Africa
Egypt: Campaigners say life has gotten worse for gay people since the Arab Spring
Homophobia is on the rise in Egypt since the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak, according to the Egypt Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). The visibility of the gay men and women who took to the streets during the revolution in 2011 has caused a backlash against them, instead of clinching them the greater freedom they… Read more »
Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill – The Silance Of NACA
Those that follow Nigerian politics may be astounded at the speed with which the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill is passing through our houses of parliament (especially considering that the National Health Bill is still in the making after 8 years). This is one bill that appears to have united Muslim and Christian leaders, with… Read more »
‘Getting worse’: Egypt’s gays fear government crackdown
Cairo, Egypt – Maha remembers going to Tahrir Square on Jan. 25, 2011. The 27-year-old office worker only wanted to look around the Cairo intersection filled with thousands of protesters. But seeing Egypt’s revolution unfold before her, she left to get friends and quickly returned. Without planning to, Maha became one of the highly visible… Read more »
A Gay Kenyan’s Gang Rape (Part 1): The Blessing
On the morning of Dec. 11, 2007, Anthony Adero decided to leave his hometown forever and head to the capital, because he wanted to kiss a man for the first time in his life. He packed the few essentials needed for his five-hour trip, little things that carry weight, like family photographs and a prerecorded… Read more »
The Cultural & Religious Debates on HIV/AIDS in the Muslim World
On December 8, 2012, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) hosted a Red Gala Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel in Cairo, Egypt to raise awareness about the virus and how it affects the lives of over three hundred thousand people across the Arab world. The by-invitation-only event featured high-profile celebrity attendees, including satirical… Read more »
Prove You’re Gay Or Go Home, Home Office Tells Senegales Student
A gay student has been told to prove his sexuality or face deportation to his home country Senegal, where homosexuality is outlawed. Serigne Tacko Mbengue, who studies at Newham College in east London, and is a LGBT campaigner for the NUS, fled to the UK in 2008 to escape homophobic persecution. But the 26-year-old is… Read more »
Anti –gay bill hurting economy – Muhakanizi
A senior government official has offered the clearest hint yet that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which has stirred an unprecedented international uproar, is seriously hurting the country’s economy. Keith Muhakanizi, the deputy secretary to the Treasury, told MPs at Parliament: “I have never seen a country like this where politicians hurt the economy instead of building… Read more »
Cameroon trader stoned to death for gay sex
A trader in north Cameroon was lynched mobbed in a public market after he was caught having gay sex An angry mob in northern Cameroon stoned a man to death on 6 January after being caught having sex with a 17-year-old high school student. According to an online unconfirmed account, attributed to the Cameroonian daily… Read more »
Court overturns 5-year sentence for gay sex in Cameroon
Two young men in Cameroon were found not guilty today, overturning their previous sentence to five years in prison for homosexuality. Stephane N. Koche, project manager for PAEMH (Project for the Support and Assistance of Sexual Minorities), reports: Franky and Jonas, the two young men who were arrested, detained and sentenced to five years in… Read more »
Report: 3 gay men stripped, beaten by Nigerian mob
Report: Three Nigerian men accused of homosexuality, seized, stripped, beaten by mob — now missing A mob reportedly seized, stripped and beat three accused homosexuals in northern Nigeria on Jan. 14. Their current condition and whereabouts are unknown. “Only the perpetrators and the community can tell the whole world what has become of these men… Read more »
With Uganda arrests, at least 13 in jail for being gay
In Cameroon, Jonas Singa Kumie and Franky Djome are appealing their five-year sentence for homosexual activity. Here they pose with their attorney, Alice Nkom. (Photo by Eric O. Lembembe) Arrests of two gay-rights workers this week in Uganda bring to at least 13 the number of people worldwide who are currently imprisoned on charges of… Read more »
Nigeria: Interview With A Gay, HIV Positive Nigerian Activist
As the international community came together on Dec. 1 to celebrate World AIDS Day, a new report from UNAIDS reveals that while significant progress has been made in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, stigmatisation, violence and discrimination against members of the gay community continue relentlessly. Michael Ighodaro, a gay rights activist recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, is… Read more »
Kenya: To Fight HIV & AIDS, Recognise Sex Workers
This Year’s World Aids Day was observed under the theme: “Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero Aids-related deaths”. The theme is a rallying call for greater access to treatment for all and for governments to act more decisively in putting in place policies that enhance prevention and behaviour change. Kenya has… Read more »
Kenya promises arrest of gay blackmailing gang
