Namibia, Africa

Namibia is a country in southern Africa on the Atlantic coast. Once a colony of Germany and later occupied by South Africa's apartheid government, Namibia gained full independence in 1990. Namibia is the least densely populated country in the world (2.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (6.5 /sq mi). Namibia’s economy consists primarily of mining and manufacturing. It's the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals (lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten) in Africa and a major producer of uranium. Sodomy is illegal in Namibia, and is punishable with prison time but homosexuality is not illegal. Treatment of gays ranges from social ostracism to (rare) physical attacks. In rural Namibia about 80 percent of (closeted) gay men and lesbians were forced by tradition to marry and have children. However, pro-gay rights groups, such as Sister Namibia, Out-Right Namibia and LGBT Network Namibia operate freely in Namibia's major cities.  Generally the climate for gays has improved since a new president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, was elected in 2004 and again in 2009.

 

 

Namibia Considers Ending Its Ban On Gay Sex

A colonial-era law that criminalizes sex between men could be on the chopping block in Namibia. According to Reuters, a reform commission has advised the government to abolish the law. Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab told Reuters that the law is “outdated and discriminatory.” “The LGBTQI community are human beings and we must not allow them… Read more »

Namibia Considers Ending Its Ban On Gay Sex

A colonial-era law that criminalizes sex between men could be on the chopping block in Namibia. According to Reuters, a reform commission has advised the government to abolish the law. Justice Minister Yvonne Dausab told Reuters that the law is “outdated and discriminatory.” “The LGBTQI community are human beings and we must not allow them… Read more »

SA’s public healthcare not designed for MSM people – study

Study reveals factors that drive MSM people to risky behaviour, writes Yolisa Tswanya. Men who have sex with men suffer from poor mental health, which can lead to them engaging in high-risk behaviour. So says a study by the Human Sciences Research Council. The study was conducted in South Africa and Namibia and reveals the… Read more »

A Colonial-Era Wound Opens in Namibia

Swakopmund, Namibia — The statue, depicting a German marine holding a rifle in his hands and standing guard over a dying comrade, has stood undisturbed for decades in the most prominent spot in Swakopmund, a city on Namibia’s coast. It has survived the end of colonial rule in this corner of southern Africa, the subsequent… Read more »

Namibia’s Swakopmund celebrates its first Pride march

The Namibian coastal city of Swakopmund marked its first LGBT Pride last weekend, only the second such event in the country’s history. Around 150 people turned out for the inaugural Swakop Pride, described as “a celebration of the LGBT and queer community,” on Saturday the 4th of June. The event included a festive midday procession… Read more »

Swakopmund celebrates first Gay Pride

The city of Swakopmund on the coast of Namibia celebrated their first Gay Pride on the main street of the city on June 4, 2016, Namibia. People from all over the country met for the first time for the march in Namibia. We are one of the most development and peaceful countries in Africa but… Read more »

Namibians turn to gay sex work to escape eating from garbage bins

Young LGBTI people who are forced out of their families homes through homophobia are particularly vulnerable Poverty-stricken Namibians are turning to gay sex work to escape widespread unemployment, which is so bad it forces people to eat out of the garbage. That’s according to leading Namibia sex workers rights campaigner Nicodemus ‘Mama Africa’ Aoxamub who… Read more »

Namibia Celebrates Pride

What’s been billed as Namibia’s first LGBT Pride march took place without incident in Windhoek on Saturday morning. The event was held in the city’s township of Katutura and saw about 100 people taking to the streets to proudly express their pride. The marchers held up placards calling for LGBT equality, with messages such as… Read more »

Africa: Few Programmes Target Gay Men, Other MSM and Transgendered in Southern Africa, Study Says

Analysis Despite the Global Fund’s progressive policies on the inclusion of gay men, other men who have sex with men and transgender individuals (GMT) in programmes supported by the Fund, only a tiny fraction of the money spent by the Fund in six countries in Southern Africa has targeted this population. This is one of… Read more »

