Colorful text reads 20 happy stories, 20 ways to help
1. LGBTQ Ugandans welcomed at five homeless shelters
Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) opened up five shelters to serve LGBTQ Ugandan’s in 2020. The services provided include mental and physical healthcare, food, and security.
Unfortunately, one of these shelters was raided under the guise of enforcing health and safety standards put in place in response to the COVID19 pandemic. 20 residents of the shelter were arrested and assaulted by the arresting officers. They were kept from contacting their lawyers for six weeks, but upon contacting them lawyers from the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum began working to get the bogus charges dropped. After succeeding at this they have begun legal proceedings for both criminal and civil cases against the authorities whose abuse of power led to the arrests and subsequent assaults in jail. They have won their first case and each of the twenty arrested was awarded five million Ugandan shillings each, though it is not confirmed that they have received this money yet.
Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) coordinates the safe houses through the Uganda Minority Shelters Consortium. Donate here. You can also donate directly to three of the organizations: Let’s Walk Uganda, Kuchu Shiners Uganda, and Happy Family Youth Uganda.
2. A new human rights network sought change in Cameroon
Alternatives-Cameroon and Camfaids joined forces this summer to organize training sessions for a new network of human rights supporters. The network includes teachers, religious and community leaders, lawyers, magistrates, health care providers, law enforcement, media, and more. Their fight is aimed at violence against vulnerable people, including LGBTQIA+ people, drug users, and sex workers. The gathering in August included strategizing ways to respond to human rights violations, gender, and health issues.
Support the Cameroonian Foundation For AIDS (CAMFAIDS) here and Alternatives-Cameroon here.
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3. NoStringsNG offered support for hundreds of LGBTQI+ Nigerians during pandemic
In response to the unique challenges queer Nigerians face during the COVID19 pandemic, NoStringsNG secured a grant to provide financial support for those struggling. The funds have been sent out to 220 queer Nigerians and the money has affected each in different ways. Obi Olivia wrote of receiving the funds:
“I’m so thankful. Words are not enough to express my gratitude and how I feel when I received the funds. It was indeed a struggling period and you gave me a ray of hope. It means a lot to me. Thank you so much,”
NoStringsNG is Nigeria’s #1 media advocacy platform committed to advancing LGBT equality, raising awareness on LGBT issues, and serving as a resource platform for the LGBT community in Nigeria. Learn how to volunteer here. Donate here. Make sure to include ‘For NoStringsNG’ in the description.
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4. Nigeria got its first LGBTQ streaming platform: EhTv
Started by Equality Hub, a Nigerian organization dedicated to advocating through storytelling, EhTv Network has launched as Nigeria’s first LGBTQ online streaming platforming. By hosting movies, podcasts, and shows, EhTv aims to provide a stage for queer projects to flourish and be shared. Focusing on allowing LGBTQ Nigerian’s to tell their own stories the streaming platform is accessible worldwide. Pamela Adie said:
“It brings us great joy to be able to launch this platform. We know how difficult it can be for Nigerian LGBTQ content to find a home in Nigeria, so we’re very excited to build this home for our community and to help us archive our stories and broaden our reach. We’re particularly excited that ‘Under The Rainbow’ is finally now available for viewing on our platform. We hope Nigerian creatives and change-makers who have LGBTQ-related content will join us on this journey of using storytelling as a tool for social inclusion of LGBTQ people in Nigeria.”
Equality Hub, a Nigerian non-profit working to advance the rights of sexual minority women, created EhTv Network, an online streaming platform for premium on-demand Nigerian LGBTQ-themed content. Support EH through their shop here.
5. US saw multiple historic moments in the 2020 election
While far from perfect, Joe Biden’s entrance into the presidential office signals a shift after a long stretch of attacks against the LGBTQ community in the United States. In particular, Joe Biden is a known transgender ally, and this shows in his policies. Speaking openly about changing laws as well as using his platform to point out the continued murders of transgender women of colour, changes seem close. Outside of the presidential run, there were also a number of historic moments for the United States in this election cycle. In an overview of firsts for American: Sarah McBride became the first transgender senator, Mauree Turner became the first nonbinary state lawmaker, out LGBTQ people were elected for the first time in Tennessee, and Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres became the first out LGBTQ Black and Afro-Latino members of congress.
