The Online Community Supporting Queer Africans | Okong'o Kinyanjui | TED

翻译人员: Olivia Lin 校对人员: Yan Li Xiao

One of the most evident remnants of colonialism on the African continent

非洲大陆殖民主义最明显的残余之一

are laws that are used to persecute people for the sexual orientation,

是用来迫害人们的性取向，

gender identity and gender expression.

性别认同和性别表达的法律。

I want to tell you about some sections of the penal code

我想向你们介绍一下

from my home country, Kenya.

我的祖国肯尼亚的 刑法典中的一些章节。

Section 162 (a) and (c) of the penal code

在《刑法》第 162 (a)和(c)条中规定，

say that it is a felony for any person to have carnal knowledge

任何违背自然规律，

of any other person against the order of nature,

与他人发生性关系者；

or to permit a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her

或者允许男性违背自然规律，

against the order of nature.

与他或她发生性关系者， 都犯了重罪。

And this is punishable by 14 years imprisonment.

而这一行为可被判处 14 年监禁。

Section 165 of the Penal Code

《刑法》第 165 条规定，

sees that it's a felony for a male person

男性与另一男性发生 任何严重猥亵行为，

to commit any act of gross indecency with another male person,

无论是在公开场合还是在私下，

whether in public or in private.

都是重罪。

And this is punishable by five years imprisonment.

而这一行为可判处五年监禁。

Right now, similar laws also exist in 35 of 56 Commonwealth countries

目前，56 个英联邦 国家中的 35 个国家，

and more than 60 countries across the world.

全世界 60 多个国家 也有类似的法律。

These laws inform attacks,

这些法律为攻击、

arbitrary arrests and degrade queer people's right to privacy.

任意逮捕和侵犯同性恋 群体的隐私权提供了信息。

But they've done more than that.

但他们所做的还不止这些。

They've created a culture of reporting on your friends, your neighbors,

他们创造了一种举报你的朋友、邻居、

even your own family.

甚至是自己家人的文化。

And just a suspicion of being queer

而仅仅只是被怀疑是同性恋者，

can result in these life-threatening consequences.

生命安全就可能受到威胁。

So as you might imagine, under these conditions,

你们也许能够想象到， 在这样的情况下，

many queer people are constantly operating from a place of concern

许多同性恋者一直生活在

and fear about being outed.

担心会被揭发的忧虑和恐惧中。

And if we're all in hiding,

如果我们都在躲藏，

then how can we mobilize around issues that impede our everyday lives

那么我们如何动员起来对抗 这些阻碍我们日常生活的问题，

or share resources in times of need?

又如何能够在需要时分享资源呢？

How can we create a space where we can thrive?

我们如何才能创造一个能让 我们正常生活的空间呢？

We hear a lot in the news lately about social media and online platforms

最近，我们听到很多关于 在社交媒体和在线平台上

as spaces where serious harm can occur,

受到严重伤害的新闻。

but what I want to share with you today

但我今天想与你们分享的是

is how social networks can be designed intentionally

如何有意地设计社交网络，

to build community and trust from the ground up.

以从头开始建立社区和获得信任。

And if they're built correctly,

如果可以正确建立社区，

then they can help counteract the fear

就可以帮助抵消许多非洲国家中

that's been entrenched by colonial systems and culture

因殖民制度和文化

in so many African countries.

而根深蒂固的恐惧。

I want to share with you the ways

我想与你们分享

that queer communities are using social media

同性恋群体如何 利用社交媒体相互保护，

to protect one another and be themselves, queer and visible.

并且做自己，以同性恋者的身份 出现在大众面前。

When I created my first social media account

在我创建了第一个社交媒体账户

and joined a queer online community,

并加入了一个同性恋网络社区时，

I met people who created spaces that embraced

我遇到了一些人， 他们创造出了一些空间

and protected everyone's ability to be their authentic self.

