Queer resistance: Online gender-based violence against LGBTQIA+ Ethiopians
This research weaves together the experience of LGBTQIA+ communities in Ethiopia – how they are impacted by online gender-based violence, yet continue to exist and build community with creativity, resistance and strength.
Despite the growing global recognition of online gender-based violence (OGBV) against LGBTQIA+ individuals as a human rights concern, there remains a notable gap in research documenting its impacts. Even less attention is given to the ways LGBTQIA+ individuals resist, find solidarity and express joy in living their truths online. Understanding the impact of OGBV against LGBTQIA+ individuals and their means of resistance from a feminist lens is essential to crafting inclusive digital safety policies and advocacy strategies.
Hence, this research aims to fill these research gaps by discussing the impacts of OGBV against LGBTQIA+ individuals and their means of resistance. By incorporating intersectional analysis, examining the coping mechanisms and means of resilience, the research hopes to contribute to a safer and more inclusive online environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The research investigates how OGBV affects LGBTQIA+ individuals in Ethiopia and the coping mechanisms they use to resist and navigate these challenges. The researchers sought to understand how LGBTQIA+ individuals are affected by OGBV and what their resistance looks like.
Methodology
Data for this case study research was gathered from a diverse group of study participants, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community both in-country and in-exile, and feminist activists. In total, 58 in-depth interviews were conducted – 50 with LGBTQIA+ individuals and eight with feminist advocates. This enables a wide range of personal experiences and perspectives.
Additionally, the researchers analysed over 100 TikTok posts, a platform where anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigns are widely circulated. Their analysis was guided by their research questions, the themes emerged directly from the data and an intersectional feminist theoretical framework.
Intersectional feminist theory was used to bring out the layers of identities that play a role in making each LGBTQIA+ community’s experience unique and distinctive to comprehend the complexity of gender-based violence among LGBTQIA+ individuals. LGBTQIA+ individuals in Ethiopia have several identities that make their lived experiences unique to their stories i.e. urban-rural divide, ethnic identity, religion and disability.
Key findings
- The findings indicate the evolution of OGBV against LGBTQIA+ individuals intensified with the growth of social media platforms and extended over time from old to new platforms. Participants reported multiple forms of OGBV, including hate speech, cyberbullying, threats and catfishing. One of the most common is outing and doxxing, where names, photos and contact information of individuals presumed to be LGBTQIA+ are shared on social media.
- OGBV against LGBTQIA+ individuals are perpetrated by members of religious leaders across various faiths, celebrities, TikTok influencers and anti-LGBTQIA+ groups. Religious leaders do not only preach against LGBTQIA+ rights but also invoke religious doctrine to justify and legitimise violence. For celebrities and influencers, they exploit anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments to increase their views, earnings and followers. In some cases, they join these hate campaigns to preserve or enhance their public image, especially when facing societal pressure or threats.
- The impact of digital violence on Ethiopian LGBTQIA+ social media users is profound, leading to silencing, severe emotional, psychological and social consequences. Many participants expressed feelings of fear, depression, isolation and self-doubt. The fear of being publicly outed and targeted online has caused some to withdraw from both social and family life, while others expressed deep mistrust in society and their communities. Some of the participants reported that they experienced identity crises and even contemplated self-harm or suicide. This environment of hate has profoundly affected their sense of safety and connection.
- Many participants emphasised that internalised homophobia is a critical intersection in experiencing OGBV within LGBTQIA+ communities. They noted that those who have not accepted themselves often become easy targets, as their internal struggles make them more vulnerable to external violence and discrimination. Guilt, shame and lack of self-acceptance can also shape how digital violence is processed.
- The tension between traditional definitions of femininity and masculinity complicates identity formation and acceptance, contributing to unique experiences based on gender expression. Many participants reported that feminine-presenting men and masculine-presenting women are particularly vulnerable to physical attacks due to online stereotyping. Individuals who deviate from conventional gender norms, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, are at a bigger risk of being targeted.
- The feminist advocates in Ethiopia are facing societal resistance and online backlash for allegedly being LGBTQIA+ rights advocates. Some are threatened not only for being allies but also suspected as LGBTQIA+ individuals. These issues have left feminist activists in fear and silenced their online advocacy efforts.
- LGBTQIA+ individuals are coping and resisting through friendships, allyship, romantic relationships, collective advocacy and faith. Despite the hostility of social media spaces, queer people have created online communities where they share resources and support one another. They also maintain connections through dating apps and rely on friends and family for additional support. Even as religious institutions continue to issue threats against the community, LGBTQIA+ Ethiopians are finding ways to reconcile their faith with their sexuality. These acts of connection and support stand as powerful testimonies to the resilience and defiance of LGBTQIA+ Ethiopians in the face of persistent hostility.