Madagascar: Un·e jeune leader queer transforme l’égalité des genres par l’organisation communautaire et la résistance collective

This story highlights how a young queer leader in Madagascar is transforming equality by building safe spaces, driving collective resistance, expanding community organising and strengthening LGBTQIA+ visibility, dignity and rights. 

Lalaina Sandralimisa is a queer activist and project manager from Madagascar, and co‑founder of Queer Place. Established in 2022, the organisation was created to address the silence, discrimination, and deeply rooted gender inequalities faced by LGBTQIA+ communities. Lalaina’s leadership is grounded in feminist, queer and community‑centred approaches, with a focus on building safe spaces, strengthening collective resilience and ensuring that rights‑based interventions respond directly to lived realities. 

Before Queer Place existed, LGBTQIA+ individuals in Madagascar faced widespread marginalisation. Public policy frameworks rarely acknowledged queer people, leaving them absent from gender equality strategies and national programmes. Violence, harassment and discrimination were widely normalised, and very few safe spaces existed especially for young queer people, trans individuals and those from precarious socio‑economic backgrounds. Fragmented initiatives offered minimal support and lacked community ownership, leading to a landscape where LGBTQIA+ voices were excluded from decision‑making. 

Lalaina chose to intervene by building inclusive, structured and measurable programmes that center dignity and solidarity. Queer Place quickly became a recognised hub for community organising, providing safe physical and virtual spaces where people could access information, emotional support and tools for empowerment. 

The transformation emerged through consistent and intentional community efforts. Key activities included regular gatherings, monthly events, podcasts, and awareness campaigns focusing on gender equality, mental health, prevention of gender‑based violence, and youth empowerment. Queer Place also facilitated workshops on digital security, human rights, positive masculinities and leadership linked to the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 10 and 16. 

The Feon-Queer podcast, supported by The Other Foundation, became a central tool to break silence, share local queer narratives and shift public perceptions. Through stories rooted in lived experience, the podcast nurtures visibility and strengthens collective power. Partnerships with other Marang Fund grantees and local human rights organisations helped expand national and regional advocacy. 

Queer Place also invested in building employment and sexual health support systems for LGBTQIA+ people. Training programmes improved digital literacy, readiness for work, and resilience in contexts where exclusion from formal employment remains widespread. 

Since 2022, Queer Place has supported 300 to 400 people through community activities, workshops, cultural events and safe‑space interventions. More than 60 events have been organised, including the largest indoor Pride gathering in Madagascar, which brought together more than 400 participants. These actions have not yet transformed legislation, but they have created protective environments, reduced isolation and strengthened leadership capacities within queer communities. 

Sustainability is grounded in strong community leadership and structural resilience. Queer Place continues to train community leaders in digital safety, human rights, project management, advocacy and gender equality. Through participatory approaches, community members lead interventions, adapt strategies, and build long‑term ownership. 

The organisation is also strengthening institutional frameworks by developing governance structures, transparent financial systems, and long‑term partnerships with regional and international networks. The documentation of personal testimonies, podcast episodes, and community research contributes to influencing public narratives and supporting advocacy. 

By embedding its work within national and regional networks, Queer Place contributes to the broader SADC Gender Protocol agenda. The combination of community‑driven leadership, diversified funding, digital outreach and intersectional alliances provides a solid foundation for long‑term impact. Ultimately, Lalaina’s leadership shows that equality is built through collective resistance, creativity and the courage to imagine a future where queer identities are protected, valued and celebrated. 

Quotes 

Aina, Avant de rejoindre les activités de Queer Place, je me sentais isolé·e … Aujourd'hui, je me sens plus confiante et soutenue.

Andry, Les espaces sûrs de Queer Place sont l'un des rares endroits où je peux être moi‑même sans peur … Cela a renforcé ma confiance et mon bien‑être.