让每个人能够安全地、 自在地展示出真实的自我。

And this was the first time that I genuinely felt safe.

而这是我第一次真正地有了安全感。

Just one example.

举一个例子。

Blackmail is a huge problem for the queer community in Kenya.

敲诈是肯尼亚同性恋群体 面临的一个巨大问题。

Blackmailers can make tons of money

敲诈者可以通过威胁 向当局揭露同性恋者

by threatening to out queer people to authorities.

来赚取大量金钱。

So one queer online community that I joined when I was younger

因此，我年轻时加入了 一个同性恋网络社区，

was trying to prevent and expose known blackmailers.

努力阻止和揭露已知的勒索者。

I realized that one of the people listed as a blackmailer

通过这个社区， 我了解到了其中一个勒索者

was an individual I had been talking to.

是一直跟我有联系的人。

And this group saved me

因此，是这个组织救了我，

from a potentially life-threatening situation.

帮助我摆脱了一个潜在的生命威胁。

But for a lot of other people in the group

但对组织中许多其他人来说，

it was already too late.

就已经太迟了。

They'd already been scammed and harmed by someone who targeted them

他们已经被那些因为他们 是同性恋而针对他们的人骗了，

because they were queer.

还受到了伤害。

Later on in life, I met Nerima,

后来，我遇到了纳莉玛，

a nonbinary lesbian who, similar to me, found that in internet spaces

一个非二元的女同性恋者，她和我一样， 发现在网络空间里，

they could be their authentic selves safely.

她们可以安全地做真实的自己。

In their hometown, men would grab, spit,

在他们的家乡， 男人们会抓住他们，吐口水，

take unsolicited videos of them

随意地拍视频，

because of how they express their gender in public.

仅仅因为他们在公共场合 表达了自己的性取向。

But online Nerima could develop many versions of themselves.

但是在网络上，纳莉玛可以展示 自己很多不同的方面。

For me and Nerima,

对我和纳莉玛来说，

the internet was the only place where we could talk openly

互联网是唯一一个 我们可以开放地交流，

and support each other

并且在生活中最困难的时刻

through some of the most difficult moments in our lives.

相互支持的地方。

We helped each other and people in our community find safe housing,

我们相互支持，帮助社区中的人 找到安全的住所，

navigate loss after being outed.

帮助他们度过被揭发而造成的损失。

We've hosted memorials

我们举办了纪念活动，

and helped each other find queer family experts when we needed them.

并在需要时帮助对方 寻找同性恋家庭专家。

These virtual networks saved and sustained us,

虚拟网络拯救并支撑着我们，

and these experiences led Nerima and me to create

这些经验促使内里玛和我创建了

The Queer Africa Network, QAN,

一个在线平台， 非洲同性恋者网（QAN），

an online platform where we hope to ensure that every queer African,

我们希望确保每个非洲同性恋者，

both on the African continent and in the diaspora,

无论是在非洲大陆还是移居海外，

has access to the resources they need,

都能获得他们需要的资源，

like verified opportunities, mentorship,

比如验证机会、导师、

fundraising and safety.

筹款和安全。

Over the years,

多年来，

we've learned a lot about how to build a safe online community.

关于如何建立一个安全的网络社区， 我们已经学到了很多。

And I want to share those learnings with you today.

今天我想和大家分享这些经验。

The first key is community vetting.

第一个重点是社区审查。

Any safe online space has to find a way to keep out the bots,

一个安全的网络空间必须找到 一种方法来阻止机器人、

the trolls and the blackmailers.

网络喷子和敲诈者。

And we found that the best way to do this

为此，我们发现，最好的方法

is to implement a three-week probation period for new members.

是对新成员实施为期三周的试用期。

Anyone joining the community can engage with limited features

任何新加入社区的人 只能使用有限的功能，

as we assess their activity and ensure that accounts haven't been reported

我们会评估他们的活动，

for violating community guidelines.

