This thirst for justice is etched in me since my teenagerhood. I cannot stand inequality and injustice. These imbalances in our system made me aware that not all individuals are treated equally and enjoy their fundamental human rights entirely.

Since 2013, I fought tremendously to ensure respect, the fulfilment, and promotion of LGBTQI rights in Mauritius. This journey was not a bed of roses, I had to face many hindrances that pulled me down, but I did not give up, and I mustered my courage to surmount all these barriers.

Throughout these years, I learned to be independent, self-reliant, outspoken, and assertive. These skills made me a full-fledged human rights defender. I advocate for the LGBTQI community by ensuring that they feel included, respected, and could voice out any form of violations they are subjected to.

However, the battle is not over, as our queer brothers and sisters still experience different form of abuses and violence. The situation has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic as many community members struggle in homophobic and transphobic family settings.

Pride Month is not only a celebration for me but also more than that: It is about paying tribute to all the fervent LGBTQI activists across history and throughout the globe, such as Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk, to enumerate a few. These emblematic figures have contributed enormously to the respect of the rights of LGBTQI people. This month is also an excellent opportunity to discover or rediscover incredible movies and books tracing the stonewall riots, the pride movement, challenges that the community faces, success stories, and of course, love stories/happy endings.

Pride Month is not only a celebration for me but also more than that: It is about paying tribute to all the fervent LGBTQI activists across history and throughout the globe, such as Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk, to enumerate a few. These emblematic figures have contributed enormously to the respect of the rights of LGBTQI people.

I am proud to be part of the rainbow community; I am happy that I am special rather than normal. At least, I am not a basic guy but rather a human being navigating in this wild world and attempting to contribute to a better world by dedicating his time, energy, and enthusiasm to the LGBTQI cause.

Happy pride month, and like Ryan O’Connell said: “Why be normal when you can be Special?”

J.S.L

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