Robin Hammond/Panos Pictures

24 year old, lesbian woman Soly, an activist with Tunisian non-governmental women's rights and LGBTQI+ organisation 'Mawjoudui' (We Exist). Like many LGBTQI+ people in Tunisia, coming out is a scary process where reactions are unpredictable. Soly thought, of anyone, her closest friend would offer support. She was wrong. Her friend rejected her and ended their friendship with an SMS: 'She is not honoured to have a friend like me', Soly recalled. She was distraught: 'One night, my over thinking went too much, and I just decided to end it. I took lots of pills, hoping whatever this was, will end. I didn't want to be rejected again, or judged one more time. But I didn't die, I didn't take enough pills, and I'm thankful for that.''

Many from the LGBTQI+ community hoped the Tunisian Revolution (Jasmine Revolution) would usher in a more open society, and an end to homophobia and transphobia. This has not come to pass. The laws that target LGBTQI+ people remain, most notably article 230 which makes same-sex acts illegal, punishable by up the 3 years in prison. Transgender people are targeted under public decency laws. The general public is no more accepting of LGBTQI+ people than they were before the revolution. Despite the legal and societal discrimination, activists are dedicated to campaigning more openly.