LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS: Paving the Way for Inclusion in Responsible Mineral Sourcing Discourse

Levin Sources
by Jara Bakx & Lucie Goulet

In the bustling artisanal gold mining sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the daily struggles of individuals like Maya come to light. Maya is an artisanal gold miner. She also happens to be a trans woman working in an industry that is dominated by a patriarchal culture, offering little room for the recognition of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Every day, Maya faces ongoing discrimination, intimidation, and threats to her safety. At the end of a hard day’s work, Maya is denied payment for her contribution in extracting gold. When she raises the issue with her “patron” (boss), she is accused of bringing bad luck to the mine site and being undeserving of an equal earning to her counterparts. Aware of the potential consequences, Maya chooses to let the matter go, knowing that pushing any further might lead to unlawful detention or physical harm.

Maya’s story is not an isolated incident, but a representation of the realities endured by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other (LGBTQIA+) individuals within the mining industry across the world. Experiences such as Maya’s serve as a painful reminder that queer individuals still face significant barriers preventing them from fully enjoying their human rights. This illustrates the need to integrate LGBTQIA+ rights into the responsible sourcing discourse, creating an environment that embraces inclusivity and safeguards the well-being of people irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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