WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
STAG Initiative is a womxn-led, feminist organization that stands at the intersection of advocacy, empowerment, and justice for womxn, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals in Nigeria.
We were born out of a deep, collective frustration with the violent discrimination our community faces daily. Founded in March 2022 with roots as far back as 2018/2019, we are a movement for change, committed to creating a society where every person, regardless of their gender identity, can live with dignity, safety, and full human rights.
We are here to ensure that no one is left behind. In a world that seeks to erase us, we refuse to be invisible.
What We Do – We’ve Got Skills
Our work is grounded in advocacy, education, and empowerment. Every project we undertake is designed to amplify the voices of underserved people, especially womxn, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people and to challenge the systems that seek to oppress us.
Here’s how we make a difference:
- Advocacy: We push for policy changes that protect the rights of womxn, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people, ensuring their voices are heard at both national and international levels.
- Leadership Development: We empower our community to become leaders in their own right, creating a new generation of advocates and changemakers.
- Health Equity:We work to ensure access to safe and comprehensive healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), mental health services, and HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
- Climate Justice: We advocate for climate resilience strategies that include the unique needs of marginalized gender identities. Saving the planet while being fabulous? Yes, please!
- Digital Inclusivity: In a world driven by technology, we aim to bridge the digital divide for marginalized gender identities, ensuring equitable and secure access to the internet, tech education, and digital literacy.
- Empowerment: From skill-building workshops to community support networks, we equip our members with the tools to thrive, not just survive, or exist.
- Inclusive STEM Education: We promote access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields for womxn, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people, breaking down barriers to education and career opportunities.
- Sports: Because who says you can’t be athletic and amazing while also challenging gender norms? We promote the inclusion of womxn, gender non-conforming, and trans individuals in all sporting activities.
Our Feminist Philosophy –
You’d Like Them, and Join Us (and maybe even raise a glass)
At STAG Initiative, feminism is the foundation of everything we do. We operate under the belief that the liberation of everyone is inseparable from the fight for justice. Our feminist approach is intersectional, centering those who experience multiple layers of oppression. We recognize that race, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation all intersect to shape a person’s lived experience, and we fight for justice across all these dimensions.
- Bodily Autonomy: We defend the right of every person to make decisions about their body, including access to comprehensive healthcare, hormone therapy, and SRHR services.
- Horizontal Leadership: We embrace a flat leadership structure, meaning that decision-making power is shared, and the voices of womxn, trans, intersex, and non-binary people are uplifted and respected. Flat leadership = no hierarchies and definitely no awkward meetings! Who wants that?
- Self-Care and Collective Care: Feminism is our advocacy, and for us, it is about care and well-being. We emphasize the importance of mental, emotional, and physical health within our organization and community. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so we make sure everyone gets a refill, as much as we can.
Core Values –
This Matters to Us, It’s Like Our Coffee (And We Love Coffee)
Our core values are what keep us going every day, just like a good cup of coffee or the perfect playlist on a road trip.
Here’s what we stand by:
- Individuality: Every person’s journey and identity are unique. We celebrate and respect the individuality of every member of our community. You do you, and we’re here for it.
- Feminist Leadership: We are 100% womxn and feminist-led, championing the leadership and inclusion of womxn, trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people in all areas of our work. We lift as we climb—no one gets left behind.
- Bodily Autonomy: Everyone has the right to control their own body and make informed decisions about their health. Your body, your choice, your rules.
- Inclusivity: We create spaces where everyone—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic status—can feel safe, heard, and respected. Everyone gets a seat at our table. No exceptions.
- Collaboration: We work with national and international organizations that share our commitment to human rights, health equity, and reproductive justice. When we team up, amazing things happen.
- Data-Driven Advocacy: We believe in the power of data to drive policy change and inform our advocacy efforts, ensuring that our work is rooted in real-world needs and evidence. Numbers don’t lie, and we’ve got the stats to back it up.
Footnote:
We use “womxn” to emphasize inclusivity and challenge traditional gender norms. By swapping the “a” in “woman” for an “x,” we broaden the term to include all those who identify with womanhood, including non-binary people, and anyone who doesn’t fit into the conventional understanding of “woman.” It’s a way of recognizing that gender is complex and diverse, and the language we use should reflect that.
“Womxn” also helps us break down barriers, ensuring that our feminism is inclusive, and that no one—whether trans, cisgender, or non-binary—feels left out of the conversation. It’s about making space for everyone.