Why we mark Black History Month

This year, the theme for Black History Month is ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’, in recognition that get to a better tomorrow, we can’t just focus on the past. At Kaleidoscope Trust, we really embrace this theme: whilst it’s important to acknowledge and learn from the past in order to improve the future, we need action now to drive change. And it’s the Black LGBTQ+ activists who are driving that change, often facing discrimination, violence and hatred in hopes of a better future, who we want to celebrate this Black History Month.

Kaleidoscope Trust works towards a day when all LGBTQ+ people are free, safe and equal. Through the Commonwealth Equality Network, we also partner with LGBTQ+ civil society organisations in 47 Commonwealth countries, many of which were formerly part of the British empire. In many of the countries we work in, the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation is inextricably linked to the wider struggle to defeat racism and imperialism.

As an organisation based in Britain but working across the Commonwealth, it’s imperative that we acknowledge just how much the history of empire and colonisation carried out by our country has impacted the fight for LGBGTQ+ rights in many Commonwealth countries. In most of the 34 Commonwealth countries where being LGBTQ+ is outlawed, those laws were first enacted under British rule and many of the social attitudes which still prevail are influenced by the legacy of enslavement and violence against Black people as well as by the exportation of harsh anti-LGBTQ+ religious beliefs.

That’s why we’ll be highlighting the contributions of some of the amazing Black LGBTQ+ activists who are currently fighting for our rights around the world through our social channels this month. We’re also encouraging our supporters to follow these activists on social media and help to amplify their voices. You’ll find a list of some of the Black LGBTQ+ leaders you may want to follow below. Keep an eye on our Instagram to find out more about some of them throughout October.

Beverley Ditsie is a South African lesbian, activist and film-maker who, in the 1980s, was one of the founders of the anti-apartheid Gay and Lesbian Organisation of Witwatersrand (GLOW). In 1995, she was the first openly lesbian woman to speak at a UN summit about the importance of considering LGBT+ rights in the context of human rights, during the 4th UN Conference on Women in Beijing.

Follow Beverley on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Glenroy Murray is a lawyer and social justice and human rights advocate. He is a leading voice for LGBT+ rights in Jamaica and is Executive Director of J-FLAG, the country’s largest organisation advocating for the rights, livelihood and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Follow Glenroy on:
Twitter
Instagram

Jason Jones is a gay activist from Trinidad and Tobago who successfully challenged the constitutionality of laws which criminalised same-sex sexual activity in his country. He campaigns for equality for all LGBT+ people in Trinidad and Tobago.

Follow Jason on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Linda Baumann is a feminist and a gender, human rights and communications activist from Namibia. She is the Strategic Coordinator for Namibia’s Diverse Women’s Association, an organisation which campaigns for the human rights of lesbian, bisexual and trans women.

Follow Linda on:
Twitter

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (also known as Lady Phyll, partly due to her decision to reject an MBE to protest Britain’s role in formulating anti-LGBTQ penal codes across its empire) is a prominent British LGBT+ rights activist and anti-racism campaigner. She is the co-founder of UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest pride celebration for people of colour, and is Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust.

Follow Phyll on
Twitter
Instagram

Renae Green is a Black trans woman from Jamaica. She is an LGBT activist, advocate and consultant and the Executive Director of TransWave Jamaica, the country’s only trans-led and trans-focused civil society organisation.

Follow Renae on:
Twitter

Steve Letsike is one of South Africa’s leading and most committed voices for LGBT+ human rights and HIV awareness. Steve founded Access Chapter 2 to raise awareness of the issues facing the most marginalised and vulnerable Africans and to fight for the human rights of women and girls and LGBTQ+ people in all their diversities. She also chairs the Commonwealth Equality Network.
Follow Steve on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

Who would you add to this list? Let us know the Black LGBTQ+ activists we should be highlighting from around the Commonwealth.