Your work has also seen you consulting for the UN and other NGOs. Does this give you different perspectives for your own work as an advocate and journalist? Yes, I am always keen on ensuring that my work as an advocate, opinion journalist and public affairs commentator is informed by all my experiences and my engagement with people from a variety of backgrounds. I think it helps to keep me cognisant of the realities on the ground and being able to connect to a wide range of persons from different groups. The LGBT community has come a long way in recent years. What do you feel are the next big challenges for the community? I think the next big challenge for the community is making families and communities safer so that LGBT people, youth especially, can get the support they need and not be kicked out of their family and community. Working on mental health issues in the community is important. As is, addressing the challenges in accessing a broader range of health services for vulnerable members of
the community and improving access to social protection and support services. Specific programmes addressing bullying in schools are critical to reducing the harm LGBT youth face as well as looking at adverse childhood experiences and the kind of impact it has on people.
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