Feelings around the hate campaign 
The first video of the  “gebresedomn ekawemalew” campaign was released on December 14, 2022. I’m not sure why I kept the screenshot, but I still have it to this day. At first, the video made me laugh, but I was horrified when I saw the comments section. The comments were vicious and mostly said, “Let’s kill them and get rid of them all” and this resulted in a whirlpool of questions plaguing my thoughts! I started thinking, I do not even openly declare my “sin”, to use their terminology and my sexuality does not harm any of them.

My heart raced in an unfamiliar rhythm, while a chill ran through my body. I couldn’t even hold onto my phone, as it slipped from my grasp. I couldn’t bear the shock.

Initially, I didn’t pay much attention to the video and actually forgot about it the next morning. However, about a month ago, a wave of hatred erupted on social media, particularly on TikTok. When I stumbled upon the party video and witnessed the calls for violence, I felt a deep pang of fear in my heart. It was an overwhelming experience that left me breathless and disoriented, as if the oxygen was being sucked out of the room. My heart raced in an unfamiliar rhythm, while a chill ran through my body. I couldn’t even hold onto my phone, as it slipped from my grasp. I couldn’t bear the shock. I wished that I could hold and comfort those who were in the videos. 

I remember that I had confessed my sexuality to a friend a day before the “party” video was released and she was really supportive. Coincidentally, she was the one who showed me the video of a group of guys beating the little boy just because he’s assumed to be gay. The impact of that image was like a sledgehammer to my head. It felt as though all the world’s sorrow and sadness had flooded into my heart. I was ready to do anything to reach that boy, as seeing his suffering stirred a tumult of emotions within me: love, compassion, sympathy, anger, and hatred. I felt a profound urge to revolt against those spreading hate and to confront them with love and understanding, to make them comprehend that it is perfectly acceptable for individuals to be different from one another. I yearned to hold that young boy close, to offer reassurance, and to wipe away the fear etched on his face. Thinking of him still brings tears to my eyes. So, my dear little brother, if you are reading these words, I want you to know that you are deeply loved. The entire queer community stands in solidarity with you.

I felt a profound urge to revolt against those spreading hate and to confront them with love and understanding, to make them comprehend that it is perfectly acceptable for individuals to be different from one another.

How I took care of myself 
I had a strong desire to take to the streets and revolt against our oppressors, but I knew that doing so would result in my death. Nothing is more important than my life, which is why I chose to stay alive and fight for our cause by utilizing my words and voice behind a screen. Prior to this hateful campaign, I had forgotten all about social media. I hadn’t logged onto Facebook in over two months. However, since this wave of hate surfaced, I have kept my mobile data turned on at all times.

For the past month and counting, I have spent all my time on social media, constantly switching between Facebook and TikTok. I became so engrossed in this virtual community that I sometimes skipped lunch outings with my colleagues, for the fear of missing out. I wanted to remain informed, stay current, and report any hateful content I came across. This small community has become my haven and my world. The hatred that was directed towards us has united our voices and brought us closer than ever before. I have never witnessed such love and cooperation in our community until now. Seeing some television channels speak out against the hate and recognizing our existence only strengthened my resolve and it showed the world that we do exist. Moreover, our work at “Zega Police” to report these videos has yielded positive results, as we have succeeded in taking down many of these hateful videos.

This small community has become my haven and my world. The hatred that was directed towards us has united our voices and brought us closer than ever before.

Eden Samuel’s encouragement and efforts along with her prompt actions to address anything related to this hate campaign, have created a safe zone for many of us. Eden was the main source of encouragement for me and inspired me to continue fighting even when my efforts seemed insufficient. These few things have helped me maintain my mental health and well-being.

Message to the queer community
To my fellow members of the queer community, the past month has been difficult for all of us. We have all been mentally exhausted from these trying times. There has been an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty surrounding us. Many of us wondered when or if we would be the next target in their hate-filled videos, subjected to their hurtful words. But, in the midst of this turmoil, we came together and stood united. We supported and checked on one another, offering a helping hand whenever we could.

Let us hold on to these beautiful qualities that have arisen from this dark time.

Let us hold on to these beautiful qualities that have arisen from this dark time. Moving forward, let us exercise greater caution. Do not divulge your personal information to anyone. Avoid any unnecessary risks. Your life is valuable to us, and your presence enriches our community. We cannot afford to lose even one of our colors. We will live on, we will remain united, and we will continue to fight.