Silence Speaks uses storytelling, creative arts practices, and participatory media to support the telling and witnessing of stories that all too often remain unspoken and unheard. Our work at the intersection of culture, health, and human rights creates a lasting record of courageously outspoken voices.

India Melisa Flanagan India Melisa Flanagan

Rainbow Dialogues: Elevating the stories of LGBTQIA+ communities in India

In India as in the United States, the current climate surrounding efforts to secure and protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities can be tense. While queerness has gradually become accepted in some parts of the country, it continues to be feared and misunderstood in others, where community members face relentless verbal and physical abuse.

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Melisa Flanagan Melisa Flanagan

Voices to End FGM/C: Enhancing survivor wellbeing, building a movement of advocates

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) continues to impact millions of girls and young women globally. The practice is an age-old cultural tradition shrouded in silence and maintained by adherence to social norms proclaiming its numerous benefits, but the reality is that it exacts a devastating toll on women's physical and emotional health—many survivors suffer from painful sex, chronic UTIs, childbirth complications, and depression.

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Melisa Flanagan Melisa Flanagan

#justB: Stories for education and advocacy to address hepatitis B

To date, more than two billion people worldwide have been infected with hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B Foundation, which works to improve the lives of people living with hepatitis B recognizes that directly engaging community members in speaking out about obstacles to testing, prevention, and care is essential to reducing the stigma associated with the virus, encouraging screening, and improving services.

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