Africa
Uganda: 190,000 Petition Citibank And Barclays To Condemn Anti Gay Bill
An international petition launched three days ago calling for the international business community to protest Uganda’s notorious anti-gay bill has garnered the support of over 190,000 people worldwide. The more than 190,000 people have signed the petition to join a campaign on the Change.org website launched three days ago by Collin Burton, a gay Citibank… Read more »
South Aafrica: Copy Cat Murder Of Another Gay Man Brings Death Toll To Eight
The body of a murdered gay man was found at the weekend bound and suffocated in a copy cat manner to seven previous cases. The body of Rulov Senekal, a manager of the Joburg Theatre and a one time Artistic Director of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet in the 1990s, was discovered by one of his… Read more »
Zimbabwean pulls out of Mr Gay World 2012
The Mr Gay World contestant from Zimbabwe has pulled out of the competition citing personal reasons but organisers praised the “brave stand” he had taken by coming so far. The Mr Gay World contestant from Zimbabwe has pulled out of the competition citing personal reasons but organisers praised the “brave stand” he had taken by… Read more »
Gay rights out of constitution
The final draft constitution, earmarked to replace the Lancaster House Constitution, will criminalise homosexuality and ban same-sex marriages according to the views of the majority of Zimbabweans, it has emerged. In an interview, Constitution Select Committee (Copac) co-chair Mr Edward Mkhosi (MDC) said Zimbabwe had unequivocally affirmed that homosexuality should be outlawed. “During the outreach… Read more »
Ten women arrested in Cameroon for being lesbian
Face up to five years in prison if convicted Liberia looks to toughen its anti-gay laws Ten women have been arrested in Cameroon on suspicion of being lesbians. They have been detained in Ambam, some 190 miles south of the capital of Yaounde, until they go on trial, Cameroon Radio Television reported. Consensual… Read more »
Catching Up With Botswana’s Swedish Trained Activists
Four months after attending a three week human rights training programme organized by Sweden`s National Association for Sexuality Education, three activists from Botswana are putting lessons learned into practice. The training equipped programme participants with knowledge in human rights for LGBTI community, they were then asked to develop projects of change in their respected countries.… Read more »
Liberia: Gay Activist Escapes Angry Mob
Self-proclaimed Liberian gay activist Archie Ponpon, and few followers were Thursday narrowly hustled out of the premises of a local radio and television station by Police Support Unit (PSU) officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Monrovia, after over 500 members of the public had besieged the vicinity of the radio station to attack… Read more »
An interview with South African Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron discussing homophobia in Africa
via BBC HARDtalk, Interview with Edwin Cameron Living as an openly gay man in socially conservative Africa is hard enough, but Edwin Cameron went even further. He was the first public official in South Africa to reveal his HIV positive status. Nelson Mandela appointed him a judge and he now serves on South Africa’s Constitutional… Read more »
Opinion: Gay rights in Cameroon
Gay rights – or lack thereof – in sub-Saharan Africa (and indeed, parts of Asia and the Middle East) are becoming an increasing cause for concern among human rights groups, campaigners and forward thinking governments around the world. Many states punish those perceived as homosexual with hefty fines, lengthy prison sentences, torture, and sometimes even… Read more »
Domestic Violance Issues And Botswana’s LGBTI Community
Botswana – Domestic violence in the LGBTI community is a serious issue, although most of the cases are left unreported due to the system which is often oppressive and hostile towards LGBTI leading those involved in violence in fear to reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of… Read more »
Liberia ex-first lady proposes tough anti-gay bill
Former Liberian first lady Jewel Howard Taylor has introduced a bill making homosexuality liable to a death sentence, amid a raging debate over gay rights in the country, a lawmaker said Wednesday. The bill submitted by former president Charles Taylor’s ex-wife, now a senator, also seeks to amend laws to prohibit gay marriage. “No two… Read more »
Warring Parties Put Children at Grave Risk: Rebels Use Students as ‘Human Shields’ – Non-gay background
“Out of all my classmates – about 100 boys – only two of us escaped, the rest were killed,” said a 15-year-old boy who, with his classmates, was forced to fight for the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab. Fighting in Somalia has intensified over the past two years, leaving children vulnerable to terrible abuses, says a… Read more »
Domestic Violence Issues And Botswana’s LGBTI Community
