22 October 2019

International Coming Out Day Event

Michel Togué: “I’m really happy you are here to celebrate Coming Out Day. Meanwhile in Cameroon our LGBT+ people are still in the closet, because the law doesn’t allow them to be who they are.”

Photo’s by: Stichting FORWARD

On 11 October, to mark International Coming Out Day Lawyers for Lawyers and Stichting Forward organized a special event with guest speakers lawyer Michel Togué and politician Boris Dittrich. The event took place at the the auditorium of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. At this inspiring event both Michel and Boris talked about their work, experiences and challenges in the defence of LGBT+-rights.

Corporate Queer kicked off evening with the launch of their new poster campaign. After, Boris Dittrich shared his story about the challenges he faced coming out in the corporate sphere and his work defending LGBT+ rights across the world – for example his engagement in the support of LGBT+ groups in Cameroon in addressing the criminalisation of homosexuality.

Human rights lawyer from Cameroon Michel Togué closed off the evening with a presentation on his work representing clients persecuted for their LGBT+ identity. In a country where homosexuality is still criminalized and homophobia is pervasive, defending these clients involves big personal risks. Michel Togué is one of the few lawyers in Cameroon courageous enough to take up their cases. For his courageous work, even in the face of intimidation and death threats against him and his loved ones, Michel received the Dutch Geuzenpenning in 2017.

Michel Togué: “You should not discriminate. You are a lawyer and you are doing your job by defending people.”

Lawyers for Lawyers warmly looks back upon this inspiring evening and thanks Stichting Forward for the wonderful collaboration.

Pictures of the event: