By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia-Fashion model, Tarus P. Cole, has riled social media over comments that most Liberian men are gay. “I can say—I’m not afraid to say it—99 percent of Liberian men—they are gay,” he said, though he did not provide the reliance for his statement. In a live Facebook interview with the government-owned Liberian … [Read more...] about ‘Most Liberian men are gay’: Fashion model riles social media
‘Most Liberian men are gay’: Fashion model riles social media
COVID-19 Negatively Impacts Trans Community in Liberia
By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia – The outbreak of the novel Corona Virus is severely affecting the transgender community, according to Madame Karishma Richards-Kwofie, executive director of Trans Network of Liberia (TNOL.) “Trans people don’t have the means to work and earn money and earn a living,” she said. Logo of TNOL. Courtesy of TNOL Speaking … [Read more...] about COVID-19 Negatively Impacts Trans Community in Liberia
From Tanzania With Love: documentary on persecuted trans artist screens in March
Toronto-Last year Tanzanian authorities arrested fourteen LGBTQ people, jailing them for two weeks, without anyone knowing where they were. One of those people was Dayon Monson, a 24-year-old trans woman, artist and activist who went into hiding, eventually seeking asylum in Canada. Dayon originally captured the authorities attention after appearing in a remake of “Same … [Read more...] about From Tanzania With Love: documentary on persecuted trans artist screens in March
Anonymous donor defrays cost of gay man’s tuition in Liberia
Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia-A donor, who prefers not to be named, has defrayed the cost of Mohammed Sheriff’s semester 2 tuition to enable him to complete high school, following a meeting arranged by journalRAGE’s founder, Gboko Stewart. Sheriff was accompanied to the meeting, which was held at an undisclosed location, by Alfred Jones (not his real … [Read more...] about Anonymous donor defrays cost of gay man’s tuition in Liberia
Gay man struggles to survive in Liberia amid beating and bullying
By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia-Mohammed Sheriff (not his real name) still remembers the day his mother disowned him when she discovered her first child was gay. “She asked me to moved out and said I was no longer her son,” he said. “She said she can’t have a child who’s into such sexual behavior.” Petite in height, Sheriff, 22, who had … [Read more...] about Gay man struggles to survive in Liberia amid beating and bullying
Monrovia party goers stoned and beaten over suspicion of being gay
By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia-Rocheforte Jones, (not his real name), walked into a fence in the quiet suburb of Sinkor to celebrate a friend’s 33rd birthday on Saturday, November 9, when he and others were stoned, beaten and severely wounded by community members over suspicion that they were “gays.” “It was a birthday party, not an LGBT party,” said … [Read more...] about Monrovia party goers stoned and beaten over suspicion of being gay
Fueling the rage with a tinge of kindness: A Letter from the Editor
Dear Readers, As may of you may have come to know, we run a news service which caters to the exclusive coverage of sexual minority in Liberia, thanks to help from Prof. Ken Harper of Newhouse Center for Global Engagement at Syracuse University. This service, aptly titled journalRAGE, began over a fit of anger felt in a homophobic, biased and … [Read more...] about Fueling the rage with a tinge of kindness: A Letter from the Editor
Did PSI abandon victims of homophobic attack?
By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Logo of PSI. Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia Monrovia-It was a rainy Saturday morning when lanky Mitch Johnson (not his real name) was chased and beaten in a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Monrovia for being gay. Johnson, 31, said he was recovering from an operation of appendicitis when he and some friends huddled in a … [Read more...] about Did PSI abandon victims of homophobic attack?
Transgender Community Mourns Loss of Cute White
Monrovia-The Liberian transgender community is in a state of shock over the passing of trans socialite, Cute White. I worked very closely with Cute on some community activities and projects. She was dedicated not only to her work but also to the improvement of the lives of trans women in and around Liberia,” Karishma Richards-Kwofie, TNOL executive director Ms. Cute … [Read more...] about Transgender Community Mourns Loss of Cute White
EDITORIAL: Liberia’s LGBT Community Deserves Respect of Its Pride
Nearly a fortnight ago, Liberia’s gay community celebrated the closure of pride month at a discreet location. So discreet that it called for sexual minorities and allies to clad themselves in black to celebrate the passing of many—some of whom had died from AIDS, suicide, rape, hate crimes, discrimination , lack of access to adequate health care, lack of access to social … [Read more...] about EDITORIAL: Liberia’s LGBT Community Deserves Respect of Its Pride
LIPRIDE donates to human rights coalition to fight Covid-19
By Gboko Stewart, gboko@journalrage.org Monrovia-In a bid to combat the spread of the novel Corona virus and to ensure defenders of human rights remain safe, Liberia’s Initiative for the Promotion of Rights, Identity and Equality, LIPRIDE, has donated an assortment of sanitary products to its coalition of human rights defending organizations. Ms. Elizabeth Z. Addy of … [Read more...] about LIPRIDE donates to human rights coalition to fight Covid-19
Editorial: Liberia’s existential human rights crisis must be nipped in the bud
Liberia is in a crisis. It is a crisis that is not unique to mankind but Liberia, like many countries on the continent and beyond, continues to live in a state of denial, pretending that it is not so. This crisis border on the treatment of Liberia’s sexual and gender minorities. This unprecedented denial and feigned blindness have led to the violation of … [Read more...] about Editorial: Liberia’s existential human rights crisis must be nipped in the bud