Mozambique, Africa

Mozambique was colonized by Portugal in 1505 and became independent on June 25, 1975. A civil war followed (1975-92) when an estimated one million Mozambicans perished and 1.7 million took refuge in neighboring states. By mid-1995 the refugees had returned as part of the largest repatriation witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa. Mozambique is an LEDC (less economically developed country). Homosexuality is not mentioned in Mozambican law books, which only penalize "practices against nature". Mozambican society "does not act peacefully towards homosexuality", leading to discrimination in the family, at school and at work. But compared to most Southern and East African nations, homosexuality is still treated light-handedly in Mozambique.

 

 

End of mission – Visit to Mozambique

Excellencies, The mandate of UN Independent Expert on the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was established by the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution 32/2 in 2016. The mandate answers to the concern of the community of nations about the intolerance, discrimination and particularly egregious abuses against persons… Read more »

Leading the struggle for LGBT rights in Mozambique

Imagine a beautiful table setting in a tropical garden next to a meticulously renovated historic home. Reminisce as selections of classic jazz and R&B from our hosts’ personal collection set the mood. Enjoy the breeze as it carries hints of a feast all gathered shall soon enjoy and sweet scents from the garden. The event… Read more »

Mozambique’s enduring discrimination leaves gay men untreated for HIV

Despite a veneer of progressive policymaking, bias against the rising number of men with HIV remains commonplace in Mozambique, deterring many from seeking treatment In June, Mozambique dropped a colonial-era law criminalising homosexual activities. The change passed relatively quietly in the southern African country. After all, no one had ever been convicted. A few weeks… Read more »

Mozambique’s enduring discrimination leaves gay men untreated for HIV

Despite a veneer of progressive policymaking, bias against the rising number of men with HIV remains commonplace in Mozambique, deterring many from seeking treatment In June, Mozambique dropped a colonial-era law criminalising homosexual activities. The change passed relatively quietly in the southern African country. After all, no one had ever been convicted. A few weeks… Read more »

Mozambique decriminalises homosexuality

The decriminalisation of homosexuality has come into force today in Mozambique. While the law had not been enforced since the African country gained independence in 1975, it was still technically illegal to be “habitually engage[d] in vices against nature.” It was a hangover from colonial Portuguese codes, dating from 1886, and theoretically punished homosexuality with… Read more »

Mozambique To Decriminalize Homosexuality June 29: Southeast African Nation Is Latest Country In Africa To Legalize Being Gay

Mozambique is set to become the latest country in Africa to decriminalize homosexuality, breaking away from what was once widely seen as a continentwide tradition of discriminating against gay people. The landmark legislation was scheduled to go into effect June 29 and would make the southeast African nation the 21st country in Africa to legalize… Read more »

Mozambique Decriminalizes Homosexuality

The revised law, which was passed last year, will come into effect next month. One of the most tolerant African countries in regards to homosexuality, Mozambique will mark a major milestone on June 29, when homosexuality becomes legal. The criminalization of homosexuality —characterized as “vices against nature”— in the country stemmed from Portuguese colonial rule.… Read more »

Mozambique’s new penal code decriminalising homosexuality set to take effect

A new penal code in Mozambique will soon come into effect under which same-sex intimacy is no longer illegal. The new criminal code is set to come into effect in June, and removes a clause which previously allowed “security measures” to be taken against people “who habitually engage in vices against nature.” Although homosexuality was… Read more »

Mozambique’s former president calls for gay rights in Africa

Joaquim Chissano has called on African leaders to remember the immortal words of Nelson Mandela and to fight for equality Joaquim Chissano, who served as the country’s second president from 1986 to 2005, has reacted to Nigeria introducing one of the most draconic homophobic laws in the world. Not only does the law ban gay… Read more »

Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano pleads for tolerance for LGBTIs

Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique, has pleaded with African leaders to show more tolerance for sexual minorities and to respect their human rights in an open letter Joaquim Chissano, president of Mozambique from 1986 to 2005, has pleaded for African leaders to be respectful of the human rights of sexual minorities and move… Read more »

Decriminalising sexual orientation: Three African states compared

At the beginning of 2011, 36 states in Africa criminalised sexual orientation, with penalties ranging from fines in Algeria and Kenya, to the death penalty in Sudan and Nigeria. The ‘criminalisation of sexual orientation’ is a blanket term that refers to criminal sanctions imposed on individuals that engage in adult same-sex conduct, which in turn… Read more »

Mozambique discovers its gay minority

The issue of homosexuality is being discovered in Mozambique, where the existence of gays is described as “a reality.” While homosexuality surely is not a matter largely concerning citizens, organisations in defence of the rights of this minority are being established, and politicians do not rule out future legal pro-gay reforms. Still not officially registered,… Read more »

Homophobia divides Africa

Homophobic laws in Uganda and an anti-gay court case in Malawi are only two current examples demonstrating a conservative wave regarding sexual minorities in Africa. But in other countries, in particular South Africa, gays and lesbians are enjoying increased freedom. There is a belt of current conservative reactions to homosexuality spanning from Zimbabwe to Ethiopia,… Read more »

Gay Mozambique News & Reports

 Also see: Behind the Mask LGBT African website Gay Mapuro (personal ads) LGBT Mozambique Organization: LAMBDA Book: Hungochani: The History Of A Dissident Sexuality In Southern Africa By Marc Epprecht Novel by Guilherme de Melo ‘A Sombra dos Dias’  (‘In Shadow Two Days’; homosexuality in colonial Mozambique) 1 A First in Mozambique 7/06 2 First… Read more »

Book review: Kendall, K. (1997) “Looking for Lesbians in Lesotho” Scottsville: University of Natal Drama Department

…The women in northern Mozambique and Lesotho are examples of same-sex relationships and sexualities located outside of the “heterosexual norms in Africa.” These relationships were socially and culturally accepted in Mozambique, and were celebrated by women and their husbands in the Lesotho context, maybe because they existed alongside women’s heterosexual relationships and were not disruptive… Read more »