Behind the Mask

Author(s): Juulke Brosky
Publication date: Tuesday 19 October 2004

Strengthening of LGBT people and awareness building of LGBT issues in Africa

Country: South Africa and the continent
Sector: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender People, Human Rights, ICT
Founded: 2000
Website: www.mask.org.za

Background:
South Africa currently is the only African country that offers protection by law against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Nonetheless, hate crime, cultural, religious and social discrimination are extra struggles for LGBT people (Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual and Transgender) along with wider felt problems in Africa of poverty, HIV/Aids and racism. Behind the Mask is a non-profit organisation that aims to emancipate this marginalised group by giving LGBT individuals and communities a voice through the use of communication and technology.

Behind the Mask is organised around an independent website magazine that offers well-documented information on LGBT affairs and provides a platform for communication and debate. Based in South Africa, it operates on a pan-African level. A network of correspondents across Africa offers quite unique information that meets the personal needs of LGBT people. The safe, anonymous online space enables isolated gays and lesbians to share experiences and stories with people in similar difficult situations.

Besides service provision for LGBT people, Behind the Mask aims to influence the regular attitude towards LGBT affairs and to promote the interest of the LGBT community in mainstream health, religion, law, human rights and social justice. In other words, Behind the Mask tries to be a link and bridge between individuals and organisations within/around/outside the LGBT community by supporting LGBT peoples on a political, cultural, social and economical level. Within a short period of time Behind the Mask has become one of the most important LGBT-websites of Africa with up to 8.000 hits a day.

Contribution to Civil Society Building:
Behind the Mask aims to build a society in which the rights of LGBT people are equal to the rights of others, freedom of sexual orientation is included in civic values and the LGBT community is accepted as an actor within the political decision making arena. By giving the LGBT community a voice, opportunities for political participation are created. Behind the Mask tries to build an environment of tolerance and understanding towards LGBT people and their issues. The formation of networks with other organisations across Africa and the initiation of campaigns in partnership with other organisations are examples of Behind the Masks’ encouragement of social change.

Behind the Mask plays an agenda setting role in South Africa in highlighting racism within the South African LGBT community. In South Africa the LGBT community is split along racial lines, whereas in other African countries the LGBT community consists mainly of black Africans. There is a well-established gay media and social scene in South Africa but it is predominantly white and LGBT organisations are largely perceived as serving only the interests of white LGBT people. Behind the Mask is involved in campaigns that highlight racism and is also involved in initiatives to bring LGBT organisations together to help solve the issue and frequently assists organisations and media to access the neglected black LGBT community.

The website offers various services for the African LGBT community. There is a section on online counselling that can be used to share a story, exchange experiences or give a word of advice. Get organised! is a section that helps groups across the continent to find and share information on how to found an organisation. The Link is a List Serv that consists of a platform of exchange that concentrates on linking and communicating between groups. Gay man eats crocodile is an initiative that focuses on correct image building of LGBT people within mainstream media reporting on LGBT issues. The section on the site called The Window offers people an opportunity to look in at Behind the Mask and see what is behind the website.

Besides the website Behind the Mask organises various workshops on a local level. Examples are computer training for women, life skills and empowerment training. Through journalism training in several African countries journalism is made more accessible and at the same time used as a tool to empower people. On the different levels that Behind the Mask operates, the organisation seems to succeed in reaching their target group, connecting people, giving them tools to empower and ways to strengthen their community.

Contribution to Millennium Development Goals:
The 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are founded on values like freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, non-violence and shared responsibility. These same values are harboured in the thoughts of Behind the Mask and reflected in their actions. By pursuing these values, Behind the Mask contributes from a LGBT perspective to the overall goal of the 8 MDGs: freedom from want, freedom from fear and a sustainable future.

Contribution to the separate MDGs may not be a goal in itself for Behind the Mask, but contributions to at least 2 goals can be distinguished. By focussing on education and empowerment of women, Behind the Mask plays a part in the achievement of MDG 3. In different ways Behind the Mask pays attention to problems connected to HIV/Aids, MDG 6. As an organisation, Behind the Mask gets confronted with loss and disruption due to Aids. Internal policies, which can be used by other organisations, are examined to deal with this problem. The HIV/Aids movement has been de-gayed in some African countries. Mainstream HIV/Aids organisation and health institutions have learned to see HIV/Aids as a universal problem but now forget about the specific needs of LGBT people. Behind the Mask brings this ignorance to the light.

From the Field:
Although Internet is widely available in Africa, it is not accessible for everyone. The gap between rich and poor translates itself in a digital divide. Behind the Mask wants to be approachable for everyone. Plans are made to increase the accessibility of Behind the Mask through the use of various media.

Contribution by Daniel Somerville, Behind the Mask:

“For the future, I think we are looking more and more at ourselves as a "communication initiative" - we are running several pilot programs to examine the efficacy and affordability of other communications other than Internet. This includes the encouragement of story-telling, Africa’s most traditional and established means of communication, as a legitimate communication tool, but also a radio project, a printed edition, a video clip and we will look at other – such as an email version and newsletter.

The label "communication initiative" has also led us to do a lot of networking and alliance building - facilitation of meetings/alliances -becoming increasingly involved in pan-African movements such as CAL (Coalition of African Lesbians) and AARI (All Africa Rights Initiative) in which we have played a major role in facilitating communication. With this in mind we are also looking at the possibility of establishing foreign desks in East and West Africa - satellite Behind the Mask offices if you like.”

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