THEGAYUK

Tag: Africa News

Get the latest LGBT+ African news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features from across the African continent.

  • UK’s Deputy Prime Minister: Uganda Anti-Gay Law ‘abhorrent’

    The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister has said that the new Ugandan anti-gay law is an ‘abhorrent backwards step’.

    The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is joining the number of world leaders that are openly speaking out against Uganda’s newly signed law which could see gay people jailed.

    The new law proposes that anyone engaging in homosexual acts could face life imprisonment and that anyone who does not report the crime would also fall foul of the law. Even talking about homosexuality without condemning would be a crime under the new bill.

    For the first time the new bill also covers lesbian relationships.

    Taking to Twitter the Liberal Democrat leader said:

    ‘The Ugandan anti-gay law is an abhorrent backwards step for human rights. It should never be a crime to be LGBT.’

    In an interview with CNN Uganda’s President said that gay people were ‘Disgusting’ and ‘Abnormal’

  • Obama warns Uganda against anti-gay law

    The US President, Barack Obama has warned Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni that an anti-gay law could complicate relationships that tie the two nations together.

    The new law proposes that anyone engaging in homosexual acts could face life imprisonment and that anyone who does not report the crime would also fall foul of the law. Even talking about homosexuality without condemning would be a crime under the new bill.

    For the first time the new bill also covers lesbian relationships.

    Obama, who previously called the law ‘odious’ has once again hit out, saying that if the new law was approved that the relationships between the two countries would be ‘complicated’. The US is of Uganda’s biggest aid donors.

    His criticism of the anti-gay move was not limited to Uganda; he also noted the increase of harassment and violence against gay people in Russia and Nigeria.

    President Yoweri Museveni refused to approve the law initially, however the bill can still be passed with a two-thirds vote. However Yahoo is reporting that a spokesperson for the President said that the bill would be signed after local ‘scientific’ analysis. The team was asked to “study homosexuality and genetics in human beings.”

    The scientists found that;

    ‘There is no definitive gene responsible for homosexuality,

    ‘Homosexuality is not a disease but merely an abnormal behaviour which may be learned through experiences in life.’

    Last year a controversial law that was named ‘Kill the gays’ was halted, the law was amended and the death penalty was removed.

  • Heartbreaking online vigil for Roger Jean Claude Mbede

    A heartbreaking online vigil has gone online at AllOut.org for Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé who was killed in Cameroon, where it is still illegal to be gay.

    • Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé was jailed for 3 years in prison
    • He had sent a text saying ‘I’m very mich in love w/u
    • He faced physical abuse and was unable to find employment or critical healthcare after prison.

    Sign Petition Now

    From AllOut.org

    On January 10, 2014, we learned that Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé had died in Cameroon. Roger had been sentenced to 3 years in prison because he sent another man an SMS that said “I’m very much in love w/u” – in a country where it’s illegal to be gay.

    The details of how Roger died are not yet clear – but what we know is this: In prison he faced physical abuse and medical emergencies. Out of jail he was attacked and turned away from employment, school, shelter and even critical healthcare.

    Despite attacks and great hardship, Roger spoke out against Cameroon’s anti-gay law. He said he did it so that other lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Cameroon would not have to face what he did.

    Roger lived with love but died without seeing justice for himself. The world needs to hear his story. Will you add your name to this ‘virtual vigil’ to honour Roger’s memory, and call for an end to the anti-gay laws that are destroying lives?

    Sign Petition Now

  • Nigeria passes anti-gay law

    The president of Nigeria has signed a new bill, shrouded in secrecy that outlaws homosexuality.

    • Law criminalises homosexuality
    • Punishment includes prison tariff up to 14 years.
    • Law does not allow gay clubs, associations or organisations.

    A step in the wrong direction for Nigerian LGBT people, as the Country’s President signs into law a bill that will make being gay in the African country a near impossibility, the telegraph is reporting

    Associated Press obtained a copy of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which was signed by President Goodluck on the 7th January. However, no official announcement was made that the law had been signed.

    The law has made it illegal for gay people to hold meetings, run LGBT organisations, associations and clubs.

    Nigeria is still part of the Commonwealth. Last year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signed a charter that opposed all forms of discrimination.

    TheGayUK has contacted the Commonwealth for comment.

