Choosing Between an Anti-Black Country and a Homophobic One: Building a Youth Empowerment Center in Ghana

In this deeply personal episode of Rich Queer Aunties, we confront a difficult and often unspoken question: What do you choose when both anti-Blackness and homophobia are constant realities? As queer African women navigating these harsh truths, we share our stories of living between worlds - Christabel a nurse, and writer who immigrated to the U.S. from Ghana, and Kachi, a healer and Nigerian artist.  As two queer women, we’re in Ghana right now, facing the challenges head-on to build a youth empowerment and retreat center that offers safety, skill-building, and community for marginalized people. But it’s not just about us. This is for the youth who dream of a future where they don’t have to flee their homeland for opportunities. We’re here to create spaces for healing, skill-building, and intergenerational wisdom-sharing, even in the face of homophobic laws and cultural stigma. Join us as we discuss: The emotional journey of building in a place that is both home and hostile Leveraging the privileges we have - like American passports and financial security - to uplift others Why we believe mutual aid and community funding are the keys to liberation The healing power of reconnecting to the land and culture while building safe spaces for others But we can’t do it alone. This project is for the community, funded by the community. We’re 13% funded towards our $30,000 goal, and we need your help to keep going. If you’ve been moved by our work, please consider donating. 💛 How to Support Us: Donate to our GoFundMe to help us reach our $30,000 goal: HERE. Become a member of our Patreon community, Oganihu Collective, where we share exclusive content, behind-the-scenes updates, and offer private discussions: HERE Connect with us on Substack for deep dives into topics we discuss on the podcast, updates on the project, and community conversations: HERE. Follow us on Instagram for daily updates, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments from Ghana: @christabelmintahgalloway Every bit of support matters, whether it’s $20 towards buying a bag of cement or simply sharing this episode with someone who cares about community building. Together, we can create a space where marginalized people can thrive, heal, and build a future rooted in empowerment. If this episode resonated with you, please: Rate and review our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Donate to our GoFundMe and help us reach the next milestone. Join our private community on Patreon to deepen your connection with us and support ongoing projects.