Activists launch survey of young LGBTIQ Africans

An activist organization of young LGBTIQ Africans is gearing up to play a larger role in the fight against injustice and anti-LGBTIQ violence.

In preparation for the Pan-Africa ILGA conference of activists, planned for May in South Africa, the African Queer Youth Initiative in cooperation with Advocates for Youth is conducting an anonymous survey of young LGBTIQ Africans, focusing on their needs and the challenges they face.

The survey is here in English.  It is here in French.

The deadline for filling out the survey is April 25.

African Queer Youth Initiative (which is different from the Burkina Faso-based Queer African Youth Initiative) was created by activists from various African countries during last year’s Changing Faces Changing Spaces conference in Kenya.

This is their description of the endeavor:

LGBTIQ Pan-African youth survey, please fill out by April 25

African Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and questioning (LGBTIQ) youth are a resilient and powerful force in the region despite daily challenges that impede their ability to live a safe and fulfilling life. They face draconian laws, stigma and discrimination that criminalize and marginalize not only them but the organizations that seek to provide for their sexual and reproductive health and rights. They are also frequently confronted with arguments that seem to suggest their lack of ability to define their own sexuality, gender identity and expression and are often relegated to the background in the global LGBTIQ movement.

However Young LGBTIQ Africans have proven to be a driving force of the movement in Africa both as leaders and as activists. They are directly challenging the troubling notion put forward by the opposition that they are being “recruited” into homosexuality, imported from the West, in Africa. LGBTIQ Africans see a future in Africa where everyone would be free from oppression and discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. Young people have a role to play in this shared vision and are ready and able to contribute!

In order to explore and elevate young LGBTIQ Africans’ voices within the movement, the African Queer Youth Initiative together with Advocates for Youth, is conducting a survey to spotlight the different challenges faced by young LGBTIQ individuals in the African continent, highlight the common restrictions that affect their meaningful participation and involvement in the global LGBTIQ movement, and prioritize specific themes to inform and support a Pan-African LGBTIQ youth-led movement. These emerging themes will serve as the foundation for further discussions at the upcoming pan Africa regional LGBTIQ conference, being held in May in South Africa, and beyond.

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The aim of the survey is to:

• Gain better understanding of the unique challenges young LGBTIQ people in Africa face in relation to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
• Understand their needs in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Identify the challenges they face in relation to advocating for their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Understand the factors that impede their complete and meaningful participation in the larger LGBTIQ movement.
• Develop common and important priority topics to be explored at the upcoming Pan-Africa regional LGBTIQ conference in order to ultimately inform a Pan-African LGBTIQ youth-driven agenda within the movement.

This survey is available in English and French and is open to LGBTIQ Pan-African youth. The information you share will be anonymous and kept confidential. If you do not feel comfortable answering any questions, please move to the next question. If at any point you wish to withdraw from the whole exercise, please feel free to do so.

For additional information about the survey, please contact African Queer Youth Initiative at queeryouthia@gmail.com

Related articles:

• Stop ignoring us, say young LGBTIQ Africans (July 2015, 76crimes.com)
• African signers of Mayibuye Pledge vow to work for justice (May 2014, 76crimes.com)