Nairobi police are urging gay people to come forward to aid investigations of a group known for extorting, and sometimes raping, gay men and women Police have promised to arrest the ringleaders of a notorious gang which targets closeted gay men for extortion, blackmail and rape. Speaking to gay activists, Nairobi police officer Akello Odhiambo… Read more »
Senegal: Gay Couple Brutally Assaulted by Parents
Very troubling news to report from the beautiful West African nation of Senegal. A gay couple was viciously beaten when one of the men’s parents caught them having sex, according to Gay Star News. The men were later outed in Senegalese media, which has reportedly used the incident to launch another round of anti-gay hysteria… Read more »
Malawi president refuses to commit to repeal anti-gay laws
Joyce Banda, Malawi’s president, said she has no power to repeal anti-gay law and the matter is best left for the people to decide Malawian president, Joyce Banda, refused to commit to repealing the country’s anti-gay laws. She said she had nothing to state on whether the country should decriminalize same-sex relations or not, saying… Read more »
We Are Here: LGBTI in Uganda
American-born gay photographer D. David Robinson collected portraits and first-person accounts from lesbian, gay, transgender, and intersex Ugandans, then turned to The Advocate to offer these brave activists a forum to tell their stories in their own words. Kaliisa Elijah, 34-year-old gay man As a kid, I thought I had been bewitched by one of… Read more »
Uganda gay youth worker arrested for ‘recruiting’ teens into homosexuality
An LGBT advocate and youth worker was arrested by Ugandan police for law on homosexuality that doesn’t exist on New Year’s Eve On New Year’s Eve, Joseph Kaweesi, LGBT youth worker and advocate, was arrested by Ugadan police and charged with crimes relating to homosexuality. According to reports from Uganda, Kaweesi, one of the founder… Read more »
Gay Uganda group office vandalized and robbed
The office of the Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG) has been vandalized and robbed potentially putting gay Ugandans at risk The office of the Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG), an LGBT advocacy group, was broken into and vandalized, with much its equipment having being stolen. Activists say that the information stored on some of the… Read more »
Kenya’s first gay political candidate reveals why he quit race
Rights activists hail anti-poverty and Aids activist David Kuria as a pioneer despite aborted election campaign David Kuria was the first openly gay black person in Africa to run for political office outside South Africa. It was a brave campaign against the odds that will not have a Hollywood ending. But David Kuria, forced to… Read more »
Movement Begins for Homosexual Rights in Africa
Opposition to homosexuality remains strong in most of Africa. Many people have been beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation. But an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) group in Sierra Leone is pushing for more awareness and protection of LGBT rights. Life for George Freeman has not been easy. He says he always… Read more »
AIDS awareness campaigns target Maghreb youth
Ignorance increases the risk of HIV infection, especially for young people. A national AIDS awareness campaign now under way in Morocco is focusing on teenagers. The fourth edition of “Sidaction Maroc”, which runs through December 31st, aims to encourage young people to get tested so that the epidemic can be contained. The campaign also includes… Read more »
Lively gay community in Algeria gains visibility
This blog is seeking to improve its coverage of Algeria, both in English and in French. If you can help, include your contact information in a comment, which will not be published unless you indicate that it should be (minus the contact information). “Light a candle to show that we exist.” That’s the invitation that… Read more »
Cameroon: Gay-love text gets sender 3 years in jail
A Cameroonian man texts another man: “I am very much in love with you.” That is enough to get him sent to prison. An appeal hearing held yesterday confirms his sentence. This story will move only those who have a heart. The remainder — well, perhaps they man the judicial system in Cameroon. Jean-Claude Roger… Read more »
Cameroon: Court refuses to release man serving 3-year sentence for ‘homosexual behaviour’
A court in Cameroon has upheld a conviction against a man found guilty of “homosexual behaviour” for sending a text message to another man saying: “I’m very much in love with you.” The Court of Appeal ruled early on Monday that Jean-Claude Roger Mbede, 32, must serve out his three-year jail term. He was provisionally… Read more »
Gays should have their relationships in private – Museveni
Sex rights campaigners have accused Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni of being duplicitous, after he said homosexuals will not be killed nor persecuted. They accused Museveni of sending mixed signals on homosexuality in the East African country, saying this was dangerous to sex minorities. The Ugandan president recently said homosexuals will not be discriminated nor persecuted… Read more »
Kenya: Rights Groups Hold Kenya’s First Gay and Lesbian Awards
Nairobi — The Kenya Human Rights Commission and the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission on Saturday launched the first gay and lesbian awards to honour lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexual and intersex people for their contributions to Kenyan society. The event, which was held at Charter Hall in Nairobi, saw politicians, employers and journalists… Read more »
Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill Is a Smoke Screen Obscuring Deeper Problems
An evergreen bill imposing life imprisonment on gays is arguably nothing more than an ugly diversion in the hands of politicians eager to avoid real problems, writes Jocelyn Edwards. Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s speaker of parliament, broke her pledge to pass the country’s infamous anti-gay bill before the year’s end on Friday, as the lawmakers in… Read more »
Kenya celebrates positive contributions of LGBT people
Human rights groups in Kenya have joined together to celebrate the positive contributions of LGBT people and their allies to Kenyan society Kenya’s Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission (NGLHRC) have launched an annual awards ceremony to celebrate the contributions of LGBT people to Kenyan society and to celebrate allies… Read more »
I am Very Out and Confident…
“It’s been a long journey, a challenging journey, coming to terms with my sexuality. I was just starting to get comfortable with it when I was sexually abused, so it has been a difficult time in my life. “Around the time he was abused, four years ago, he also found out he was positive. “To… Read more »
Transgender Sex Workers Face Abuse In Ivory Coast
Abidjan Ivory Coast — It seemed like a case of simple blackmail. Late one night last month, two cars carrying around 10 soldiers pulled up to a group of prostitutes in Abidjan’s Vallon neighborhood and began demanding bribes. To save themselves, some of the women in the group approached the soldiers and told them what… Read more »
No regrets for Malawian jailed for gay wedding
AFP – Tiwonge Chimbalanga (R) and his gay husband Steven Monjeza prior to a press conference on June 2, 2010, five days after Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned them. Thrown into jail for 14 years under Malawi’s anti-gay laws, Chimbalanga has no regrets about the marriage ceremony that became a symbol of Africa’s intolerance… Read more »
Ghana and Africa must learn to respect LGBT rights
Instead of running anti-gay hate campaigns, Ghana and Africa should tolerate and respect sexual diversity which is inherent to its culture and traditions Following Ghana´s electoral campaign riddled with anti-gay hate, Prince K. MacDonald, a leading Human and LGBT rights advocate in the country, writing under a pseudonym, outlines a critical response. Homosexuality is not… Read more »
South Africa: Crimes against gay community highlighted
Khayelitsha – This year has brought to the fore just how much danger and hate lesbians living in the townships still face every day, says activist and Free Gender founder Funeka Soldaat. “It has been a bad year for gays and lesbians [despite] the beginning of democracy,” Soldaat said. “This year we had the worse… Read more »
Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” Bill Spreads Fear
Gay activist Gerald Ssentongo of Uganda is afraid to talk openly about his cause. Not only that, but he is terrified of being “caught” socialising with gay people and only meets his friends at night in out-of-reach places. “The fear for our lives is everywhere, but it has increased of late. I am now verbally… Read more »
Tanzania: Campaign Against HIV/Aids – Zanzibar Turns On Lesbians and Gays
Although there is no open lesbians and gay community in Zanzibar, authorities and health officials are worried that homosexual acts are promoting the spread of HIV in the islands. Zanzibar outlawed homosexuality in 2004, and the law provides for jail terms of up to 25 years for men engaged in homosexual relationships and up to… Read more »
Nigeria’s president urged to reject ‘jail the gays’ bill
Activists pressure President Goodluck Jonathan not to approve law which jails all gay people and anyone who fails to report a homosexual to the authorities Activists are calling on human rights supporters to pressure Nigeria’s president to reject a ‘jail the gays’ law. The bill would see people jailed for being gay and even imprisoned… Read more »
Being gay not an issue in independent-minded Angola
Luanda | Angola: Unlike the situation in countries like Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Angolans tolerate LGBT people and even applaud those with talent, provided they keep their sexual orientation private. Of course, there’s a significant difference between “tolerance” and “acceptance”, but still, what accounts for the relative open-minded of Angolans on this issue, and could… Read more »
Libya: Gay men speak out about abductions and beatings by Islamic militia
Gay men in Libya have spoken out about the largest and most powerful militia brigade, and claim that men have been arrested, and assaulted by them, just for being gay. The Times reported that the Nawasi brigade, Tripoli’s biggest Islamist militia group, are to blame for the abductions and beatings, and witnesses said such arrests… Read more »
Ivory Coast: Anti-gay Stigma Hinders Bid to Lower Côte d’Ivoire’s HIV Rate
Abidjan (IPS) – When Emmanuel Kokou, a 28-year-old sex worker, moved from his native Togo to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in 2010, he knew there was a good chance that he had previously been exposed to HIV. But he had no intention of getting tested. “I had done a lot of silly things,” said Kokou, whose… Read more »
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