Producers: Caribbean Equality Project in Association with Akehsam Productions
Writer & Director: Mohamed Q. Amin
Videographer & Editor: Masheka Joseph

"My TRUTH, My STORY" is the Caribbean Equality Project’s multimedia oral history and storytelling campaign series that documents stories of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) immigrants of Caribbean heritage living in New York City. Launched in 2015, the project curates and share experiences of Caribbean LGBTQ+ immigrants, asylum seekers, activists, community organizers, performing artists, and refugees in their own words. The narratives and themes include experiences of escaping oppression rooted in the British colonial-era anti-LGBTQ laws in their country of origin, racism, lack of access to affirming housing, employment & healthcare and navigating cultural barriers on sexuality, gender identity, marriage, and love. The stories reveal struggles with suicide, mental health, sexual violence, the intersection of religion and sexual orientation, and HIV/AIDS represent the driving force behind these storytellers’ pride-filled personal growth and immigration experience.

Coupling inspiring storytelling with invaluable resources, "My TRUTH, My STORY" aims to unveil, liberate and unshackle survivors from a culture of silence and fear by addressing hate violence and discrimination, while providing education and awareness throughout the Caribbean diaspora. The project serves as an indispensable tool to promote healing networks of support for Caribbean LGBTQ individuals struggling with issues inclusive of, but not limited to: coming out, family acceptance, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, physical and mental health challenges, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.

In the current political and social climate around human rights and LGBTQ+ issues in the Caribbean region and the United States, it is vital to provide an authentic platform for immigrants to honor and celebrate their multiple, intersectional identities and share their stories to help educate the public on the complexities impacting LGBTQ+ identifying migrants. This vulnerable population tends to lack significantly supportive and safety networks, and as such, they serve as one of our main focus. We celebrate our campaign participants’ courage, diversity and strength to stand in their own light through their vulnerability. In doing so, they can live their truth fearlessly; with the hope of igniting thought-provoking dialogue on issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community in their country of origin and within the Caribbean diaspora.