确保账户没有因为 违反社区准则而被举报。

After the probation period,

试用期结束后，

a member can submit a request to have a verified mark on their profile.

会员可以提交申请， 在他们的个人资料上增加一个验证标记。

This indicates to other members

这样，其他成员就会知道，

that this profile is safe to admit to their private groups and events.

这个账号可以安全地加入 他们的私人小组和活动。

Safety is essential above all else.

安全是最重要的。

Once safety can be established,

一旦建立了安全性，

support is the next essential feature.

提供支持就是重要的下一步。

We think about support very intentionally.

我们非常有意识地考虑支持问题。

For queer Africans,

对于非洲同性恋群体来说，

financial stability plays a huge role in determining how open we can be.

经济稳定在决定我们的 开放程度方面起着巨大的作用。

And over the years, I've met queer Africans who believe

多年来，我遇到很多过非洲同性恋者，

that the only way they can get ahead at work

他们认为在工作中 出人头地的唯一方法是

is by abandoning their identities

放弃对自己身份的认同，

and anyone who shares those identities.

和任何与他们有相同取向的人。

That's a terrible feeling.

这种感觉很糟糕。

And of course, anyone suspected of being queer

当然，任何被怀疑是同性恋的人

might not be able to work at all.

可能根本无法工作。

So in order to counteract this,

因此，为了抵制这种情况，

it's important to design a space with an active opportunities hub

重要的是设计一个充满着机会

and marketplace,

和市场的空间，

one that helps people find community, connections

一个帮助人们在各个领域和行业

and mentorship in their various fields and industries.

找到群体、联系和指导的空间。

This moves them closer to financial stability,

这能让他们更接近财务稳定，

and they can trade their arts and products in new ways,

可以以新的方式进行 的艺术和产品的交易，

not just for money, but through barter as well.

不仅仅是为了钱， 也可以通过易货贸易。

We're challenging the core tenets of capitalism

我们正在挑战根植于个人主义、

that are rooted in individualism,

资本积累和竞争的

capital accumulation and competition

资本主义核心原则，

by creating a behavior change

创造一种优先考虑合作、

and system level change

资源共享和团体的

that prioritizes collaboration,

行为变化

resource sharing and community.

和系统层面的变化。

One of the key consequences of colonialism

殖民主义的主要后果之一是

was erasing and replacing precolonial African history.

抹杀和取代了非洲殖民前的历史。

And this made us lose stories of love, alternative social structures,

而这使我们失去了爱的故事， 替代的社会结构，

and a myriad of language to describe our identities.

以及无数描述我们身份的语言。

More than erasing the past,

不仅抹去了过去，

it's hindered the possibility of new futures.

还阻碍了通往新未来的可能性。

Because of this,

正因为如此，

one of the core necessary features

我们发现，在设计一个

that we found in designing a positive and thriving online social community

积极和繁荣的在线社区时， 其中一个必要的特征是

is the ability for members to create a global archive

成员能够为他们不同的生活经验

of their diverse lived experiences.

创建一个全球档案。

To document the stories of those who never got to tell theirs,

让那些没有机会讲述自己故事的人， 记录下他们的故事，

and to collect vital statistical information

并从社区收集重要的信息，

from the community on where resources and support are needed.

统计需要资源和支持的地方。

Features such as blogs, archives and surveys

博客、档案和调查等功能

give us the opportunity to document our past and articulate our future

让我们有机会记录我们的过去， 阐述我们的未来，

and to share where direct resources are needed.

并共享最需要资源的地方。

There's an immense gap on the research on the experiences of queer Africans,

非洲同性恋者的经历 的研究存在巨大的差距，

which is often weaponized against us to suggest that we don't exist.

这往往变成了用来对付我们， 证明我们不存在的武器。

If governments aren't collecting information on suicide rates

如果政府不收集自杀率

and homelessness,

和无家可归者的信息，

then they can argue that if there's no data,

他们就可以辩解说，如果没有数据，

there's no issue.

