By Gracie Lunah Steph for Kuchu Times

In a world that too often erases disabled and queer lives, July’s Disability Pride Month offers a rare moment to claim space and demand visibility. For many queer disabled people, especially in Uganda, pride is not a parade; it is a risk, a hope, a survival strategy.

This year, the Diverse Empowerment Foundation (DEF) launched “Pride in Every Identity,” a global campaign centering disabled queer voices often ignored in both queer and disability movements. Through storytelling, community dialogue, and global solidarity, the campaign offers a message that cannot be ignored: We exist, we matter, we are proud.

What Is “Pride In Every Identity”?

“Pride in Every Identity” is more than a hashtag; it is a living archive of disabled queer resistance, creativity, and joy. Organized by  Diverse Empowerment Foundation (DEF), a grassroots queer, feminist, disability justice organization led by diverse persons with and without disabilities in Uganda, the campaign brings together over 70 global partners to amplify voices often pushed to the margins. DEF works at the intersections of gender, disability, and sexuality to dismantle systemic barriers and build joyful, inclusive futures.

Our core programs include inclusive advocacy, accessible research, feminist healing, skills training, and creative storytelling. Our team includes queer disabled persons, trauma survivors, caregivers, youth leaders,and activists in exile. We understand what erasure feels like, and we are building something different.

What We Created

Throughout July, we shared a series of multilingual, accessible materials designed to reflect our community’s brilliance and diversity:

• Quote cards and visual storytelling, featuring activists and artists across regions.
• Digital workshops and webinars on accessible feminist joy, inclusive language, and digital accessibility.
• An intersectional campaign toolkit grounded in CRPD principles and feminist accessibility.
• A geoportal, an interactive map mapping global events and organizationscelebrating Disability Pride, currently in progress.

These weren’t just materials; they were declarations. Each post, conversation, and collaboration reminded the world that disabled queer people are not an afterthought; we are the center of this story.

Why This Campaign Matters in Uganda

In Uganda, the intersection of queerness and disability carries particular weight. The Anti-Homosexuality Act has intensified the criminalization of queer lives, while ableist systems continue to deny disabled people access to housing, healthcare, education, and safety.

For queer disabled Ugandans, this double exclusion often means:

• Being denied access to disability services because of gender identity or sexuality.
• Facing medical neglect and dehumanizing treatment in both state and private institutions.
• Navigating inaccessible shelters or refugee services with no protection from homophobic violence.
• Experiencing silencing, isolation, and lack of representation in both queer and disability spaces.

“Pride in Every Identity” creates space to say, “You are not alone.” One Ugandan participant shared anonymously:

“This campaign made me feel like someone remembered us. Not just the ones who can speak out loud, but those of us who live quietly, with pain and fear, but still with hope.”

Why Kuchu Times’ Coverage Matters

Kuchu Times has always been a home for queer truth-telling in Uganda. By covering this campaign, you are shining a light on a community that is often hidden, but never silent. You are helping preserve a story that mainstream media continues to ignore: that queer disabled people are here, are organizing, and are shaping the future.

This coverage does more than inform; it protects, connects, and affirms. For that, we are deeply grateful.

How You Can Support

Here’s how readers can engage with the campaign:

• Visit our Instagram [@diverseempower] and Twitter [@diverseempower2] to sharequote cards and stories.
• Use the hashtag #PrideInEveryIdentity to uplift disabled queer narratives.
• Invite DEF to speak at your organization or collaborate on joint projects.
• Contribute resources to sustain our accessibility and safety efforts, especially for activists in exile.