"Let us be the voices that refuse to be silenced"

On July 27th, 2024, we marched the streets for Internationalist Queer Pride Berlin.

This is the speech we read:

Today, we gather to speak truth to power and to stand in solidarity with our siblings and comrades across the globe who face unimaginable repression, fear, and intimidation. In the heart of Europe, Germany, a country celebrated for its commitment to human rights and freedom, we are witnessing troubling signs of crackdowns on dissent, particularly in the context of the war in Palestine.

As we speak, queer people in the asylum system in Germany find themselves muzzled, their voices silenced by the very system that should protect them. The specter of violence looms large, with the government’s increasing hostility towards those who dare to speak out against injustice. Our freedom of expression, our right to protest, is under siege.

This repression is not an isolated phenomenon. It echoes the chilling realities faced by queer individuals across Africa, where governments in countries like Ghana, Uganda, and others have enacted draconian laws that criminalize our existence. In these nations, simply being queer can be a death sentence, a ticket to a life of fear and hiding. The anti-LGBTQ+ laws in these countries are not just pieces of legislation; they are instruments of terror, designed to strip away our humanity, to erase our existence.

In Uganda, the infamous “Kill the Gays” bill continues to threaten the lives of countless individuals. In Ghana, the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values” bill seeks to entrench discrimination, making it a crime to be who we are. This criminalization of our very existence is not just a violation of our rights; it is an assault on our dignity and our very humanity.

But as we stand here today, we must also celebrate the spirit of resistance, the unyielding courage of those who continue to fight for justice and equality. The theme of this year’s Pride in Berlin is a testament to that resilience: “Solidarity Without Borders.” It is a call to action, a reminder that our struggle is global and that our fight for freedom is intertwined.

In Berlin, where the echoes of the past still resonate, we are reminded of the price of silence, of inaction. The walls of this city, the streets we walk, bear witness to the struggles of those who came before us. It is our duty, our honor, to continue that fight, to ensure that no one, anywhere, has to live in fear, in hiding, in silence.

Let us be clear: our solidarity is not conditional. It is not bound by borders, by nationality, by the color of our skin, or by the nature of our love. It is universal, unwavering. We must continue to lift our voices, to support those who are silenced, to stand with the queer people of Africa, of Palestine, of every corner of the world where freedom is still a distant dream.

Today, as we raise our flags, as we march, as we speak out, let us remember that our fight is not just about us; it is about every person who has ever been told they are not worthy, not human, not enough. It is about every person who has faced violence, fear, and intimidation simply for being who they are.

In this moment, let our solidarity be louder than the guns, stronger than the laws, more defiant than the fear. Let us be the voices that refuse to be silenced, the hands that reach across borders, and the hearts that beat in unison for a world where everyone is free to love, to be, and to live without fear.

Together, we are unstoppable.