You may recall a distressing chain of events from 4 months ago in which a British lesbian, Christina Fonthes, was held captive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by her mother on account of her sexuality.
Christina is an organiser of Rainbow Noir, a group of queer people of colour in Manchester, and was held against her will whilst on holiday with her family in the DRC in order that she be “cured of her sexuality”.
What followed was a social media and lobbying campaign across multi-platforms to support Christina and ensure her return from an unthinkably bleak set of circumstances.
Now, 123 days since her return from the Congo, Christina has made a statement on her experience, the trauma of the situation, and her journey back to normality.
She writes: “Now, after much soul-searching, talk therapy, meditation, CBT and sweet, sweet sleep, I am slowly emerging from my hiding place.
“What happened was a tragedy, life-shattering trauma. Yes, I saw the ugliness of human nature; I experienced hate so deep it pierced through my heart and echoed through my bones, resonating within every inch of me. But, I am learning, slowly, that it is only after much suffering, much heartache that we find strength, and growth to bring about change.”
She thanks the LGBTQ, Black Feminist and online community for their support during the most distressing of times, and takes strength from the scars this has interred on her.
She closes: “as I am now forced to join the clan of rejected children, I leave you with these words:
‘To all of the oppressed, the Blacks, the women, the LGBT and QTPOC youths, the young mothers, the minimum wagers and dole-receivers, the runaway brides, the non-conformers, the non able-bodied; keep fighting, keep living and never, ever stop loving.”
In her strength and resilience, Christina is an inspiration. Find out more @CongoMuse.
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