A Call for Peace, Justice, and Solidarity for Sudan (15/4/2024)
As we confront the harrowing one-year milestone of the conflict in Sudan, we cannot ignore its devastating toll: over 8.1 million displaced, more than 12,000 lives ruthlessly extinguished, and upwards of 33,000 injured. This crisis has not merely disrupted lives; it has laid bare the systemic oppressions that predate it. Women, girls, children, and glaringly, the queer community, have borne the brunt of this violence, our suffering; a testament to the patriarchal and heteronormative structures that continue to marginalize and silence us.
This war, while a manifestation of political and economic disputes, is also an intensified reflection of the ongoing battle against sexual agency, gender, and body autonomy as well as freedom. Queer people are navigating an already hostile social landscape, facing the effects of the 1991 penal code criminalizing sexual and gender diversities, corroborated by the larger societal hate targeting queer people. The Sudanese queer people have found themselves further imperiled, their existences threatened by both the direct impacts of conflict and the insidious spread of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric under the guise of wartime nationalism. The resilience of the Sudanese queer community, as documented by our organizations, transcends mere survival, manifesting as a resolute act of defiance. Central to the 2018-2019 revolution, the Sudanese queer community continues its fight for rights amid the chaos of conflict, epitomizing the core revolutionary values of freedom, peace, and justice. Their struggle is dual-natured, confronting both the immediate threats posed by the conflict and the deeper, societal forces intent on their erasure. Tales of loss, displacement, and undaunted bravery amidst adversity illuminate the ongoing quest of the queer community for visibility and freedom, weaving their indomitable spirit into the broader narrative of Sudanese society's fight for justice and equality.
In this moment of reflection, we need to raise our voices louder, advocating for a future that not only ceases the bloodshed but dismantles the oppressive systems that have facilitated such conflict. Our demands are clear:
1- An immediate cessation of hostilities, recognizing that peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice.
2- The eradication of all laws and societal norms that discriminate against the queer community, challenging the patriarchal and heteronormative foundations that fuel such policies.
3- Active and effective inclusion of Sudanese queer voices in peacebuilding efforts, asserting that true peace cannot be achieved without dismantling the gendered hierarchies that underpin societal conflict.
4- Effective inclusion of Sudanese queer voices and experiences in all aspects of design and implementation of the humanitarian response in Sudan.
5- Access to comprehensive, inclusive and gender-affirming medical support for transgender people and all queer persons, recognizing healthcare as a fundamental human right.
6- International and regional support tailored for the queer movement in Sudan, rightfully recognizing and acknowledging our struggle as part of the global fight against oppression.
7- Enhanced documentation and research to spotlight the specific needs and challenges of the Sudanese queer community, ensuring our voices are heard and our experiences are not erased rather built upon to support our peers in the Sudanese queer community.
8- All feminist and liberation movements must recognize the Sudanese LGBTQI+ struggles as a priority in their political statements and speeches acknowledging the fundamentality of queer rights through an intersectional lens.
As we stand united, our call is not just for the cessation of violence but for a radical reimagining of Sudanese society. We envision a Sudan where everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or any other identity, can live, not survive. Where everyone will be free from fear and oppression. We demand a society where the principles of feminism, equality, autonomy, and solidarity are ideals and lived realities for all.
United in our resistance against patriarchy, Homophobia, imperialism, and new colonialism, we the queer people of Sudan and our regional allies, stand firm against the machinations of world powers that perpetuate conflict and oppression. Together, we champion a future where peace and sovereignty reign, where the voices of the premeditatedly disadvantaged dictate their destinies, free from the shadows of foreign intervention and the international systems designed to neglect, ignore, and silence us. Our collective efforts transcend borders, challenging and confronting the forces that seek to divide us, from Sudan to Palestine and beyond.