    British human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, has been campaigning with Nigerians against the Bill. He commented:

    ‘This is a tragic day for human rights in Nigeria. Signing the Bill is a backward step that gravely intensifies the already existing harsh anti-gay laws in Nigeria. These laws were originally imposed by the British during the period of colonial rule in the nineteenth century.

    ‘The legislation outlaws the hosting, participation or witnessing of a same-sex marriage or civil union. It also criminalises LGBT organisations and advocacy groups, support for gay organisations and events, and public expressions of same-sex affection. This makes it one of the most draconian homophobic laws in the world.

    ‘The Bill violates the equality and non-discrimination clause of the Nigerian constitution (Article 42), the Commonwealth Charter and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which Nigeria has signed and pledged to uphold.

    ‘This law is symptomatic of the many human rights abuses that prevail in Nigeria and which all Nigerians – LGBT and straight – have a common interest in overturning.’

  • Ugandan MPs pass “Jail The Gays” bill

    Life in prison a possibility after Ugandan MPs passes anti-homosexuality bill.

    The Ugandan Parliament has passed a law which could see thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the region jailed for life.

    The law was first introduced in 2009 – and sparked world-wide condemnation – a petition by AllOut to Uganda’s President, Yoweri Musevni, reached nearly 250,000 people.

    In the original draft of the bill, lawmakers had suggested a death sentence tariff for “aggravated homosexuality”, which would have included: sex where one person is infected with HIV, serial offenders and sex with minors.

    The law was post-poned after the world’s media shone a spotlight on the proposal, with President Obama calling the bill ‘odious’.

    Human Rights groups have called upon President Yoweri Museveni to veto the bill. In order for the bill to become law, it requires his signature in 30 days.

    Deputy Africa Director at Amnesty International, Aster van Kregten, said:

    “President Museveni must veto this wildly discriminatory legislation, which amounts to a grave assault on human rights and makes a mockery of the Ugandan constitution.

    “Passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was a retrograde step for Uganda’s Parliament, which has made some important progress on human rights in recent years, including criminalising torture. It flies in the face of the Ugandan government’s stated commitment to ensure all legislation complies with human rights.”

    Violation

    ‘The new anti-gay law violates Article 21 of the Ugandan constitution and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights – both of which guarantee equal treatment and non-discrimination to all people,” said human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

    ‘It is part of a broader attack on civil society and is symptomatic of Uganda’s drift to Mugabe-style authoritarianism. This wider repression includes a clamp down on protests, strikes, the media and opposition activists.’

    ‘Ugandans have been anxiously waiting for this bill. This day will be a good day for all Ugandans,’said Benson Obua Ogwal, a member of parliament for Moroto.

    The law maker of the new piece of legislation, David Bahati said:

    “This is a piece of legislation that is needed in this country to protect the traditional family here in Africa, and also protect the future of our children.”

    Summary of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill
    “The Bill extends the existing penalty of life imprisonment for same-sex intercourse to all other same-sex behaviour, including the mere touching of another person with the intent to have homosexual relations,” added Mr Tatchell.
    “Life imprisonment is also the penalty for contracting a same-sex marriage.
    “Promoting homosexuality and aiding and abetting others to commit homosexual acts will be punishable by five to seven years jail. These new crimes are likely to include membership and funding of LGBT organisations, advocacy of LGBT human rights, supportive counselling of LGBT persons and the provision of condoms or safer sex advice to LGBT people.
    “A person in authority – gay or heterosexual – who fails to report violators to the police within 24 hours will be sentenced to three years behind bars.
    “Astonishingly, the new legislation has an extra-territorial jurisdiction. It will also apply to Ugandan citizens or foreign residents of Uganda who commit these ‘crimes’ while abroad, in countries where such behaviour is not a criminal offence. Violators overseas will be subjected to extradition, trial and punishment in Uganda.
    “This bill is in some respects even more draconian than the extreme homophobic laws of countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran,” added Mr Tatchell.

  • LGBT groups forced to suspend AIDS education in Cameroon

    LGBT rights groups in Cameroon are being forced to suspend Aids education programmes because fears of educator’s safety.

    AllAfrica.com is reporting that Aids education programmes have been halted by LGBT organisations in Cameroon “until their international partners help them to improve security so activists won’t be killed while trying to curb the spread of HIV among LGBT people there.”

