Monrovia -An online fundraising organized to help the transgender community in Liberia has netted over CAD$400 in support of the transgender community in Liberia.
The fundraising, organized by Canadian graphic designer and filmmaker, Raymond Helkio, was based on a plea from the executive director of the Trans Network of Liberia, Madam Karishma Richards-Kwofie, following an interview with journalRAGE when she revealed that COVID-19 was severely impacting the trans community in the country.
Madame Kwofie, who was introduced to Helkio by the News Curator of journalRAGE, Gboko Stewart, said the trans community does not have the means to work and earn a living since the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Our community needs good access to healthcare and we need safe homes as well because based on the experience from Ebola in 2014, people are going to be targeting us think that their god is punishing the world with Corona because of us.”
With an original goal of CAD$7000, the first tranche of the donation, US$200 was sent to the TNOL to help with “food, medical supplies, legal counseling, and support.”
Being proud to be a part of the endeavor, Helkio said the vulnerability of the LGBT community has worried him since the outbreak of the virus across the world.
“On a daily basis, I think about the work being done in Liberia, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Raymond. “This has all become a potent reminder of how vulnerable LGBT people are to government and police sanctioned brutality.”
“Canada is not perfect but we have the power of the law behind us which is why I’m so interested in what’s happening with my brothers and sisters who have to survive under draconian laws. Like Emma Lazarus said, no one is free until we are all free.”
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