Thursday, September 14
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT
(Lunch served 12:00-12:15)
National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
Speakers:
Barigye Ambrose, Uganda-based human rights activist and field director and reporter for Kuchu Times Media Group
Martha Mukaiwa, Columnist at The Namibian, based in Windhoek
Eric Robinson, Associate Director for Africa programs, National Endowment for Democracy
Selly Thiam, Founder and Executive Director, None on Record, based in Kenya
Wana Udobang, Nigeria-based journalist, poet, and filmmaker
Moderator:
Brian Pellot, Director of Global Strategy, Religion News Service and Religion News Foundation
Event Description:
In Sub-Saharan Africa, as in much of the world, reporting on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression can be particularly difficult. Cultural taboos, religious convictions, entrenched stereotypes, social hostilities, legal prohibitions, and editorial censorship often distort coverage of these sensitive topics. This discussion bring journalists and activists from four African nations to focus on challenges in covering religion and LGBTI+ issues in their communities. How can they overcome these obstacles in order to contribute to a more tolerant, pluralistic media narrative?
The panelists will draw from a recent workshop hosted by the Religion News Foundation (RNF). The RNF initiative aims to amplify the voices of LGBT+ advocates and communities across Sub-Saharan Africa, offering a counter-narrative to extremist voices in the region while raising awareness of the challenges facing these communities and the journalists who try to cover them.