“I want to be able to influence policies at national level that favour the LBQ community’s safety and protection”

Biggy is a 37-year-old lesbian living in Uganda, where women who are sexual minorities face violence and discrimination. As one of the founding members of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), Biggy overcame violence and connected with other members of the lesbian bisexual and queer (LBQ) community to form a support network and advocate for the rights of LBQ people.

“Before joining FARUG, I was a student and lacked information about my health, protection, access to health services, and educational materials about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues were scarce. I was a victim of attacks many times and this made me feel helpless because I had nowhere to run to. It was hard for me and many of my friends to access health care because of limited information and hatred towards masculine presenting lesbians like me.

When I found FARUG, it felt like home away from home because I was able to meet other lesbian bisexual and queer (LBQ) women and it was a very exciting experience, I was actually one of the founding members of FARUG, although I was not so actively involved then as I am now. I was supported in my education, my capacity was built, and I was able to network and meet other people like me.

Working with FARUG has made many of my dreams come true. I had dreamt about having a lesbian feminist forum since 2010 and to see it become a reality has been very exciting. The LBQ community face many challenges such as patriarchy (especially in education), discrimination at the workplace, health and in sports.

Joining FARUG created a safe space where we gather and, being the first LBQ organisation in Uganda, it is still taking lead on advocating for the rights of LBQ women. It is a space where capacities for LBQ women are built.

Looking at the future I would want to be able to influence policies at national level that favour the LBQ community’s safety and protection and stay the face of the LBQ movement. I also hope to see a united LBQ movement that advocates for their rights without discrimination.”