Being a Cree woman in a society that violently rejects it is empowering, not weakening. It makes us fight harder and louder to make a mark in our world to show everyone else that we're present and we matter. Esra'a Al-Shafei More Quotes by Esra'a Al-Shafei More Quotes From Esra'a Al-Shafei A lot of the time, the Middle East is seen as just a backwards place where gay people get killed and where we have no aspirations, there is no hope and there's no optimism. But that's why I'm still here. I mean, I could be just going to Canada and get asylum and just be done with it - right? - and live a really open life. But that's not what I want to do. You know? I want to stay here, and I want to fight for my people. I want to build the society where it's OK for someone like me to speak up and not have to worry about dying. Esra'a Al-Shafei gayfightingmean Gay pride is not going to change anybody's mind. It's not going to create a discussion. It's really sometimes even considered provocative where people say you're pushing it, you know, onto our faces. Esra'a Al-Shafei gaypridepeople I have absolutely nothing against gay parades, but I just want to have a different conversation that actually involves the people who are likely to harm us, you know? And I want them to know what we're going through. Esra'a Al-Shafei gaydifferentpeople I'm tired of living in the shadows of what my society and even the world expects of me. Esra'a Al-Shafei tiredshadowworld I don't owe anyone an apology for who I am, for who I love and what I believe. Esra'a Al-Shafei apologywho-i-ambelieve Living in Bahrain, there is no distraction. The injustices surround you, and you can choose to ignore it. But it's going to haunt you. Esra'a Al-Shafei bahraininjusticedistraction