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender or strength. Emotional abuse is often minimized yet it can leave deep and lasting scars and very common within the same sex relationships. The bottom line is that abusive behaviour is never acceptable whether it’s coming from a man, woman, transgender, teenager or an… Read more »
A Charm Offensive Against AIDS
Soweto, South Africa — Shortly after Michel Sidibé became executive director of the United Nations’ AIDS prevention agency, a court in Senegal sentenced nine gay men, all AIDS educators, to eight years in prison for “unnatural acts.” In one of his first moves as the new chief of U.N.AIDS, Mr. Sidibe flew to Senegal to… Read more »
Liberia Introduces ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill
Lawmakers in Liberia have introduced a bill that could make homosexuality punishable by the death penalty, reports say. The bill, introduced by former Liberian first lady Jewel Haward Taylor who is now a senator, would also amend the country’s laws to specifically prohibit same-sex marriage. Reports the AFP: “No two persons of the same sex… Read more »
Coming Out of the Nkuta: Disclosure of Sexual Orientation Among MSM in Cameroon
The situation of sexual minorities inCameroon is a human rights issue (Alternatives Cameroun, Adefho, Human Rights Watch, IGLHRC, 2010; Alternatives Cameroun, IGLHRC, Center for Human Rights, Global Rights, 2010). In this country, homosexuality is not only subject to social rejection but is also punishable by prison sentences. Although local MSM organizations, supported by a few… Read more »
Tunisian health ministry denounces female genital mutilation
In response to recent controversial comments by visiting Egyptian cleric Wajdi Ghonim, the Tunisian Ministry of Health on Wednesday (February 15th) issued a statement against the practice of female genital mutilation, Tunisia Live reported. The ministry also urged doctors to refuse to administer the treatment if requested. The group “Kolna Tunis” on Tuesday lodged a… Read more »
Tunisian journalists arrested over naked picture
Tunisian authorities on Wednesday (February 15th) arrested the director of Tunisian newspaper Ettounsia, as well as an editor and reporter, for publishing a picture of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira and his partially-nude girlfriend, AFP reported. “Really, this is laughable,” a staff member of the Arabic-language daily said. “This photo has gone around the world… Read more »
Anti-gay bill forces activist to go into hiding
Police hunt for outspoken rights worker, who is on the run and fears for her life A prominent Ugandan gay and lesbian rights activist with a history of being harassed by the authorities has been forced into hiding after police raided the hotel where she was participating in a workshop on the rights of sexual… Read more »
Gambian president: Gay rights ‘destroy culture’
Yahya Jammeh, the President of the Gambia, has said those who think gay rights are human rights in the African state are making a “great mistake”. Jammeh previously threatened to decapitate gays and claims to be able to cure AIDS. The South Africa Press Association reports Jammeh saying: “We know what human rights are. Human… Read more »
Gay Rights Activists Vow to Fight Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill
A Ugandan cabinet member yesterday raided a workshop being run by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists in Entebbe. Minister for Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo declared the workshop illegal and ordered the rights activists out of the hotel where it was being held. He was accompanied by police, The workshop was organized by… Read more »
Ugandan gay rights workshop ‘raided’
Amnesty International has called on Uganda to end its “outrageous harassment” of activists after a cabinet minister reportedly raided a workshop being held by gay and trans rights advocates. Uganda’s Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, was accompanied by police to the hotel where the event was being held, the organisation said. Announcing that… Read more »
Libya: UN delegate says gays ‘affect continuation of humanity’
Gays threaten the continuation of the human race, Libya’s UN delegate has reportedly told the organisation’s Human Rights Council. The UN Watch monitoring group reported comments made yesterday at Libya’s first appearance after it overthrew the Gadaffi regime. Libya was reinstated to the Human Rights Council in November of last year with its delegate pledging… Read more »
Gay Rights Activists Consult Over Uganda’s AIDS Control Bill
Gay rights activists in Uganda have started consultations on the controversial HIV/Aids Control Bill 2010 which excludes homosexuals from HIV programming. The bill is set for re-tabling in Uganda’s parliament next week. The bill, which gay activists contested with a petition and memorandum to Ugandan Parliament in April last year, was due for its first… Read more »
Sierra Leone Rights Body Issues Report On Homophobic Trends
Dignity Association, a human rights community based organization, that advocates LGBT rights in Sierra Leone, has issued a report on homophobic trends in that country. In a statement sent to Behind the Mask in Nigeria from Sierra Leone, Dignity said that since the statement made by the British Prime Minister and the US Secretary of… Read more »
