At 23, trans woman Awo Dufie is outed, homeless, and facing a prophecy that says she will die at 30 — because she is queer. This threat is reinforced by Ghana's social climate and a looming anti-LGBT bill. Determined to break free from the prophecy, Awo embarks on a risky journey to find an 83-year-old queer elder who didn't just survive decades of hatred and colonial laws — she built a rich life. Can Awo too live long and live free? This is the first episode of a series on queer elders, produced by openDemocracy.

Show Notes 

Sign up for Radio Workshop’s newsletter on Substack, and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Sources: 

• Human Rights Watch - This Alien Legacy
• Human Dignity Trust, Ghana
• Modern Ghana - The Bawku Chieftaincy Conflict Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of The 1992 Constitution
• Amnesty International - Ghana: Anti-LGBTI bill stirs up hatred, persecution and discrimination
• Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act 2024, Ghana
• Purdue University - Social Media and Human Rights Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Rights in Ghana

Acknowledgements:

Fondation CHANEL, Luminate, Ford Foundation, and Stephen Hendrickson. Special thanks to Rob Byers.

Support the show

We can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.