Cuando mi madre descubrió mi relación con otra mujer, ella tenía cancer, y el mundo se vino sobre mi. Me sentía responsable de su infelicidad, me sentía su mayor decepción. Empezó a usar un lenguaje ofensivo conmigo, rechazandome a mi y a mi relación. Cada día era una lucha, una pelea continua, a veces acompañados de bofetadas y debates muy intensos. Este año, depsués de dos años viviendo con mi novia, mi madre vino por primera vez a la casa que comparto con el amor de mi vida. Todavía rechaza conocer a Ilenia pero bueno, tienes que hacer lo que tienes que hacer. Las cosas pueden cambiar, sólo hay que ser paciente.

"When my mother found out about my relationship with a woman, she was suffering from cancer and the world fell on me. I felt responsible for her unhappiness, I felt her biggest disappointment. Right now she began using an offensive language to contact me, refusing to accept me and my relationship. Every day was a struggle, a continuous fight, sometimes accompanied by slaps and very heated debates.” Lorenza is a lesbian from Italy. “This year, after two years living with my girlfriend, my mother came for the first time in the house that I share with the love of my life. She still refuses to meet Ilenia, but you know, you need to make do with what you have. Things can change, just be patient.” Lorenza’s story was shared for the #WhereLoveIsIllegal campaign, a platform for #LGBT stories of survival. You can read her full testimony at the link in our profile. At the link you can also see how to share your own experience of #discrimination and #survival and how you can support. Photo by @serenacevenini. #loveislove This is a @witness_change project developed by @Hammond_Robin. For more stories of survival follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal

A post shared by Where Love Is Illegal (@whereloveisillegal) on Sep 12, 2015 at 3:40pm PDT

Este, el de Lorenza,  es sólo uno de los testimonios que la iniciativa Where love is ilegal está mostrando al mundo. Esta cuenta de Instagram se ha propuesto mostrar al mundo las historias de personas LGBT que todavía en sus países o en el seno de sus familias tiene que sufrir y padecer sólo por el hecho de no ser heterosexuales.

"I have been battling my father's homophobia all my life. I would say it stemmed from his Christian (Catholic) values. Thus, he would tell me being gay is sinful and dirty. I thought I would allow him the chance to accept my life by attending our wedding – he declined, he chose not to be there or walk me down the aisle. To this day, I haven't gotten a congratulations or acknowledgement that I am a happily married woman." Dinah (@GETLOSTWITHLESBIANS) is a lesbian from #USA. Dinah's story was shared for the #WhereLoveIsIllegal campaign, a platform for #LGBT stories of survival. You can read the full testimony at the link in our profile. At the link you can also see how to share your own experience of #discrimination and #survival and how you can support. Photo provided by Dinah & her wife Malila. #loveislove This is a @witness_change project developed by @Hammond_Robin. For more stories of survival follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal

A post shared by Where Love Is Illegal (@whereloveisillegal) on Sep 3, 2015 at 2:39pm PDT

He estado toda la vida combatiendo la homofobia de mi padre. Diría que emana de sus valores cristianos. Ha llegado a decirme que ser gay es pecado y sucio. Creí que invitándolo a mi boda podría aceptar mi vida, pero declinó la invitación, eligió no estar ahí y llevarme al altar. Hasta el día de hoy, todavía no he tenido felicitaciones o el reconocimiento de que soy una mujer felizmente casada.

Hay casos que verdaderamente te encogen el estómago, como el de Ntombozuko, que ha sido atacado dos veces por ser lesbiana, la segunda incluso fue apuñalada.

On this Valentines Day, while we celebrate love all over the world, lets spare a thought for those who are persecuted for who they are, and who they love. "here's these bitches trying to steal our girls" the men yelled before they attacked Ntombozuko. Twice she has survived homophobic attacks, the second time she was stabbed. “That was the worst day of my life even now I’m not filling safe when I walk in the street.” Read Olwetu and Ntombozuko’s story shared for the #WhereLoveIsIllegal campaign, a platform for #LGBT stories of survival, at the link in our profile. At the link you can also see how to share your own experience of #discrimination and #survival and how you can support. #loveislove #instapride Photo by @Hammond_Robin. This is a @witness_change project. For more stories of survival follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal

A post shared by Where Love Is Illegal (@whereloveisillegal) on Feb 14, 2016 at 7:35am PST

O el de CJ, que fue violada para intentar “curarla” de su lesbianismo.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Violence. "I remember being in and out of consciousness, and the men taking turns having sex with me.” CJ (@creestahj) is a #lesbian from the #UnitedStates who was raped in an attempt to "cure" her of her sexuality. "At first, I thought that I was having a vivid nightmare. I remember one of the guys talking to me, while he was raping me. He was telling me that I would thank them for this, later. That this would "save me" and prevent me from going to Hell. He complimented how "tight" I was, and said that he would not let me waste myself and burn, eternally, for lusting after women… I know it was not my fault; I could not have prevented it, but I am still ashamed." CJ’s story was shared for the #WhereLoveIsIllegal campaign, a platform for #LGBT stories of survival. You can read the full testimony at the link in our profile. At the link you can also see how to share your own experience of #discrimination and #survival and how you can support. Photo provided by CJ #loveislove #instapride This is a @witness_change project developed by @Hammond_Robin. For more stories of survival follow @whereloveisillegal

A post shared by Where Love Is Illegal (@whereloveisillegal) on Aug 31, 2015 at 2:48pm PDT

Cada fotografía esconde detrás una historia triste, pero esperanzadora a la vez. La historia de que, pese a que las circunstancias no pueden ser más adversas, o incluso más violentas, una puede sobreponerse y seguir adelante, ayudando a otros con su testimonio. Una cuenta de Instagram (y una web) que debes seguir.