Tough Times for LGBTI in Namibia Too

One thing is for sure. It is still not easy to be gay in Africa. Even against the background of growing acceptance and acknowledgement of human rights across the continent, the topic of homosexuality remains beyond the pale. And when it is discussed, it inevitably gets the political blood pressure boiling. In southern Africa, the… Read more »

Mr Gay Namibia proudly marries his husband from Botswana

Ricardo Raymond Amunjera and Marc Omphemetse have wed in Johannesburg and plan their official wedding reception in Namibia this weekend Mr Gay Namibia, Ricardo Raymond Amunjera and his partner Marc Omphemetse Themba and have tied the knot in Johannesburg. The official wedding reception ceremony will take place at Namibia`s Hilton Hotel, this Saturday (20 April),… Read more »

Namibia: Being a Sexual Minority in the Time of HIV-Aids

With an 18,8% estimated HIV-AIDS prevalence rate for the country, The Weekender asked few individuals from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender and intersex (LGBTI) communities what they, in particular are doing to fight the pandemic. “HIV is a great concern and should be regarded as a top priority whether you are heterosexual or belong to… Read more »

Mr Gay Namibia suspended after domestic violence claims

Wendelinus Hamutenya claims organizers of gay pageant are trying to ‘sabotage’ his work Last year’s Mr Gay Namibia winner has been suspended over domestic violence claims, just days before he is due to hand his crown to a new lucky finalist. Wendelinus Hamutenya won the title in November 2011 in the country’s first ever gay… Read more »

Namibia to host trans-gender conference

A local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex organisation in collaboration with five other Southern African countries’ transgender and intersex organisations will be gathering in Windhoek from 8-10 May. The project is funded by Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). The conference will be held at Hotel Thule and delegates from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South… Read more »

Namibia: Sex Workers Mark Their Day in City

Sex workers in Namibia face violence, discrimination and stigma on a daily basis from those who are expected to uphold the rule of law, namely police officers, and say that they too have human rights and should enjoy the protection of the Constitution. Saturday was International Sex Worker Rights Day, and the occasion was commemorated… Read more »

Gay beauty pageant sparks breakthrough, backlash in Namibia

Windhoek (AFP) – When Wendelinus Hamutenya told his father that he was gay, the then 18-year-old was packed off to the psychiatric ward of the Windhoek Central Hospital. Seven years later, he’s the country’s most visible gay man, after winning the inaugural “Mr Gay Namibia” pageant — which will make him the first black African… Read more »

Mr. Gay Namibia Assaulted – Motive Could be Hate and/or Greed

On Sunday evening , 04 December 2011, Wendelinus Hamutenya, Mr Gay Namibia title holder, was physically assaulted near his residence in Katutura, Windhoek, in what can be described as a brutal “mugging” with monetary gain as incentive. Hamutenya arrived home around 22:00 from visiting with friends. He was dropped off at the corner of his… Read more »

Gay Namibia News & Reports 2011

See also: Behind the Mask LGBT African website 1 OutRight Nambia To Amplify Voices Of Nambian LGBTI People 2/11 2 Africa: New light shed on male sex work 6/11 February 15th, 2011 – Behind the Mask 1 OutRight Nambia To Amplify Voices Of Nambian LGBTI People As the movement for gay rights intensifies in Africa,… Read more »

Gay Namibia News & Reports

See also: Behind the Mask LGBT African website 1 Sister Namibia’s Office Gutted In Suspected Anti-Gay Attack 7/00 2 Pandemonium in Namibian Parliament 12/00 3 Hard times for Gay Dogs in Namibia 12/00 4 Gay Rights Challenge to Nujoma 3/01 5 Another African Epidemic 3/01 6 Namibia–The Bermuda Triangle of African Homophobia 3/01 7 Namibia… Read more »