You can read their stances and support queer and trans lawmakers who broke new ground in the 2020 US election: Mauree Turner, Michele Rayner-Goolsby, Shevrin Jones, Kim Jackson, Jabari Brisport, Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres, Brianna Titone, Sarah McBride, Torrey Harris, Stephanie Byers.
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6. Sudan dropped the death penalty for homosexuality
Addressing Article 148 Sudan has repealed the death penalty for homosexuality. While same-sex sexual acts are still punishable by up to seven years in prison, Sudan leaves the world with only 6 countries supporting punishing same-sex sexual acts with the death penalty.
Maria Sjödin, deputy executive director of OutRight Action International said:
“The removal of the death penalty for same-sex intimacy in Sudan among other important reforms, such as the banning of female genital mutilation and stoning for apostasy, is an important step for the human rights of LGBTIQ people, and human rights in Sudan overall,”
Shades of Ebony is a group of LGBTQ+ activists living in Sudan and Sudanese all over the world who aim to empower ourselves, our community and our allies with knowledge and facts about the LGBTQ+ community in Sudan and around the world. We will produce Sudan-positive material and advocate for our rights as essential and indivisible aspects of human rights. Support Shades of Ebony SD here.
7. Gabon repealed a short-lived anti-gay law
In 2020 the Gabon senate agreed to repeal the law criminalizing same-sex relationships that was put in place in 2019. With only a short time in place, the law punishing same-sex sexual acts with up to six months in prison has been struck down with a comfortable majority, both by the MPs and the Senate.
Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David said of this decision:
“Today’s historic signing of a law decriminalizing same-sex relations in Gabon is a pivotal moment in the global fight for LGBTQ rights. This critical win for basic human rights gives us reason to hope for more awareness and more victories across the continent.”
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, founded in 1978, is an international organization bringing together more than 1,300 LGBTI groups from around the world. The organization covers six regions. Pan Africa ILGA, currently governed by Juliet Nnedinma Ulanmo of International Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Sheba Akpokli of Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa, covers issues in Gabon and celebrated the recent repeal. You can learn more and donate here.
8. Bhutan decriminalized homosexuality
Sixty-three of sixty-nine members of the Bhutan parliament voted to make same-sex sexual acts legal, the other six were absent that day, which was also Human Rights Day. Described as an “openly bisexual” society, where words like lesbian, gay, and transgender don’t quite fit and were only added into the language in 2015, the law was put in place in 2004 and has been largely unenforced.
Bhutan has clarified into law that same-sex sexual acts will no longer be considered “unnatural” and will face no legal punishment. The law has been seen mostly as a “stain” on Bhutan’s international reputation and Finance Minister Namgay Tshering said
“My primary reason is that this section is there since 2004 but it has become so redundant and has never been enforced. It is also an eyesore for international human rights bodies.”
Rainbow Bhutan is a network of SOGIESC and KAP population in Bhutan. Initially formed in 2014 as LGBT+ community in Bhutan it was later named Rainbow Bhutan in 2018. Support Rainbow Bhutan here.
9. Northern Ireland saw its first same-sex weddings ceremonies
In 2020, the first same-sex religious wedding ceremony took place in Northern Ireland. While same-sex marriage was officially legalized in 2019 the first ceremonies began taking place in 2020, with widespread support and celebration.
The Rainbow Project is a health organization that works to improve the physical, mental & emotional health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Northern Ireland. Learn about, volunteer with, and donate to the Rainbow Project here.
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10. Schools in England began teaching LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum
Starting in September 2020, all schools in England have moved to an explicitly LGBTQ inclusive curriculum. Starting in primary school children will be learning about different types of family, healthy relationship dynamics, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Despite protests from some parents the English Parliament voted in this curriculum 538-21. The new policy reads,
"We expect all pupils to have been taught LGBT content at a timely point as part of this area of the curriculum."
