The Initiative For Equal Rights

Not to be confused with GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders.
TIERs
Founded2005; 20 years ago (2005)
TypeNon-profit
FocusDiscrimination and marginalization of sexual minorities
HeadquartersLagos, Nigeria
Location
Area served
Nigeria
MethodDocumentation and Monitoring, Legal Representation, Advocacy and Security Protection, and Storytelling
Employees6-25
Websitetheinitiativeforequalrights.org

The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) is a Nigeria-based registered non-for-profit organisation which advocates for LGBT rights in Nigeria.[1]

TIERs provides support and resources for the LGBTQ+ community,[2] including conducting educational programs, workshops, and seminars related to LGBTQ+ advocacy.[3][4]

The organization conducts research on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, producing reports and polls on issues regarding LGBT rights and public opinion.[5][6] It has also documented and reported human rights abuses in Nigeria.[7]

History

The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) was founded in 2005 as a response to the discrimination and marginalisation of sexual minorities in both HIV prevention programming, human rights protection, advocacy, and mainstream human rights work.[8] It is based in Lagos.[9]

Programs

TIERs has partnered with Nollywood to produce films which represent queer characters and experiences in a positive light, as most Nigerian films portray negative stereotypes of queer character.[10] In 2016, the organization released Hell or High Water,[11] a short film which deals with societal expectations regarding sexuality in Nigeria.[12] It sponsored the 2018 film We Don't Live Here Anymore.[13]

TIERs has released 10 publications on issues concerning human rights, sexuality and gender orientation, violence, social rights and cultural relativism.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Makanjuola, Olumide; Folayan, Morenike Oluwatoyin; Oginni, Olakunle A. (2018-10-02). "On being gay in Nigeria: Discrimination, mental health distress, and coping". Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health. 22 (4): 372–384. doi:10.1080/19359705.2018.1482809. ISSN 1935-9705. S2CID 149625171.
  2. ^ Ezeamalu, Ben (August 5, 2017). "Group demands release of men charged with alleged homosexuality". Premium Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)". Devex. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  4. ^ Ejikeme, Anene (2021), Yacob-Haliso, Olajumoke; Falola, Toyin (eds.), "LGBTI+ Organizations in West Africa and North Africa: Fighting for Equal Rights", The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1437–1452, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-28099-4_18, ISBN 978-3-030-28099-4, retrieved 2023-12-21
  5. ^ "TIERs' 2019 Social Perception Survey of LGBT Persons in Nigeria". African Liberty. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  6. ^ Jjuuko, Adrian; Gloppen, Siri; Msosa, Alan; Viljoen, Frans (2022-11-21). Queer lawfare in Africa: Legal strategies in contexts of LGBTIQ+ criminalisation and politicisation. Pretoria University Law Press. p. 220.
  7. ^ Ashiru, Abiodun Muideen (2022), "Recognition of the Rights of the Sexual Minorities in Nigeria: Interrogating the Laws Towards Developing a Paradigm Shift", Global Perspectives on the LGBT Community and Non-Discrimination, IGI Global, pp. 184–209, ISBN 978-1-6684-2428-5, retrieved 2023-12-21
  8. ^ "TIERS - The Initiative for Equal Rights". ORAM Refugee. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  9. ^ Sogunro, Ayodele (2018). "Citizenship in the Shadows: Insights on Queer Advocacy in Nigeria". College Literature. 45 (4): 632–640. doi:10.1353/lit.2018.0037. ISSN 1542-4286. S2CID 149898115.
  10. ^ Green-Simms, Lindsey (2021-01-02). "Walking with Shadows : Jude Dibia and Olumide Makanjuola in Conversation with Lindsey Green-Simms". Journal of African Cultural Studies. 33 (1): 101–108. doi:10.1080/13696815.2020.1816932. S2CID 229182388.
  11. ^ Communication (2016-03-22). "TIERs and Asurf Films release trailer for LGBT-themed film 'Hell or High Water'". RED | For Africa. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  12. ^ "Watch the trailer for the Nigerian LGBT-themed film 'Hell or High Water'". GLAAD. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  13. ^ "Tope Oshin's 'We Don't Live Here Anymore' Rattles Nollywood". This Day. October 27, 2018. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)". Africa Portal. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2024.