2018 Advocate Pepe Onziema spoke at the University of Paris-Nanterre (France) in April at the invitation of ADUH and STOP Homophobie. His talk focused on the criminalization of homosexuality and the legal challenges surrounding the persecution of LGBTQI+ individuals by states. Pepe emphasized the importance of grounding legal advocacy in the lived experiences of queer people on the ground. He underscored that queer communities should be empowered to choose their own legal representation, rather than having lawyers select their clients. This, he noted, is crucial for securing community buy-in and fostering collective action. He referenced the landmark lawsuit filed by SMUG and the Center for Constitutional Rights against Scott Lively, in which the judge found that Lively’s actions in Uganda amounted to crimes against humanity. Pepe also expressed pride in hearing scholars and advocates reference the Strategic Response Team reports—which he coordinates—as valuable tools in advancing LGBTQ+ justice.
