africa

Dear John,

My name is Olivier, and I am writing to you from Cameroon.

Here, being LGBT+ is a daily battle for survival.

Our lives are constantly under threat – people like me are killed, imprisoned, and rejected simply for who we are. The law is cruel, and homophobia runs deep, starting within our own families.

And it's not just Cameroon. Across French-speaking Central and West Africa, hate speech, misinformation, and violence against LGBT+ people are rising at alarming rates. Social media is being used to incite attacks against us. Countries that never criminalised being LGBT+ before are now introducing anti-LGBT+ laws, while others push for harsher punishments. We live in constant fear, never knowing if we'll be safe tomorrow.

Brice, from Côte d'Ivoire, shares my fears:

"Our biggest fears right now include: being beaten, attacked, or even lynched. Facing social exclusion during this anti-LGBT+ crisis. Losing our jobs due to discrimination based on sexual orientation. Being disowned by our families."

These stories are often ignored. Our fears go unheard. But together, we can change that.

With this new campaign, All Out is bringing global attention to what it means to be LGBT+ in Central and West Africa – our struggles, our resilience, and our hopes. By sharing our voices, we can inspire solidarity and action in the fight for love and equality.

John, will you stand with us?

Explore the powerful stories from our community here.

Your support sends a message to me, to Brice, and to so many others: that we are not alone. That our voices matter. That we will not be silenced.