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Dear Supporter,
This week, ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, OutRight is releasing the first in a series of 8 short videos that challenge people of conscience to examine bigotry and exclusion—the twin evils we must overcome to advance human rights for everyone, everywhere.
The first two to be released are part of a series of videos in Spanish titled ?Y Tu Que Ves (“And you? What do you see?”), which turns the lens on transgender rights with an emotional appeal to reject prejudice that “sickens and kills.” The other films in the series asks viewers to examine the roots of prejudice that specifically targets gays and lesbians.
“We can do something now,” the narrator pleads. “Let’s stop being ‘them.’ When now we can be a part of ‘us.’
Even today, when we live in times more sensitive than ever to hate-based violence, anti-transgender prejudice and hatred has claimed the life of more than one person every month over the last decade. This trend shows no sign of abating.
As an OutRight supporter, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that LGBTI people are subjected to hostile, oppressive and unconscionable laws in more than 75 countries spanning five continents that make it difficult or impossible for them to live safely and openly.
While we work to change repressive laws around the globe, videos like these commissioned by Maria Mercedes Gomez, OutRight’s Latin America program coordinator, and Shehnilla Mohamed, Africa program coordinator, help us raise awareness about the roots of bigotry and spread a counter message against hatred. Also, this week, OutRight is releasing the first of three videos that examine the political, social and economic exclusion of LGBTIQ Africans.
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