Fifty Years After Stonewall: I'm Proud to Stand with Pride Leaders Around the World
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the historic Stonewall uprising in New York City—an event that ignited the modern gay rights movement. In honor of that powerful, life-changing legacy, I am reflecting on the grit and courage of LGBTQI leaders I have met around the world who are achieving historic victories large and small today with the help of American Jewish World Service.
I want to introduce you to three of them, on three continents.
Esther “Essy” Adhiambo, a lesbian who grew up as a herder in rural Kenya, has a no-nonsense way of confronting power.
Moving to Mombasa, on the Indian Ocean, Essy was horrified to see men who beat up people because they are gay, lesbian or trans, and she decided to defend the rights of gender and sexual minorities. She worked with religious leaders and police, training them to respect LGBTQI people.
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