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If a tree falls in the forest… posted on April 2, 2010 - 3:37pm
It takes a village… posted on April 1, 2010 - 6:32pm

I don’t usually give shout outs to charitable causes on my blog, but some things are worth mentioning. HT to Chris Blattman.

Stop Costal Erosion! posted on March 31, 2010 - 5:20pm

All over the small beach town of Buchanan, Liberia, there are signs that say “Stop Costal Erosion!”
I saw houses on the brink of being washed away, and others where one big wave had made neighbors into housemates – sharing the cramped housing that remained.
It was entirely unclear to me what was causing the erosion – pollution? climate change? Everyone I talked to agreed that it was a serious issue that needed be addressed by both government and NGOs, but no one could really articulate what needed to be done.

Best. Music. Video. Ever. posted on March 30, 2010 - 2:54pm

Amadou and Miriam – Masiteladi.
HT to Loomie.

Monrovia’s “Skyline” posted on March 29, 2010 - 9:18pm

Though we are entering the fourth month of 2010, I have yet to be in Monrovia, my current home,  for more than three consecutive weeks. I’ve been to Uganda, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast recently, all amazing places, but somehow, the more I leave, the more I realize how the particular brand of crazy that is Liberia is something I want to hold on to.

Double Portraits posted on March 29, 2010 - 8:46pm

Lately, I’ve been more and more interested in portraiture. But, I can never seem to get one photo that I feel captures something about who the subject is. Maybe that’s because I’m not a good enough portrait photographer yet, or maybe it’s because there’s no one person who can be explained in one image.

Photo of the Day: Caterers Camerounais posted on March 11, 2010 - 6:32pm

I know that I’m mixing the French term for “Cameroon” with the English term for “caterer,” but I kind of feel like a mash up is the best way to describe this pleasant country, which I’ve alternatively heard described as either the best of or the worst of a combination of Nigeria and Congo. Either way, these caterers’ ties were definitely one of the best parts of an event I attended the other day.

Pepe’s partner at their home in Kampala
A couple of days ago, Chris Blattman linked to my recent reporting on the gay community and asked, Is Uganda a good place to be gay?
Homophobia is real and widespread. Yet Uganda boasts a vibrant gay rights movement, and nowhere else in Africa have I seen a more open and public debate. Gay men and women tell their stories in the newspapers; protests and legal battles get fair and often favorable coverage in the press. Every single editorial board of every major newspaper is solidly behind the gay rights movement.
The anti-homosexuality bill, simply put, is a backlash.

Gay. And Ugandan. posted on March 8, 2010 - 6:29pm

I ask a lot of people. I ask for their stories, their past and present, their secrets, their fears. Most people give generously of themselves. They offer me a seat or invite me into their homes.
I’m always amazed by how much people share with me when all I’ve done is ask. But when I went to Uganda a month ago, I was especially astounded. At a time when an anti-homosexuality bill threatens to criminalize loving and living, several gay friends nonetheless invited me to their homes and allowed me to take their photos, to write down their names, to risk further exposure. They could have just said no. Many people I asked did. But a few didn’t. And I’m glad for it, and glad to share their stories here.
Read my article in Time, see a story a colleague wrote that uses one of my photos, and see more images on glennagordon.com.

Happy Weekend posted on March 6, 2010 - 8:29pm