Nokuthula Mjwara’s Post

https://lnkd.in/dT3TPWwT In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Women of Faith in Action and Faithful Catholic Souls, with support from UHAI-EASHRI, have delved into the pervasive religious homophobia faced by Uganda’s LGBTQ community. #RepealAHA23

#ThrowBack One year! in the shadow of injustice LGBTQ Ugandans are fighting on. On May 26th, 2023, Uganda passed the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act, marking a significant step backward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. In the Shadow of Injustice: Examining the Aftermath of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act'' sheds light on the multifaceted repercussions of this draconian law. Providing historical context, examining the legal framework, and presenting a comprehensive analysis of its effects and impacts, the report seeks to raise awareness about the urgent human rights crisis facing the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda. https://lnkd.in/dSbhB3yX https://lnkd.in/dSbhB3yX

#ThrowBack One year! in the shadow of injustice LGBTQ Ugandans are fighting on. On May 26th, 2023, Uganda passed the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act, marking a significant step backward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. In the Shadow of Injustice: Examining the Aftermath of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act'' sheds light on the multifaceted repercussions of this draconian law. Providing historical context, examining the legal framework, and presenting a comprehensive analysis of its effects and impacts, the report seeks to raise awareness about the urgent human rights crisis facing the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda. https://lnkd.in/dCRN2sCB

May 17 is the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination. It's a time to be a visible ally and promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in your community. Here are 6 ways you can be a better LGBTQIA+ ally: 🌈 1. Learn and Listen! Listen to the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people. Check out content creators, listen to podcasts and attending inclusion training. 🌈 2. Inclusive Language! Use terminology that includes LGBTQIA+ people. For example, use the word “partner” to avoid assuming someone’s gender. 🌈 3. Be Visible! Signal to others that you’re someone who’ll support them. You could wear rainbow, share social media content and get involved with queer events. 🌈 4. Show Your Pronouns! Showing your pronouns shows others you’ll respect theirs too! Wear a pin, or add yours to your email signature or social media profile. 🌈 5. Use Your Voice! Stand up for LGBTQIA+ people and speak up against discrimination, even if the person being talked about isn’t around. 🌈 6. Advocate For Inclusion! Build LGBTQIA+ inclusion in to your everyday life and advocate for others to do the same. You can learn more from organisations who do this work each day. You don't have to know everything about being an ally in order to start being one!

Last year, these individuals caused us numerous sleepless nights. It's disheartening to witness this issue resurface, particularly involving so-called men of God. I advocate for unity, organizing at the grassroots level with well-prepared plans from the community, shifting away from boardrooms or hotels to community offices. Together, let's find community-driven solutions to this persisting problem. Additionally, we should redirect our focus from sensitization to dialogues in advocacy efforts. Sensitization grants them more power, and despite having allies in Kenya's religious space, they fear speaking for us. It's time to emphasize dialogues as the approach to advocacy. Furthermore, we need to empower digital spaces, especially at the community level, engaging in self-advocacy for self-driven solutions.

Great article featuring #kentstate and the director of LGBTQ student programs and support, Ken Ditlevson. As a Kent State alum, I can speak to the importance of and the critical need for Queer Campus Centers, recalling countless times while completing my undergraduate and first graduate program how the LGBTQ Center helped support housing needs, groceries, and more. I am forever grateful. Campus programs like these are essential to the growth and success of queer students on campuses nationwide, especially for those who may have grown up on the streets, in the system, or in homes where it was dangerous or unacceptable to be oneself. (More than 40% of American youth living on the streets today are LGBTQ. “1With up to 40% of the 4.2 million youth experiencing homelessness identifying as LGBTQ+ while only 9.5% of the U.S. population, LGBTQ+ youth disproportionately experience homelessness compared to their straight and cisgender peers” (Morton et. al., 2018). In laymens, 40% of American homeless youth determined that the streets of Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, etc. were safer than their homes. LGBTQ college students face unique challenges and barriers and this can put them at greater risk for mental health struggles that can lead to crisis, making them more vulnerable to self-harm, suicidal ideation, disordered eating, symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disturbances, and more, and all of which lead to higher rates of academic drops and incompletes. #Mentalhealthmatters and advocating for and protecting the mental health of #LGBTQ college students is a commitment everyone in #academia are responsible for making. LGBTQ programming on #collegecampuses are lifelines and eliminating them speaks volumes about the true nature of and climate on any campus that does not work to #protect, #promote, and #preserve critical programming that serve’s #marginalizedstudentpopulations. Morton, M.H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J.L., Curry, S.R., Schlueter, D., Chávez, R. & Farrell, A.F. (in press). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health.

Embracing self-confidence is very important for personal and professional growth, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria. Stand tall, believe in your worth, and let yourself shine. Your journey, despite its challenges, despite the discrimination and battles, is a testament to your strength and resilience. Keep pushing forward.🌈 Have you taken our anonymous pathways of Religious Inclusion survey?: https://lnkd.in/dV2rKKhW #bisialimifoundation #personalgrowth

I came of age in the midst of the "It Gets Better" project. And here in the States, for a while, it got better. Now, it's getting worse. Ogilvy and GLAAD have created a pretty strong campaign, and I encourage you to watch the video and check out the site. However, the fact that this campaign is even necessary is deeply disappointing. Some sobering statistics: ▪ LGBTQ+ young people are more than 4x as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. ▪ 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary youth. ▪ 24% of LGBTQ+ young people reported that they have been physically threatened or harmed ▪ 38% of trans youth (ages 13-17) live in a state with a laws/policies limiting their access to gender affirming care ▪ 24 states have enacted laws/policies limiting youth access to gender affirming care As we approach November, the rhetoric will only get more vitriolic as certain politicians seek to rally their base around a shared hatred of the "other." The reality of the situation is that this rhetoric and the policies that seek to ban gender affirming care have real world effects on the mental health and physical well-being of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans and non-binary youth. It's up to us to protect them.

Every person deserves to be safe regardless of race, socioeconomic background, gender, sexuality, and nationality. Young people who identifiy as LGBTQ+ face numerous potential avenues for sexual or labor exploitation and coercion. In the US, we know that homeless young people are targeted by traffickers and 40% of them identity as LGBTQ+ - with almost half running away due to family rejection. To combat this issue and help prevent LGBTQ+ youths from being trafficked, we have created a course which you can access online for free. We encourage any parents of children who identify as LGBTQ+ or anyone concerned about the protection of this community to take the course. 👩👦 For Parents + caregivers https://lnkd.in/evCZ5uEc ❤️🩹 For service providers https://lnkd.in/ewJFgh6y

We sent out a survey to the GSAs asking for feedback on what workshops they wanted to see at the conference. Here is what they said so far: Cultural (ethnic) clashes with gender/sexual identity Discussion of queer literature, discussions of intersectionality, focusing on religion. LGBTQ+ trivia Stereotyping, Bullying, safety LGBTQ+ representation in literature Got an expertise in any of these areas? Do a workshop: Https://Bit.Ly/cfp2025sogiecon