就说明没有问题。

Regardless of how often these laws are applied,

无论这些法律的适用频率如何，

they have contributed to the lack of information

都造成了关于有多少同性恋者被

on how many queer people are barred from accessing lifesaving services,

禁止获得救生服务的信息的缺乏，

spanning education, health, legal assistance programs and more.

涵盖教育、健康、法律援助计划等。

But imagine for a moment if you could do this

但试想一下，如果你能以一种

in a way that allows us to own our own data

让我们以安全、 加密和一致同意的方式

in a secure, encrypted and consensual manner

拥有我们自己的数据，

that is not extractive.

而不是榨取性的方式来做这件事。

We'd be able to know how many of us are forced out of schools

我们就能知道我们中有多少人

by homophobia and transphobia.

是被恐同症和变性人 恐惧症逼出学校的。

How many of us are grappling with blackmail,

我们中有多少人正在努力应对勒索，

how many of us feel forced to end our lives

有多少人有被迫 结束自己的生命的感受，

or how many of us seek asylum

或者有多少人

because we can't imagine ourselves living a happy, fulfilling life

因为无法想象在自己的国家 过上幸福、美满的生活

in our country of birth?

而寻求庇护呢？

Through our platform,

通过我们的平台，

members can report and record these experiences accurately.

成员可以准确地报告和记录这些经验。

We can co-create the infrastructure to address these issues

我们可以共同创建基础 设施来解决这些问题，

and protect each other.

并保护彼此。

Now, QAN is just one of many online platforms

现在，QAN 只是许多试图重建和设计

trying to rebuild and design this new kind of queer-owned online space.

这种同性恋者新型 网络空间的网络平台之一。

And as we continue creating this space,

当我们继续创造这个空间的时候，

we're standing on the shoulders of all those who've come before us.

我们是站在所有前人的肩膀上。

And while I don't think safe online spaces

虽然我不认为安全的网络空间

can solve all the problems that queer communities face,

可以解决同性恋社区面临的所有问题，

I do think that being able to gather safely in community,

但我确实认为， 能够安全地聚集在一起，

collect stories and share resources

收集故事和共享资源

is leading to noteworthy changes.

正带来值得注意的变化。

For example,

例如，

most of the queer organizations operating across the African continent,

大多数在非洲大陆运作的同性恋组织，

especially in contexts where it’s illegal to be queer,

特别是在同性恋是非法的情况下，

use social media to identify people in need,

使用社交媒体来识别有需要的人，

organize and survey their constituents in order to know what is going on.

组织和调查他们的成员，以了解情况。

And over the past years,

在过去的几年里，

we’re seeing waves of decriminalization of same-sex intimacy laws,

我们看到同性亲密 关系法合法化的浪潮，

and we're seeing new momentum

我们看到新的势头

and unprecedented levels of acceptance.

和前所未有的接受程度。

Though there's still a long way to go.

尽管还有很长的路要走。

In the last decade, we've seen these changes across Africa,

在过去十年中， 我们在非洲各地看到了这些变化，

Angola, Botswana, Seychelles, Mozambique and Lesotho.

包括安哥拉、博茨瓦纳、 塞舌尔、莫桑比克和莱索托。

We've also seen decriminalization outside of the continent,

我们还看到了非洲 大陆以外的非刑罪化，

such as in Antigua and Barbuda,

例如在安提瓜和巴布达，

which decriminalized homosexuality in July of 2022.

他们在 2022 年 7 月 实现了同性恋合法化。

More than keeping queer people safe,

这些方法不仅保证了 同性恋群体的安全，

these approaches show us what our future could look like.

还向我们展示了我们 的未来会是什么样子。

A world where we're safe online and thriving offline.

一个我们在线上和线下 都可以蓬勃发展的世界。

Thank you.

谢谢。