Humans of OUTniagara
As part of my employment, I had the opportunity to travel to Malawi. I was excited to explore a new country but nervous too. While preparing for my trip I learned that it may not be safe for 2SLGBTQ+ people. Shortly after my arrival, local residents confirmed that homosexuality was criminalized in Malawi. During my stay I was careful not to talk about my family. I used gender neutral pronouns when talking about my wife and if asked, I was prepared to tell people my “husband’s” name was “Steve”. I also had a story made up to explain my tattoo with my wife’s name on it. The people of Malawi were wonderful and welcoming but I was a woman alone in an unfamiliar place and I did not want to take any chances. After an incredible week in Malawi, I returned to Canada. At the airport, passengers were welcomed by images representing Canada. The image directly in front of me as I walked out of the baggage claim was the rainbow flag. After a week of hiding a part of my identity, the sight of the rainbow flag brought an unexpected wave of peace and comfort. That experience strengthened my determination to work towards creating a world where all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community can feel safe and free to express who they are.
– Anonymous
Humans of OUTniagara
