Zambia, Lesotho and Malawi where they will be talking about IDAHOBIT and their lived experiences.

Panelists include: Sean from Trans Bantu Zambia, Tampose Matrix from Lesotho and Prince from LITE, Malawi.

The webinar will take place at 14:00 to 15:00 CAT on the 19th of May 2020 and a zoom link will be sent to people who have RSVP’ed. To RSVP email, info@iranti.org.za

21 May 2020 – A video-series with LBQ Womyn break the silence on violence, activists from the region sharing their lived realities.

Interviewees include: Gigi from Kenya, Moude Sape Maodi-Swartz, Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe from The Global Interfaith Network and Thuli Mjwara from Inclusive and Affirming Ministries. For media inquiries please contact rumana@iranti.org.za For more information on the Toward and Beyond Campaign contact tshegofatso@iranti.org.za