"After the attack, I felt even more strongly how dear D is to me, and how scary the thought that I could lose her. The worst thing that I felt was an absolute inability to protect the one I loved, or even myself," says O, a member of the  lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community in Russia. O's real name must be obscured for her own safety. After being beaten in the streets for displaying affection publicly, girlfriends, D and O, stand photographed in white doing the one thing that almost got them killed: holding hands.

From the lens of award-winning photographer, Robin Hammond, comes a bold new social media campaign aimed at amplifying the voices of LGBTI people living in fear and seeking help in the United States and abroad: Where Love Is Illegal. #WhereLoveIsIllegal documents the lived experiences of LGBTI individuals who have survived hatred, violence, and brutality because of their gender identity and/or sexual orientation through captioned portraits.

 

"I come from a bordertown in Texas where the views and values of same sex couples, for the most part, is still forbidden. I found my soul mate in Austin, Texas and due to coming out, I still get called homophobic slurs from family members and have been casted out.” Steph and her partner are an #interracial #lesbian couple. After backpacking to different countries to get a better understanding of #LGBTQ values and norms, they started a travel blog @lesbinomadic. Read Steph's testimony, 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 and how you can support. #survival #loveislove #instapride Photo by @lesbinomadic This is a @witness_change project developed by @hammond_robin. To see more stories of survival follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal

A photo posted by @whereloveisillegal on

Jul 24, 2015 at 5:14pm PDT

The campaign's images feature LGBTI individuals and their personal testimonies of injustice and discrimination. Spanning the world--from Uganda to Russia--#WhereLoveIsIllegal not only brings awareness to the violent consequences of anti-LGBTI forces, but encourages viewers to donate to grassroots LGBTI organizations in target countries as well. Through a partnership with the Fund for Global Human Rights, #WhereLoveIsIllegal contributions are disseminated to Hope Alive Initiative, helping LGBTI communities in northeastern Nigeria; Kuchu Times, a Ugandan LGBTI publishing house; and PASSOP, supporting LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers who have fled to South Africa.   

#WhereLoveIsIllegal believes, "human rights are universal and that persecution based on sexuality or gender identity must end." The campaign's riveting photos and testimonies can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can find the entire exhibit and donation information here. As stated in their mission, "stories have the ability to connect people, transform opinions, open minds, and change policies." This photojournalism campaign has been picked up by National Geographic and TIME Magazine.

Take a stand against hate and in support of all LGBTI lives. Catch GLAAD's recent interviews with prominent Nigerian LGBTI activists, Olumide Femi Makanjuola and Bisi Alimi, and be sure to check out more #WhereLoveIsIllegal posts below:

 

“Then he said he is going to show me that I am a girl, he pulled out a gun and told me to strip off my clothes.” Amanda (not her real name) is a #lesbian woman from #SouthAfrica. She has survived three #homophobic attacks, including rape. She lives in fear of men and people who persecute her because of her #sexuality: “People say it is wrong to date the same sex, but to God, we are all his people, and I truly know that Jesus loves me.” Read Amanda’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 photo posted by @whereloveisillegal on

Jul 27, 2015 at 4:05pm PDT

 

“This is the tradition. I know he will keep trying and if he doesn’t do it with his own hand one of the family members will… but I was born this way and I will die this way!” Jessie is a young #transgender woman living in a Palestinian refugee camp in #Lebanon. Because of her gender identity, her brother and father have tried to kill her several times. Read Jessie’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 and how you can support. #survival #iamwhoiam #instapride Photo by @Hammond_Robin. This is a @witness_change project. Follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal to see more stories of survival. #caitlynjenner @caitlynjenner #lavernecox @lavernecox #transisbeautiful

A photo posted by @whereloveisillegal on

Jul 16, 2015 at 2:06pm PDT

 

“Here in Turkey it’s safer than Iran. In Iran I was worried each time I was leaving the house because of my appearance.” Arash is a #gay man who fled #Iran after facing #persecution because of his #sexuality. In Iran, he says, he was imprisoned because of his appearance and LGBT #activism. Read Arash’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 and how you can support. #survival #loveislove #instapride Photo by @bsecker This is a @witness_change project. For more stories of survival follow @WhereLoveIsIllegal

A photo posted by @whereloveisillegal on

Jul 21, 2015 at 2:25pm PDT