In December 2008, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), today known as OutRight International, and Gender DynamiX (GDX) hosted the historical Eastern and Southern African Trans/Gender Identity Institute. 16 Trans and intersex activists from 9 African countries attended the meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. This was the first ever trans and intersex regional meeting. For many activists, it was the first time they met other trans and intersex people.

During this meeting, Gabrielle Le Roux collaborated with the individual activists, drawing portraits of 8 sub-Saharan African trans and intersex activists. Each person wrote a personal message of activism on their portrait. This activism-art work later travelled the world to raise awareness about trans and intersex issues. 

Image credit: Gabrielle Le Roux in collaboration with Victor Mukasa, from the series Proudly African & Transgender (2008). Drawings (dry pastel, charcoal, wax and ink on paper) 75cm x 103cm. © 2008 by Gabrielle Le Roux. Permission to reprint may be obtained only from the artist. This work is featured on the Summer 2017 issue of Signs. in Signs Journal
Gabrielle Le Roux