Tag: gay africa

Amnesty: Homophobia reaching ‘dangerous levels’ in Africa

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has published a new report titled “Making Love a Crime: Criminalisation of same-sex conduct in sub-Saharan Africa.” Governments are increasingly criminalising same-sex relationships by seeking to impose new laws and draconian penalties, it warns. The report states the situation is reaching “dangerous levels” in some parts of the continent. Amnesty… Read more »

Gay rights cases could trail Obama in Africa; high court’s rulings appear likely during trip

Washington — President Barack Obama’s trip to Africa next month may result in a stark juxtaposition between the growing power of the gay rights movement in the U.S. and the criminalization of homosexuality throughout the African continent. Obama is scheduled to be in Africa in late June and early July — the same period in… Read more »

European Parliament condemns violence against lesbians in Africa

The European Parliament yesterday adopted a resolution on violence against lesbian women and gay and transgender rights more generally in Africa. MEPs acted in response to increasing reports of arrests and violence against LGBTI people, and particularly lesbian women, on the continent. Recently, there has been increasing reports of arrests of lesbian women in Cameroon.… Read more »

Gay rights in Africa have ‘worsened’

Amnesty International global human rights report shows Europe lacks sufficient laws to combat LGBT persecution Amnesty International claims anti-gay discrimination has increased in Africa, while Europe lacks sufficient legislation to protect LGBT rights. In its 50th global human rights report, Amnesty described the situation in Africa as having ‘worsened’. It says politicians have failed to… Read more »

Hillary Clinton talks about promoting equality around the world

US Secretary of State says in parts of Africa and Asia, gay rights is ‘just a totally foreign concept Hillary Clinton has faced many challenges during her time as US Secretary of State and one of the biggest has been trying to promote LGBT equality around the world. Clinton said during an appearance at Syracuse… Read more »

Gay activists fight for human rights in Africa

The world listened last week as Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defended her country’s laws that discriminate against its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex population. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, she spoke of preserving Liberia’s “traditional values” and said in part, “We like ourselves the way we are.” It’s a sad sentiment… Read more »

Sub-Saharan Africa: Problems with Male Circumcision and HIV Transmission

Important new article finds fault with recent male circumcision trials in Africa. Sub-Saharan African randomised clinical trials into male circumcision and HIV transmission: Methodological, ethical and legal concerns In 2007, WHO/UNAIDS recommended male circumcision as an HIV- preventive measure based on three sub-Saharan African randomised clinical trials (RCTs) into female-to-male sexual transmission. A related RCT… Read more »

UN secretary general: African governments must respect gay rights

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told African leaders that they must respect gay rights in an unusually outspoken declaration made at an African Union summit in Ethiopia. Mr Ban told delegates at the event held in Addis Ababa: “One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long… Read more »

The Crime of Being Gay (and Having to Hide It)

The dream of the AIDS-free generation will never be realized as long as there remain countries in the world that kill and imprison people for being gay. Same goes for countries that won’t even acknowledge homosexuality exists within their national boundaries and therefore fail to provide targeted HIV prevention and treatment services. Such are the… Read more »

UN’s Navi Pillay Warns Nations To Stop Discriminating Against Gays

The United Nation’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called on nations to abolish discriminatory laws against gay men and lesbians, the AP reported. Pillay’s plea came Thursday in a 25-page report to the 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council. The report arrives on the heels of a memorandum signed by President Barack Obama… Read more »

Men who have sex with men often overlooked in Africa HIV and AIDS policies

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO’s high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. Earlier this week I represented VSO at… Read more »

Africa reacts to Obama’s pro-gay rights foreign policy

Most of Africa’s 54 nations ban homosexuality, so President Obama’s promotion of gay rights as a human right draws quick ire from African governments.

Togo’s MSM Community Hold Transvestite Beauty Pageant

The MSM community in Togo recently organised and held its annual Mr and Miss MSM Togo event in the capital, Lomé. The event is an initiative of the Club of Seven Days, the first LGBTI organisation in Togo, with the sponsorship of PSI (Population Services International) via RAS+ (the network of people living with HIV/Aids… Read more »

Confusing Rebuttal of a Rebuttal Regarding Male Circumcision in Africa Males; Effectiveness of Circumcision Questioned

Introduction In 2007, WHO/UNAIDS recommended male circumcision as an HIV- preventive measure based on three sub-Saharan African randomised clinical trials (RCTs) into female-to-male sexual transmission. A related RCT investigated male-to-female transmission. However, the trials were compromised by inadequate equipoise; selection bias; inadequate blinding; problematic randomisation; trials stopped early with exaggerated treatment effects; and not investigating… Read more »