As part of our effort to explore diverse perspectives within the LGBTQ+ community in Ethiopia, we spoke with a queer woman living in Addis Ababa about what Pride means to her.

Her perspective:

“I have never particularly felt any big thing for the Pride events. To me, they feel more like a circus – like celebrating your birthday because you’re expected to, every year. It’s just there.

My real pride is different. I take pride in my community – the queers I know personally, the ones I relate to. It feels like we have built a strong community. That community is so important because that is what forms the queer identity more than anything else.

These are understanding people, people who have my back. They make me feel seen and like I matter.

That is my pride.