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The size of South Africa’s LGBTI market — comprising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people — contributes at least R250 billion to the economy every year. (RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP via Getty Images)

We need more black gay men in the public sector

Government structures in South Africa have been shown to host the greatest, albeit subtle, homophobia towards black gay men

(John McCann/M&G)

Nigeria is still a very dangerous place to be different

Nigeria is moving far too slowly in terms of accommodating different genders and sexualities, sacrificing happiness, liberties and lives.

(John McCann/M&G)

Every person’s silence against violence gives perpetrators licence to kill

Ongoing hate speech, whether in person, among people or on social media, that is directed at vulnerable groups can lead to violence and death

Sexually and gender-diverse people in rural South Africa are excluded from the systems intended to support their mental health. Photo: Reuters/Brendan McDermid

A very African queerness

Love Falls On Us by Robbie Corey-Boulet explores queer spaces across Africa

(John McCann/M&G)

Learning to live my truth as a gay person

I was 22 years old before I was open about my sexuality. I hope others won’t have to wait so long

Judge Edwin Cameron has made a tremendous positive impact on the lives of many in South Africa and this is reflected by people’s own accounts of their experiences of him. (Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Being a mensch first, Edwin-style

Above all, Justice Cameron learned and taught that you can never judge anybody by their cover

(Baz Ratner, Reuters)

This country has upheld its ban on gay sex. Here’s why it could be deadly.

“The failure to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations will undermine Kenya’s aim of reaching universal health coverage,” UNAids says.

Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, near the Iraqi border, is still a warzone, years after Fadi Salim* fled from there for a better life in Germany. (Delil Souleiman/AFP)

Freedom comes at the cost of love

Despite escaping Syria together, one queer couple’s scars tore their relationship apart

A 2016 study by the organisation found that 44% of LGBTI people surveyed said they had experienced discrimination in the previous two years, and 88% hadn’t reported these incidents.  (Reuters)

Where Kenya leads on queer rights, the rest of Africa must follow

Friday’s ruling could be a new landmark in the fight for queer rights on the continent

A mixed bag for human rights in Southern Africa in 2019

Kenyan court due to rule on decriminalising same-sex relations

However, the LGBT community fears yet another postponement

Lori Lightfoot speaks during her election night celebration after defeating her challenger Toni Preckwinkle in a runoff election in Chicago, Illinois. (Reuters/Joshua Lott)

Black, gay woman elected Chicago mayor in historic vote

Lori Lightfoot, a 56-year-old former federal prosecutor and practicing lawyer was elected as Chicago mayor

Brave: Marchillino Ambraal was gang-raped because of his sexual orientation, but did not report it because of the humiliation. After the gang members raped him a second time, Ambraal decided to take a stand and reported the crime (David Harrison/M&G)

A lone gay man says ‘enough’ to hate rapes in Cape wheatlands

After ​Marchillino Ambraal was gang-raped a second time and a friend was killed, he wants to see justice done

The psychological bond between a cult leader or personality cult and the followers is strong.

Queer rights battle is a fight for the right to religious belief

The Dutch Reformed Church’s about-face on sexuality is in court for being doubly unconstitutional

Tanzania’ LGBTI community: “We’re not going to hide. We’re not scared

Tanzania steps up fight against queer rights

The country’s government has reinforced that queer rights activists will be punished

Defendants at a Cairo court after the acquittal on January 12 2015 of 26 men accused of ‘debauchery’

​African states biggest culprits of forced anal testing to ‘prove’ homosexuality

Haunting testimonies of LGBTQ Africans appear in a Human Rights Watch report on violations.

In the early days

​Tackling a sports world that sidelines queer people

The LGBTI community is coming out to ensure that it enjoys the rewards sport can bring.

A day of sporting fun for the Rainbow Identity Association.

​Botswana’s football has a new identity

The Rainbow Identity Association started the annual Soccer and Gender Tournament four years ago.

The outcome of the ANC’s long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

EXCLUSIVE: Progressive Prudes report reveals SA attitudes to LGBTI rights

A look at the findings of Progressive Prudes, a survey of South Africans’ attitudes towards homosexuality and gender nonconformity.

The outcome of the ANC’s long-awaited KwaZulu-Natal conference was a win for the Thuma Mina crowd. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Bid to shift the ‘movable middle’ — working to change harmful views of queer people

Young people aged between 16 and 19 are three times more likely to report on the use of violence, especially towards gender non-conforming women.

Participants in a gay pride rally in Uganda in 2014 sport rainbow flags and an umbrella in the same colours.

​Flight to safety: A lesbian’s story of persecution in Uganda and her SA experience

A refugee tells Carl Collison about being hunted by soldiers, attacked by fellow Ugandans and seeking sanctuary in SA, where she was raped – twice.