Liberia: Gays & Lesbians Rights Vs Culture
Kids walk Tuesday Feb.7, through the charred remains of the home of Liberia’s emerging Gay Rights “activist,” Archie Ponpon’s mother, Agatha. Miss Agatha’s home got burnt recently through mysterious circumstances in a slum neighborhood located on 18th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia near the Atlantic Ocean. The home along with seven others belonging to neighborss according… Read more »
Gambian President Renews Attack On Homosexuals
(JollofNews) – Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has yesterday renewed his attacks on homosexuality which he described as an abomination. Jammeh who had previously threatened to behead gays and lesbians in the country said he will not allow any gay and lesbian relations in the Gambia as long as he remains president. Speaking at the swearing-in… Read more »
Libya Tells UN Rights Council: “Gays threaten continuation of human race”
Geneva – Gays threaten the continuation of the human race, Libya’s delegate told a planning meeting of the UN Human Rights Council today, reported the Geneva-based UN Watch monitoring group. It was the first appearance in the 47-nation body by the post-Gaddafi government, whose membership was restored in November following Libya’s suspension in March. Protesting… Read more »
My life as a gay man under Gaddafi
First of a two-part interview with Libyan LGBT activist Khaleed about his life before and after the revolution in Libya Libya dominated the headlines last year but the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population of the country received very little attention internationally. I interviewed Khaleed, a 31-year-old LGBT activist about his life in the North… 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 »
Tunisian human rights minister: No free speech for gays
Tunisia’s human rights minister has attacked an online gay magazine while being interviewed by homophobic TV presenter Samir El-Wafi. Minister Samir Dilou said ‘freedom of expression has its limits’ and agreed homosexuality was a ‘perversion’ which needed to be ‘treated medically’. The attack on Gayday magazine, whose editor has faced religiously inspired hatred and death… Read more »
Liberia: Gay Law Rests With Ellen – Ngafuan
Foreign Minister- designate Augustine Ngafuan says the passage of any homosexual law in the country is squarely within the domain of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Mr. Ngafuan told the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee during his appearance for confirmation hearings last Friday in Monrovia that as Minister of Foreign Affairs he cannot make any decision regarding the… Read more »
Persecuted at Home, African Gays Seek Kenya Refuge
Until a new anti-homosexuality bill caused a wave of homophobia in Uganda, John and Paul could hold hands in the streets of the capital Kampala and kiss in night clubs. Then the nightmare started — people began insulting and then assaulting them, and then they had to run away to Kenya. The couple have been… Read more »
Lesbian killers in South Africa get 18-year jail terms
Four South African men have been sentenced to 18 years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006. The court found that the men killed Ms Nkonyana because she was living openly as a lesbian. A crowd outside the court in Khayelitsha, a Cape Town township, cheered and danced… 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 »
Tunisia Faces a Balancing Act of Democracy and Religion
Tunis — The insults were furious. “Infidel!” and “Apostate!” the religious protesters shouted at the two men who had come to the courthouse to show their support for a television director on trial on charges of blasphemy. Fists, then a head butt followed. When the scuffle ended a few minutes later, Tunisia, which much of… 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 »
US Government Team To Discuss Human Rights With Uganda’s Museveni
The US deputy Secretary of State Ambassador William Burns, is leading a high profile delegation to Uganda Friday to discuss human rights with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The delegation is also understood to deliberate on a range of bilateral issues, including regional security and good governance with the Ugandan government. Ambassador Burns is the top… Read more »
Dear Friends, Colleagues, Fellow Activists and Human Rights Defenders
Today, one year ago, a few of us were hanging out having a lovely new year connection full of hope for possibilities for our activism here 3 kms from the CAL office. Victor received a call [almost to the minute as we put out this note]… David Kato had been murdered and our celebration in… Read more »
Gay Tunisians speak out
The socio-political upheaval Tunisia has undergone since the revolution has led many Tunisians to question their place within this new society – Tunisia’s often undiscussed LGBT community is no exception to this uncertainty. While the fall of Ben Ali has afforded a greater space to free expression, not all Tunisian LGBT people are convinced things… Read more »
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