In shadows they hide, in fear they stand,
LGBTIQ hearts, crushed by hate’s hand.
Fleeing the violence, they seek refuge and light,
Yet still, they endure the darkest of nights.
On this journey of 16 Days we rise,
To see through their pain, to hear their cries.
For love is not a crime, and neither is their truth,
Their fight for equality begins with their youth.
We stand with the brave, those torn apart,
Who suffer in silence, yet speak from the heart.
The scars they bear, the tears they’ve shed,
Are the stories of warriors who’ve fought and bled.
In every corner, on every shore,
Their struggle for freedom is worth fighting for.
They, too, fall under this banner of change,
As we call for an end to the violence and rage.
The world must listen, it’s time to act,
For love is love, and it’s a simple fact.
During these 16 Days, let our voices be clear,
That no more shall LGBTIQ lives live in fear.
I am proud to publish this poem by Joseph today, in honour of recognising queer violence and in solidarity with recognising and challenging other forms of GBV.
We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” – Abraham Lincoln.
The Decline and Fall…
In 1988, I stood in southern England, at the site of a reclaimed ancient Roman building. Amidst the mosaics, there was a sign indicating that – if I recall correctly – the building was believed to have belonged to a wealthy English man who claimed Roman citizenship and culture, and who had been alive to witness the withdrawal of Roman soldiers from Britain at the end of the Roman occupation.
I stood there, wondering how he must have felt watching the decline and fall of an empire from his distant vantage point, knowing that the empire was collapsing due to internal rot.
That is how I felt at the time as an Australian citizen, watching from a distance the decline and fall of another great empire due to internal rot encouraged by a mediocre President whose claim to fame was a mediocre Hollywood acting history. It’s also how I feel now, watching the election last week of another US President who is clearly unfit to lead.
My human empathy for this unknown Roman citizen in circa 400 CE now compels me (and all of us) to empathise with the coming suffering of millions of people as they face the consequences of possible white supremacist fascism and theocratic Project 2025 in the USA.
The Coming Storm?
Historians of the future will debate why so many US voters chose the lesser alternative of the candidates – or chose to not vote at all – and discuss whether it is a reflection of mediocre mass media monopolies who feed distortions and lies (or withhold truth) from their audiences; a wider culture of ignorant, narcissistic individualism based upon narrow self-interests or (worse) an entitled racist and misogynist hatred of “the other”; or simply that the privileged grandchildren of those who fought a World War against fascism and the Holocaust have forgotten its legacies of human rights and equality.
As Sarah Connor said in the “Terminator” movie, a storm is coming. We need to build and resource storm shelters now.
But we also need to recognise that the storm is already here. We see that in the fact that millions of otherwise good people are prepared to vote for bad outcomes; and in the realities of climate change that the incoming Administration is about to deny and exacerbate.
Anyone who empathises with others, who cares about the welfare of fellow human beings, or who opposes injustice and inequality, should be worried and compelled to action.
The Line in the Sand
How to respond without hatred and anger? We must surely do our best to respond with the better angels of our nature in mind.
This is not just an election where the populist vote won, like a sports game where one team simply beat another. This is an outcome where harm and cruelty and injustice were selected.
This is not an “us versus them” situation. We are all in this together. We must act individually but for the common good.
This includes being willing to take a stand against the excesses and injustices that will start in the USA and spread around the world. For example, our extended LGBT+ family must be prepared to do what they can to oppose the cultural or physical extermination of trans people or others who are targeted.
But we must also remember an important lesson that Trump voters have forgotten: that human connection and intersectionality are important.
I encourage people to join local, national or international activist or support groups as they feel led. LGBT+ support groups. Women’s rights groups. Abortion advocacy groups. Refugee and immigrant support groups. Public education advocacy groups. Civil rights and human rights groups. Groups opposing the death penalty or unrestricted gun ownership. Community groups or other local volunteer organisations that help homeless people, women, school students, elderly citizens, public health or welfare advocacy. Whatever groups you feel led to support due to your passion for human decency and natural justice. Because we are all in this together.
This is not just a call for people in the USA. Deporting immigrants and refugees based upon their skin colour will kill people around the world, just like it did during Trump’s first Presidency. Encouraging antigay death laws in Uganda or other nations dependent upon US economic support will spread death and hate. Allowing genocide in Ukraine or Palestine or Yemen or Sudan or Congo will diminish us all. Withdrawing humanitarian aid or spreading lies about black people as criminals or rapists will affect the world. Locking children in cages will not build a better world for our children. The rise of Trump populism will encourage a similar rise in other nations.
We can look with horror or disapproval or disgust and abhorrence at those who voted for the diminution of human rights – but what are we going to do about it?
Our collective morality must not equate with those who refused to vote. Inaction is a form of collaboration and complicity for us all.
“As the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, I deeply regret both the fact that such laws were introduced and the legacy of discrimination, violence and death that persists today.” – Theresa May, 2018.
From 21st to 26th October 2024, a collection of representatives from some of the most homophobic nations on Earth are meeting in Samoa alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and India; and celebrate their collaboration. Welcome to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Art by janeb13 on Pixabay
The theme of the event is: “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth” and the Samoan Prime Minister has declared that its goal is to help: “transform our one resilient family into a Common Wealth.”
And yet the Commonwealth family is torn asunder from within – division and prejudice from Jamaica to Uganda – and beyond.
I give a voice to a gay refugee who has fled Uganda, whose voice is ignored by the CHOGM delegates. Yet his message speaks of the Commonwealth and the wider world:
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The Cry for Justice: LGBTIQ Refugees Deserve Our Help and Protection
In a world that prides itself on progress, compassion, and human rights, it is heart-breaking to see how certain groups remain marginalized, persecuted, and silenced. Among the most vulnerable are LGBTIQ individuals, especially those living as refugees or in war-torn areas, where their very existence is criminalized. These people are not just fleeing poverty, conflict, or oppression like many others; they are running for their lives because of who they are — because of their identity.
The Reality of Persecution
In countries like Nigeria, Iran, Uganda and Russia, simply being LGBTIQ can be a death sentence. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed in 2023, makes same-sex relationships punishable by life imprisonment and, in some cases, even death. This law has emboldened public violence, fuelled hate crimes, and caused countless LGBTIQ Ugandans to flee their homeland in search of safety.
In Russia, LGBTIQ people face continuous state-sponsored repression. From the infamous “gay propaganda” law to arbitrary arrests and brutal violence, the situation for LGBTIQ individuals is dire. These aren’t isolated incidents—across the globe, in many places ravaged by war and instability, LGBTIQ refugees face threats of imprisonment, torture, and even execution just for being who they are.
A Fundamental Human Right
In this so-called civilized world, it is fundamental that every person has the right to live as who they are. Being LGBTIQ is not a choice, nor should it be a crime. No one should have to hide their love or identity in fear of violence. Human dignity demands that all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with respect and have the freedom to express themselves safely. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states that everyone is entitled to the same rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind. Yet, for LGBTIQ individuals, especially refugees, these rights are constantly violated. They are left without safe spaces, often hiding in fear, struggling with suicidal thoughts, and feeling completely abandoned by the world.
War-Torn Countries: A Crisis Within a Crisis
For LGBTIQ individuals in war-torn countries, the situation is even more tragic. In places where survival is already a daily challenge, being openly LGBTIQ becomes nearly impossible. They face the double threat of violence from both the general conflict and targeted hate from those who view their existence as illegitimate. Humanitarian aid often overlooks their unique plight, as LGBTIQ refugees are frequently discriminated against even within refugee camps, denied resources, and left without protection. This is a crisis within a crisis, and it calls for immediate action.
The Call to Action: Stand with Us
This is a call for the world to open its eyes and ears to the cries of LGBTIQ refugees. These individuals are not seeking anything other than the right to exist peacefully. They deserve protection, support, and empathy. In this era of human rights, no one should be persecuted for their identity, especially in countries that claim to champion progress and justice. Governments, NGOs, activists, and global citizens must step forward. We need to amplify the voices of those who are silenced and ensure that their rights are respected, no matter where they are in the world. Policies should be enacted to guarantee safe asylum for LGBTIQ refugees, and aid organizations must include protections specifically for them.
It’s not just about saving lives—it’s about acknowledging the humanity of LGBTIQ individuals, standing against hate, and ensuring that every person, regardless of who they love or how they identify, can live without fear.
A World United for Equality
Now, more than ever, we must recognize that the fight for LGBTIQ rights is not over until everyone, in every corner of the globe, is free to be who they are. This is a fundamental human right, one that no law or war should ever be able to strip away. Let us not turn our backs on those who need us most. Every voice matters, every life matters, and together, we can create a world where no one has to live in fear for simply being themselves.
LGBTIQ refugees are calling for our help—let’s answer.
By Joseph.K (He/him)
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Does the world care? Does CHOGM care? Nelson Mandela is recorded as stating that: “The Commonwealth makes the world safe for diversity”. Let’s see these words finally become truth.
In shadows we walk, unseen, unheard,
LGBTIQ souls, whose voices are blurred.
From lands of fear, where love is a crime,
We flee to new shores, seeking hope in time.
Yet the world turns away, blind to our tears,
While we tremble in silence, swallowed by fears.
Abandoned, forgotten, hearts heavy with pain,
In a world of bright colours, we stand in the rain.
Do you hear us? Can you feel our plea?
We are refugees yearning to simply be free.
But the chains still hold, though the land may change,
The scars of rejection feel hauntingly strange.
Some stand at the edge, too tired to fight,
With dark thoughts that whisper through endless night.
The weight of the world, too cruel to bear,
We need your love, we need your care.
We ask for a hand, a heart to restore,
A place to belong, to feel safe once more.
To live without fear, to breathe without shame,
To walk through the world without hiding our name.
So rise with compassion, let kindness lead,
For LGBTIQ refugees, in silence we plead.
The world can be brighter, if only you see,
We are part of its fabric, we just wish to be free.