    Writing on 76Crimes.com Colin Stewart stated the announcement had come a week after the body of slain journalist and activist Eric Lembembe was discovered by police in Cameroon.

    “We need protection,” said Dominique Menoga, president of Lembembe’s anti-AIDS group, the Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS (Camfaids) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

    In a statement to donors, LGBT organisations said that the climate of homophobia has ‘intensified and now has reached a critical point.’

    The decision was announced by a coalition of anti-aids and pro-gay-rights groups, on the 22nd July to USAID, Care Cameroon; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW), which provide funding for HIV education programs for LGBT people in Cameroon.

    The Statement can be read below:

    In this memorandum, the associations supporting the LGBTI community of Cameroon announce the creation of a coalition that speaks for them with a unified voice.

    The purpose of this coalition is to communicate as one with development partners, regional authorities and international organizations about strategic issues facing Cameroonian organizations.

    In the fight for the rights of sexual minorities in Cameroon, the long-decried climate of homophobia has intensified and now has reached a critical point.

    The pursuit of our various missions (prevention of STIs / HIV, medical care, advocacy for rights, support of people imprisoned for their sexual orientation and / or gender identity) requires a minimum level of security, institutional support and financial support.

    At present, the high level of insecurity in Cameroon has unfortunately led to the murder of Eric Lembembe Ohena of CAMFAIDS. We also note that serious threats have been made against the locations and members of our organizations, to the point where continuing our current work unchanged would be dangerous.

    For this reason, we are asking you for additional financial and institutional support to ensure:

    A plan for securing our organizations, officers and members (the costs of around-the-clock guards for our center, insurance, and purchase of surveillance equipment).
    Creation of an emergency fund to defend our organizations and activists.
    Establishment of a common activity center in Yaoundé where maximum security can be provided.
    Because of the dangers of the current situation, in cities of Yaoundé and Douala we are forced to suspend immediately the projects we have with USAID through Care Cameroon and with the Global Fund through CAMNAFAW. Minimal services will continue to be provided to our clients.

    We reject a partnership that reduces our associations to simply a labor force that must work in precarious, dangerous conditions.

    Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people living in Cameroon face legal challenges, both male and female same-sex sexuality activity is illegal. People found guilty can be imprisoned for 5 years and fined 20,000 to 200,000 francs (£26.26 – £262.58)

    The national average yearly income per person in Cameroon is just £758.71

    It is estimated that in 2011 there were 550,000 peole living with HIV and 34,000 deaths due to AIDS.

  • Somalian Teen Allegedly Stoned To Death For Being Gay

    An eighteen year old gay man was allegedly stoned to death as a punishment for homosexual acts, a gay Muslim group as said, in a horrifying story that was originally published by Identity Kenya.

    According to Somali Gay Community, Mohamed Ali Basshi was buried in a hole up to his chest while rocks were hurled at him by members of Al Qaeda linked group Al Shabaab on Friday, March 15, in Barawe, about 50 miles from the capital, Mogadishu.

    The group have published these pictures via its Facebook group from the alleged stoning. (Warning Pictures are graphic.)

    The pictures could not be independently verified by identity Kenya for authenticity.

    The pictures come with the following statement: ‘Mohamed Ali Baashi ,18 years old gay boy, was buried in a hole up to his chest and then pelted with rocks by fighters from the rebel ALQAEDA Link group…

    ‘In a scene straight out of the Dark Ages, this Somali young man accused of Sodomy was stoned to death by Islamic thugs while horrified villagers were forced to watch.’

    A rebel judge announced that Baashi, along with an accused murderer, had confessed to their crimes but the murderer received a more lenient punishment. According to the judge, “the one that kill some’one [sic] will be shot because homosexuality is more punishable in Islam.”

    The African country of Somalia is one of over 76 countries where Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable by up to three years in prison.

  • Ugandian “Kill The Gays” Law Still Pressing Head

    AllOut.org have announced the following statement

    (more…)

  • Hours To Stop Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill

    Uganda’s infamous “Kill the Gays” bill is back. If it passes, this horrific law could allow the death penalty for lesbian and gay Ugandans. It could pass at any moment. (more…)

  • Nigeria Is Days Away From Passing Jail The Gay Bill

    ALL OUT has currently over 80,000 signatures. We need 20,000 More! (more…)