Before we start:
Grounding Ourselves, Starting from Care
Campaigning can be personal, painful, and emotionally exhausting. Survivors, campaigners, and allies are often carrying years of trauma and tension. In order to engage others and offer them a safe space, we need to first take care of ourselves. Remember to “put on your mask before helping others” as they say on the plane!
Begin with people you trust. Start small: conversations among friends, a quiet circle, a local gathering. Campaigns that are rooted in care, not urgency, tend to last longer.
Always consider safety: physical, emotional, and even digital. Build in pauses; encourage breaks; celebrate moments of joy. Remember, care isn’t just a value, it’s a method.
No one stood up for me at that time. There was no one to support me
Anonymous survivor from Indonesia
It is already difficult to live in a world where everyone thinks you are different and has a cure. […] Love us, hate us, we will forever remain queer. Love that child, love him unconditionally, and they will conquer the world with your love and support.
Anonymous survivor from South Africa