Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, applies makeup before attening the funeral of her grandmother in her family's village, in Lume Atsyame, Volta Region-Ghana, December 18, 2021. "There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much," said Fiatsi. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, holds up a gown at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana. December 22, 2021. "To say I'm afraid is an understatement, but I am what I am," said Fiatsi "It feels like waiting to be slaughtered,". REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, holds two photographs showing her gender transition journey, at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "To say I'm afraid is an understatement, but I am what I am," said Fiatsi "It feels like waiting to be slaughtered,". REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, meets with Richmond Anokye, 22, a member of the LGBTQ+ community at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Artwork is seen on a compound belonging to Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 23, 2021. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, works inside her office as her studio assistant, Martin Toloku, 29, and brother, Wonder Fiatsi, prepare lunch in the next room, at their home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 23, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist visits local beautician, Lydia Kissiwaa, 33, to get her hair styled, in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

A portrait of Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, is displayed on a wall inside her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 23, 2021. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, and her brother, Prince Fiatsi, 47, greet members of the community as they arrive at their family's village to attend the funeral of a their grandmother, in Lume Atsyame, Volta Region-Ghana, December 18, 2021. "There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much," said Fiatsi. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, talks with family members during the first visit back to her family's village in twenty years, in Lume Atsyame, Volta Region-Ghana, December 18, 2021. "There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much," said Fiatsi. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, meets with Richmond Anokye, 22, a member of the LGBTQ+ community at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, (C) a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, talks with family members during the first visit back to her family's village in twenty years in Lume Atsyame, Volta Region-Ghana, December 18, 2021. "There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much," said Fiatsi. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, stands inside her wardrobe at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. I call it the 'Anti-Human' bill," said Fiatsi, who is a former Christian pastor. "It takes away from our family values of being a tolerant country, and being hospitable and loving." No longer welcome at the churches where she used to preach, Fiatsi channels her evangelism into art and activism. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, speaks on the phone with a member of the LGBTQ+ community at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. I call it the 'Anti-Human' bill," said Fiatsi, who is a former Christian pastor. "It takes away from our family values of being a tolerant country, and being hospitable and loving." No longer welcome at the churches where she used to preach, Fiatsi channels her evangelism into art and activism. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, records herself on her phone as part of her art-practice, as she applies makeup at her home in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, applies makeup in the mirror at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I'm gone," she said. "What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It's for the future generation." REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist poses for a photograph while reflecting on personal relationships at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. "There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much," said Fiatsi. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, performs a daily cleansing ritual at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. I call it the 'Anti-Human' bill," said Fiatsi, who is a former Christian pastor. "It takes away from our family values of being a tolerant country, and being hospitable and loving." No longer welcome at the churches where she used to preach, Fiatsi channels her evangelism into art and activism. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES 

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, 40, a trans woman who is an artist and LGBT+ activist, looks in a mirror while getting ready, at her home and studio in Oduom, Ashanti Region-Ghana, December 22, 2021. I call it the 'Anti-Human' bill," said Fiatsi, who is a former Christian pastor. "It takes away from our family values of being a tolerant country, and being hospitable and loving." No longer welcome at the churches where she used to preach, Fiatsi channels her evangelism into art and activism. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko SEARCH "KOKOROKO GHANA LGBT" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES