Los Angeles-based Rainbow Advocacy, producer of the 2025 OUR PRIDE Short Film Festival, has announced the winner of Best Short Film Series: "We're Not Criminals," a trilogy of poetry short films that boldly call for dignity, visibility and equal rights for those pushed to the margins. It is a creation of "Unmute," a spoken word project created by Omary Baajun and filmmaker Brother Zaheed. The project challenges prejudice and celebrates the power of poetry to reclaim identity and belonging. An Official WorldPride 2025 Partner Event, the 2025 OUR PRIDE Short Film Festival was hosted by and in partnership with the Charter for Compassion. Omary Baajun is an award-winning poet, writer, editor, publisher, and ambassador of peace and human rights. The trilogy is rooted in Baajun's work as the founder and executive director of GenDAR Initiative, a grassroots organization based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. GenDAR utilizes arts, education, and research to amplify human rights, particularly for the LGBTIA+ community. The poems in “We’re Not Criminals” directly address the experiences and struggles of the queer community in Tanzania and Africa at large UKIWA / The TragedyA reflection on love, loss and the quiet struggles faced in a society that resists difference -- and justifies hate, selfishness, violence, and silence. HOPEThe poem gives voice to the quiet pain of hiding, the weight of fear, and the grief of love denied. But within that darkness, it also honors strength, love and resistance that continue to grow. A tribute to queer lives across Africa, where being queer often means facing criminalization, violence, and deep social rejection. The poem gives voice to the quiet pain of hiding, the weight of fear, and the grief of love denied. But within that darkness, it also honors the strength, love, and resistance that continue to grow. “HOPE” is a reminder that even where freedom is denied, the human spirit endures—and that hope, however fragile, still exists. ALIVE The poem reclaims voice and identity. It speaks for those buried in silence, erased by family, and judged by society, and executed by the law -- but still standing strong. ALIVE is resistance, truth, and the demand to be seen as fully human. It reminds the world that being a human must not be a crime. A defiant declaration of queer existence in a world that often denies it. Rooted in the harsh realities of rejection, misrepresentation, and spiritual violence, especially within traditional African communities, the poem reclaims voice and identity. It speaks for those buried in silence, erased by family, and judged by society, and executed by the law—but still standing. “ALIVE” is not just survival; it is resistance, truth, and the demand to be seen as fully human. It reminds the world that being a human must not be a crime. Omary Baajun is a multi-award-winning poet, writer, editor, storyteller, researcher, curator, environmentalist, and certified ambassador for peace and human rights. He proudly identifies as non-binary and queer. His involvement in diplomacy includes serving as a Young African Diplomat and a member of the U.S. Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), as well as participating in other notable programs such as Tanzania International Model United Nations (TIMUN), Business Scouts for Development, and The Dream Academy. These efforts earned him the WLFPH International Ambassador of Peace Award, conferred by the World Literary Forum for Peace and Human Rights in 2022 (South Asia), and the WAOW Global Humanitarian Award in 2023 (India). In the artistic realm, Baajun is known for his dynamic poetry performances, theatre work, and his band. He also curates youth art programs and has been involved in projects such as Kwetu ni Kwetu, City Pride, Unmute, The Pitching Lab, among others. A significant aspect of his work is advocacy and activism — he uses his platform to champion human rights, peace, and justice. Baajun is the founder of GenDar Hub Tanzania, a creative space in Dar es Salaam that utilizes arts, education, and research to promote gender equality, inclusion, and human rights. He is also the CEO of Kwetu Publishers, a small publishing firm dedicated to empowering marginalized voices. Additionally, he serves as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Tanzania Writers Association, Chairman of the Queer Creatives Tanzania Network, and Country Ambassador for both the World Association of Women Warriors and Our Pride Tanzania. Selected Awards and Honors: • Honorary Award for Swahili Literature • AWT Creative Luminary of the Year 2025 (Nigeria) • TAMEYA Special Ability Award 2024 (Tanzania) • UNI Awards: Best Performance Poet & Author 2023 (Tanzania) • AfriCAN Honoree Authors’ Award 2023 (South Africa) • Kwanzaa Award 2022 (USA) • Mulher Forte African Literature Award 2022 (Botswana) “For decades, our stories, creativity, innovations, music, literature, and art have been denied the chance to be showcased and celebrated in art spaces, cultural centers, and innovation hubs across Tanzania. This is why we are raising funds to create our own space — a place where we belong. A place where LGBTQ people can thrive as artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. A space where our ideas are welcomed, our talents are celebrated, and our community can build a future on our own terms. With your support, through this hub, we will create opportunities to generate income, create jobs, and empower each other through our work.”- Omary Baajun This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ourpride.substack.com
