By SLY XAM
In Liberia, being an LGBTQI person is not only stigmatized but also criminalized. The very systems entrusted with protecting all citizens instead become sources of discrimination and oppression. This harsh reality fosters an environment of fear, depression, and hopelessness among members of the LGBTQI community who are denied basic human rights and dignity.
The systemic discrimination faced by LGBTQI people is deeply painful. When the law itself punishes identity, it sends a message that some lives are less valuable than others. This institutionalized prejudice not only isolates us but also erodes our mental health, leading to widespread feelings of despair.
Yet, amidst these challenges, there remains a powerful hope—a prayer for a future where being a gay man, or any LGBTQI identity, no longer matters in the eyes of society or the law. A day when love, identity, and humanity are celebrated rather than condemned.