| OUR OBJECTIVES: |
| The main objective of this website is to empower
and inform the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Ethiopian
community by creating a safe-haven to seek out issues that matter
to us and building a community as a basis to bring about change and
acceptance to all of GLBT Ethiopians. Some of us reside in Ethiopia and the rest of us live in the Diaspora, but we all identify Ethiopia as our homeland, where our sexual orientation is deprived of an honest recognition and acceptance. Our society hides behind long-established traditional beliefs, making GLBT awareness and advancement essential. At times, the situation may appear to be getting better, but the fact remains that gay rights and other human rights in Ethiopia are still being blatantly abused. Therefore, in order to advocate GLBT rights and issues and bring about positive change, we need to come together to organize ourselves. Since we are an oppressed minority group, we must first empower ourselves. It takes everyone's efforts and first and foremost, it takes coming out and accepting who we are as GLBT Ethiopians. Acknowledge your homosexuality to yourself and take this first and vital step in strengthening our community and our cause. Coming out to your family and friends may take longer but right now, today, come out to yourself and feel proud. If you have questions about coming out, acceptance and other issues, you can submit a question on the Personal Advice Page and we will do whatever we can within our capacity to help. Next, join any of the GLBT groups listed on the Gay Ethiopians Page and help build our community. You can also share your life experience as a GLBT Ethiopian with others by submitting your story here. Our invisibility and silence will only aid the ongoing disempowerment and discrimination of GLBT Ethiopians. Before the establishment of the gay civil rights movement, very few people revealed their homosexuality in countries where we currently find laws that protect gays and lesbians. It may take years, if not decades, to bring about positive change for GLBT Ethiopians in Ethiopia. However, it can only happen by seeking out every possible opportunity to support each other as a community and fortifying a sense of brother-sisterhood among ourselves. |