Sierra Leone, Africa

The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991 and was resolved in 2000 after the United Nations led by Nigeria defeated the rebel forces and restored the civilian government elected in 1998 to Freetown. Since then, almost 72,500 former combatants have been disarmed and the country has reestablished a functioning democracy. The country is the lowest ranked country on the Human Development Index and seventh lowest on the Human Poverty Index, suffering from endemic corruption and suppression of the press. Homosexuality is illegal and homophobia is high. These were motivations in the brutal murder of Fanny Ann Eddy, in 2004, founder of the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association and a lesbian rights activist known across Africa.

 

 

LEGAL is a Rights Based Organization established to address issues affecting LGBTI groups in Liberia.

Dear All, With high esteem LEGAL extends its greetings to you all. LEGAL like to bring to your attention the ordeal of one of the members of the LGBTIQ Community within its sisterly Country, the Republic of Sierra Leone. Mary Conteh is an aspirant in the Sierra Leone General and Presidential Elections. She reported to… Read more »

Sierra Leone president wades into Uganda aid cut debate

President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone has urged the West to consider ‘culture, tradition [and] religious beliefs’ in Uganda before cutting aid money following the country’s new anti-gay law Sierra Leone President Ernest Koroma has added his voice to the Uganda aid cut debate, saying ‘it is not right for issues to be imposed lock,… Read more »

Sierra Leone gay activist escapes broken glass murder attempt

George Reginald Freeman, a Sierra Leone LGBT activist narrowly escaped a murder attempt after a local tabloid outed him, which he blames for inciting violence A Sierra Leonean gay rights activist narrowly escaped death when two unidentified assailants attacked him in his car. George Reginald Freeman, executive director of Pride Equality, had his car destroyed… 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 »

Sierra Leonean Clergyman Speaks In Favout Of LGBT People

A Sierra Leonean Methodist clergyman, Bishop John Yambasu on Sunday evening made a pro-LGBTI speech while on a visit to the US saying that sexual orientation is one of many identities that tie people together. He stated that people relate better to those who share the same sexual orientation. He also stressed the difficulty to… Read more »

Sierra Leone bishop calls for unity with LGBT United Methodists

Tampa, Fla. — A bishop from Sierra Leone preached that the love of God binds us together much stronger than divisions of race, sexual orientation, or even family affiliation. Bishop John Yambasu, Resident United Methodist Bishop to Sierra Leone, spoke at the Africana Dinner at the United Methodist Church General Conference on Sunday evening. The… 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 »

Nigerian Human Rights Group Channels Aid To Sirra Leonean LGBT Activists

LGBT Rights activists in Sierra Leone have received aid from an LGBT human rights defender fund coordinated by the Nigeria human rights organization, The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs). In November 2011, George Freeman, the leader of WhyCantWeGetMarried.Com, an LGBT human rights group in Sierra Leone, reported a homophobic occurrence that members of the group… Read more »

Islamic Groups Protest LGBT Rights in Sierra Leone, Promise Biweekly Demonstrations

Anti-gay groups in Sierra Leone are promising bi-weekly protests in reaction to growing pushes for LGBT rights in the region and efforts by Western politicians to enforce the human rights of LGBT people in African nations, Africa Review reports: Close to 1,000 protesters thronged the streets at the east end of Freetown attracting scores of… Read more »

Gay Sierra Leone News & Reports

1 Sierra Leone activist Fannyann Eddy killed 11/04 2 Sierra Leone activist FannyAnn Eddy’s killer caught 1/05 3 Police say no hate crime in gay activist murder 1/05 4 Alleged Fannyann Eddy Murderer Reportedly Escapes Police in Sierra Leone 7/05 4a Protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender 10/07 5 African lesbian conference… Read more »