Story Author(s): Gboko Stewart

News Source: JournalRAGE Liberia

Publication/Broadcast Date: October 7th, 2020

Country(ies): Liberia

City(ies): Monrovia

Original Source Link:
https://journalrage.org/army-personnel-uses-god-as-subterfuge-to-brutalize-27-suspected-gay-men/

Story Summary:

This story documents how Cheeseman Cole, an ex member of the Armed Forces of Liberia, used a stolen Facebook account to lure and torture 27 men he suspected were gay, two of which Dominic Renner and Winston Toe, went missing in Liberia on September 24, 2020, and October 4, 2020, respectively.

Topics: Police, Religion, Vigilantism, and Violence

LGBTQI+ Identities: Gay

Journalistic Issues: Journalistic approach is fair, balanced, objective and Language/terminology is accurate/inclusive

Rating: 1

Rating Rationale:

Gboko Stewart at JournalRAGE in Liberia has been providing excellent coverage of Cheeseman Cole and the missing men Dominic Renner and Winston Toe for several months. This is an important story, but hardly any media outlets are covering it, leading to legitimate fears of impunity. See also: Did Ex-Soldier ‘Murder’ Dominic Renner and Winston Toe for Being ‘Gay’? https://journalrage.org/did-ex-soldier-murder-dominic-renner-and-winston-toe-for-being-gay/ and other stories about the case on JournalRAGE.