Blog: Perspectives

I didn’t like girls. This mindset has, of course, adapted a little since I was 4, but I just liked boys better. Kickball, soccer, video games - those were my JAM. Still are to an extent. And though I may have enjoyed the occasional game of “house,” after 10 minutes of playing "mother," I wanted to get back to my boys. ...Wait, mother?? Growing up, I always knew I was different. Being the product of a Black father and a White mother had an influence on that frame of mind, but to me, it went beyond what my white peers referred to as my “exotic” looks. I am a transwoman. Coming to that conclusion – as you can imagine – was a life-long journey. 

In this episode of OutRight TV, UN Program Officer Luiza Veado speaks to Roberto Cuerto, founder of Somoskuir, a digital platform for queer people and stories. Roberto discusses how COVID-19 and it's consequential online events have expanded accessibility for those with access to the internet and encourages people to widen their digital circles and use their platforms to share their lived experiences.

In this episode of OutRight TV, Africa Program Officer Yvonne Wamari talks to Kenyan Producer Toni Kamau. Toni, producer of the HRW film festival film I Am Samuel, talks about what it means for the film to be released during Pride month and COVID-19 and how she hopes people around the world use their privilege to uplift quieted voices.

In this episode of OutRight TV Senior Communications Manager Daina Ruduša talks to Danijel Kalezić, Executive Director of Queer Montenegro, the first LGBTIQ organization in Montenegro. The conversation happens two days after a historic moment - the Montenegrin parliament has just passed partnership legislation for same-sex couples! Danijel talks about his emotions at the end of this very long journey, what it took to get here, the fact that #LoveisLove and #LoveWins.

In this episode of OutRight TV, OutRight's Arabic Media Coordinator Nazeeha Saeed speaks with Tarek Zaidan, the Executive Director of Helem, the first queer Lebanese organization recognized in the MENA region. Tarek walks viewers through the lessons Helem has learned from COVID-19 and the Lebanon revolution in terms of how they organize, what their model of change is, and where their priorities lie.

In this episode of OutRight TV, UN Program Officer Sahar Moazami speaks to queer feminist activist Ritu Borah in Delhi. They discuss the intersections of the queer and feminist movements and how gender-based violence plagues them both. They talk about what advocacy looks like during a pandemic (think: queer zoom backgrounds) and the importance of oral history in relation to our lived experiences as LGBTIQ people.

In this episode of OutRight TV, human rights lawyer Mostafa Fouad speaks with Nazeeha Saeed about the life and legacy of LGBTIQ activist Sarah Hegazi, just days after she took her own life in Canada, where she was seeking asylum. Mostafa discusses the violence and hate that Sara received in the three years since her arrest, the ways in which her identities and beliefs were used against her, and how Sarah's story has changed the climate around queer identity in Egypt.