Ethiopia, Africa

Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world and Africa's second-most populous nation. Ethiopia has yielded some of humanity's oldest traces, making the area a primary factor in the origin and developmental history of humanity, with recent studies claiming the vicinity of present-day Addis Ababa as the point from which human beings migrated around the world. Male homosexuality is illegal in Ethiopia and female homosexuality is overlooked in the law. Mainstream Ethiopian social mores are broadly influenced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Muslim religious life. Homosexuals are known to have been lynched by locals, intolerent of the LGBT people.

 

 

Surprise: Ethiopia’s Government Says ‘No’ to Anti-Gay Movement

Much to the joy of LGBT rights groups and the chagrin of the religious right, Ethiopia has pushed back against the anti-gay movement this past week. Here’s why that matters, and what it might mean. As we had previously reported, Ethiopia’s lawmakers had been considering legislation which would have enhanced the country’s existing ban on… Read more »

Ethiopian government cancels anti-gay rally

Homosexuality ‘not a serious crime’ says government official, in country where gay sex punishable by 15 years in prison A planned anti-gay rally in Ethiopia has been cancelled by the government, according to officials. In addition, a plan by the legislature to add gay sex to a list of crimes ineligible for presidential pardons has… Read more »

Gay Ethiopian faces uncertainty, peril if deported

19-year-old was arrested in January Federal immigration officials in Boston are seeking to deport a man — who has posted online that he is gay — to a nation where same-sex relationships are illegal, just days after President Obama criticized a harsh new antigay law in Uganda. Officials arrested the 19-year-old man from Ethiopia in… Read more »

A Graveyard For Homosexuals

Spurred by zealous American missionaries, Ethiopia has declared war on gay men In a bleak little apartment on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, nearly a dozen men in their 20s take turns trying on a pair of black skinny jeans and watching Project Runway episodes downloaded off YouTube. There’s no plumbing, Internet or furniture, but… Read more »

Ethiopia: Anti-gay forces seek action against anti-HIV agency

Ethiopia’s one gay-friendly anti-AIDS agency, Rainbow-Ethiopia HIV and Social Support Services, promotes public health, social justice and human rights in the country. In particular, it serves LGBT people as its clients, seeking health, social justice and human rights for them. That has angered powerful anti-gay forces in Ethiopia, as the affiliated Rainbow-Ethiopia HIV and Media… Read more »

Ethiopia: Newspaper warns of gay ‘infestation’

A popular Ethiopian daily newspaper alleges the United States and Europe are plotting to export, spread and promote homosexuality in Ethiopia. In an article published by Yenga daily, on the 18 June, homosexuality was described as rapidly-growing ‘infestation’ whose carriers are now ‘estimated’ to have reached 16,000. The paper also alleged that gays have an… Read more »

Ethiopian Mr Gay World Contestnat May Have Difficulty Returning Home After Show

There are reports that Ethiopia’s Mr Gay World contestant may have difficulties returning home after the contest as a result of receiving death threats he has received. The news of Robel Gizaw Hailu’s probable forced exile was revealed by Mr Gay World’s Africa director, Coenie Kukkuk in an interview with the Gay Star News website… 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 »

Oral and Anal Sex Practices among high school youth in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Understanding the full range of sexual behaviors of young people is crucial in developing appropriate interventions to prevent and control sexually transmitted infections including HIV. However, such information is meager in developing countries. The objective of this study was to describe oral and anal sex practices and identify associated factors among high school youth.… Read more »

Gay and Sex tourism growing in Ethiopia says NGO

Many Ethiopians fear that homosexuals and other Western tourists are taking advantage of the poverty and the large orphan population in Ethiopia. Ever since the news of the gay conference went public, Ethiopians have been discussing the issue mainly on digital platforms such as Facebook. Most of the statements on the social networks reflect public… Read more »

Human rights key in combating AIDS among gay men: WHO

Adddis Ababa — Vast improvements in human rights and access to treatment are needed to protect gay men against HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Monday. “If you want to achieve zero new infections, you have to address the human rights issues,” WHO official Ying-Ru Lo said after a meeting about infection rates among… Read more »

Press Conference Meant to Condemn Homosexuality Cancelled

Addis Ababa,  (Ezega.com) –  On Tuesday this week, religious leaders in Ethiopia called a press conference to condemn an upcoming meeting planned for Saturday organized by an African gay lobby group, African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (Amsher). The meeting is being held ahead of the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted… Read more »

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws25 March – It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.… Read more »

Gay Ethopia News & Reports

Useful websites for LGBT Africa: http://www.mask.org.za/index2.html Also see: Gay Ethiopian Yahoo Group Ethiopian News 1 Beware the gays 6/03 2 We are gay and Ethiopian 1/05 3 Being Young, Ethiopian-American and Homeless 6/05 4 Sexuality and HIV/AIDS among male street youth 7/05 5 Gays threatened as clerics seek homosexuality ban 1/09 6 Faith leaders call… Read more »