Being queer is hard in East Africa. Being a queer activist is even harder. It carries many risks and often leads to being kicked out of your home, being beaten up, being a victim of “corrective” rape, and being killed. 

As an activist myself, I understand that our activism may cause us harm, but we are committed to it because keeping silent is simply not an option.

Frank Mugisha, a prominent LGBTQ activist from Uganda, exemplifies this sense of refusing to be silent. He came out when being gay was frowned upon by Ugandan society, but when it wouldn’t necessarily lead to threats of violence such as death. As Uganda has grown more homophobic, his stance to not be silent has gotten stronger.

Many homophobic laws have been introduced in the past few years in Africa, and Ghana and Uganda are just two examples. This is a time for us African queers to do what we can to stand up for our rights. This, of course, carries its own risks. But people like Frank Mugisha make it seem possible. He gives me hope that, as an Ethiopian queer activist, I have a role to play in the liberation of my people.

I am filled with pride that he has been named among Time’s “100 Most Influential People of 2024”. Congratulations, Frank Mugisha, and may you continue to be a beacon of hope for all of us.