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity in the United Kingdom, named after the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City's Greenwich Village. It is the largest LGBT rights organization in Europe. You can learn more about Stonewall and support their work here.
11. Tokyo adopted an anti-discrimination ordinance—inspiring others to push for a country-wide ordinance
Though the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were postponed, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s decision to adopt an anti-discrimination ordinance is good news. The decision was made in 2018 and went into effect in 2019. Japanese LGBTQ+ activists have pushed the country as a whole this year to adopt similar anti-discrimination ordinances for the Olympics and beyond.
アカー (OCCUR) is a not-for-profit organization founded by five young people in March of 1986 in response to the AIDS crisis and the lack of recognition for LGBT people. You can support OCCUR here.
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12. Cemetary Boys by Aiden Thomas became a bestseller—a first for an own voices trans story
Landing at number eight on the New York Times Bestseller List Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas has become the first book centring transgender characters written by a transgender author to make it onto the NYT Fiction Bestsellers list. Aiden Thomas has said:
“I am so honored and grateful, especially because it's not JUST a trans story — it's a gay romance and it's unapologetically Latinx. I hope publishing sees that these stories deserve to be written, and that readers want them. It's 2020, Cemetery Boys should not have been the first, but it's certainly not going to be the last. I can't wait for more trans authors to join me.”
Get your copy of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas here, listen to the audiobook here, and read more about Aiden Thomas and his future work here.
13. Costa Rica legalized same-sex marriage
In May 2020, Costa Rica became the first country in Central America and the twenty-ninth country overall the legalize same-sex marriage. They were joined this year by Northern Ireland and Switzerland. LGBTQ+ people in Costa Rica have been fighting for equal rights for much longer, but this particular fight has been going on since 2016.
In response to Costa Rica’s request that they interpret the right to privacy and equal protection, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights came back with a critical decision: all rights applicable to straight couples must also apply to same-sex couples. Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court agreed and in 2018 ruled in favour of same-sex marriage.
Support Frente por los Derechos Igualitarios, a union of independent organizations, groups and activists seeking that the enjoyment of all Human Rights in Costa Rica be recognized and guaranteed, with emphasis on those of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex population, here.
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14. There were more LGBTQ+ regulars on TV than ever before
LGBTQ+ representation on TV isn’t perfect—take a look at one of our most recent articles about it—but this proves that positive change is possible. 10.2 percent of regular characters on broadcast primetime scripted TV were identified as LGBTQ+. That’s only 90 characters out of 879 total, and that may not seem like a whole lot. While we can and should always push for the representation we deserve, LGBT media organization GLAAD noted, “This is the highest percentage GLAAD has found in the fifteen years this report has counted all broadcast series regulars." GLAAD said that they’re pushing for 20% by 2025. I say let’s push for even more and even better rep.
GLAAD is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization, founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of LGBTQ people. Its agenda has since extended to the entertainment industry and its portrayal of LGBTQ people. You can read all of GLAAD’s publications, including their yearly “Where We Are On TV” report and their more recent “LGBTQ Inclusion In Advertising and Media” report, here.
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15. Dictionary.com helped shift language in their biggest update
In its biggest update ever, Dictionary.com not only added words they were desperately lacking, like Pride as it refers to LGBTQ+ folks but also modified outdated definitions like “homosexual.” They acknowledged that dictionaries, including themselves, have a history of suggesting they are unbiased. They noted that words like homosexual "originated as clinical language, and dictionaries have historically perceived such language as scientific and unbiased. But homosexual and homosexuality are now associated with pathology, mental illness, and criminality, and so imply that being gay—a normal way of being—is sick, diseased, or wrong."
The company worked with GLAAD to similarly modify dozens of other words and add others like Pride, ace, and deadname. To some, it may not seem like a big deal. To those who have had their experiences and lives denied or mocked based on language, it can be everything.
You can read GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide here. GLAAD's Media Reference Guide is intended to be used by journalists reporting for mainstream media outlets and by creators in entertainment media who want to tell LGBTQ people's stories fairly and accurately. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive glossary of the language used within the LGBTQ community, nor is it a prescriptive guide for LGBTQ people.
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16. Layla Moran became the first out pansexual MP
In an interview in January of 2020, MP Layla Moran became the first out pansexual Member of Parliament. She said, “Pansexuality, to me, means it doesn’t matter about the physical attributions of the person you fall in love with, it’s about the person themselves. […] It doesn’t if they’re a man or a woman or gender non-conforming, it doesn’t matter if they identify as gay or not. In the end, these are all things that don’t matter – the thing that matters is the person, and that you love the person.”
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17. Illinois and New Jersey started teaching LGBTQ+ and disability history in schools
The 2020-2021 school year marks the first academic year that public school students in two states in the US will learn about the historic contributions of LGBTQ people and disabled people. State Senator Heather Steans, who sponsored the bill in Illinois, said: "It is my hope that teaching students about the valuable contributions LGBTQ individuals have made throughout history will create a safer environment with fewer incidents of harassment. LGBTQ children and teenagers will also be able to gain new role models who share life experiences with them."
Equality Illinois, the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization, supports the bill and "some topics that will be added to the new curriculum include the nation’s first gay rights organization, the Society for Human Rights, being formed in 1924 in Chicago, and Sally Ride, the first US woman in space, who was a lesbian."
“Young people are learning about LGBT people already in schools but their identities are hidden,” said the executive director of Garden State Equality, Christian Fuscarino of New Jersey.
GLSEN is an American education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to prompt LGBT cultural inclusion and awareness in K-12 schools. You can learn more about them and donate here.
18. Japan’s first permanent LGBTQ centre opened
In October 2020, Tokyo opened its first permanent LGBTQ hub as a part of a pre-Olympics project intended to tackle stigma and raise awareness of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. While similar projects have popped up at past Olympics, Pride House Tokyo Legacy will continue to offer meeting spaces, information, education, and refuge after the games.
The centre seeks to offer a place of refuge for LGBTQ+ people in Japan. While the country has some protections, there are still issues with same-sex unions, housing, and medical care. "Japan, not just in sporting circles but society as a whole — including schools and workplaces — is not friendly to LGBTQ people, and it is hard to come out," Gon Matsunaka, who heads the project behind Pride House, said. The venue "will be a landmark that could change the landscape for LGBTQ people in Japanese society," Matsunaka said.
Pride House Tokyo: Legacy is Japan’s first permanent LGBT center with the goal of creating a safe space for the next generation of young LGBT people. Support Pride House Tokyo Legacy here.
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19. Hundreds of faith leaders called for an end to conversion therapy and criminalization of LGBTQ+ people
In December 2020, over 370 faith leaders from 35 countries and 10 religions signed a declaration to call for an end to the criminalization of LGBTQ+ people and conversion therapy. The declaration came before a virtual conference backed by the UK government.
It also acknowledges that “certain religious teachings have often, throughout the ages, caused and continue to cause deep pain and offence” to LGBTQ+ people, and have “created, and continue to create, oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice and result in violence”.
Bishop Paul Bayes said: “For too long, religious teachings have been misused – and are still being misused – to cause deep pain and offence to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex. This must change.”
Stonewall offers a list of UK faith-based groups and organizations here.
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20. Germany banned conversion therapy
In May, Germany joined the growing wave against conversion therapy. It became the fifth country to do so. The law bans the harmful practice for minors and carries a fine or jail time for those advertising or offering conversion therapy.
The Executive Director of OutRight Action International, Jessica Stern, said:
“So-called conversion therapy efforts are based on the belief that cis-gender heterosexuality is the norm, and transgender identities and same-sex attraction not only fall outside the norm, but have to be changed, if need be by brutal, inhuman force. The German Bundestag took an incredibly important step today - by banning “conversion therapy” it sent a powerful message that LGBTIQ people are not in need of change or cure. At the same time, demand for “conversion therapy” will only decrease if acceptance of LGBTIQ people grows. I urge authorities in Germany to bolster the legal ban on “conversion therapy” with measures designed to promote understanding and inclusion of LGBTIQ people, thus tackling the root causes of these harmful, inhuman practices.”