Black Looks

The 26th ILGA (International Gay & Lesbian Association) concludes in Geneva today after a week of discussions and workshops around lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.  Africa was represented by LGBT activists from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda,  Nigeria and Tunisia.

The two issues that most concerned the Africa group were the homosexuality trial in Cameroon, the proposed same sex marriage law in Nigeria and the case of Ugandan LGBT activist, Victor Julie Mukasa. Her testimony was read out in a plenary session together with an outline of her case and her proposed course of action.

The arrest and detention of 35 men on homosexuality charges in Cameroon.  (11 are still in prison) Alice Nkom the lawyer for the defendants was present and was able to provide us with details on the background to the case and the present situation.  The trial is due to start on the 21st of this month.    The prisoners have been refused bail and are housed in overcrowded cells with the most violence criminals were they are sure to be sexually assaulted. Ms Nkom reported that  there was one positive element in that the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya,  has asked that people put their religion and personal beliefs aside and judge the matter on the basis of human rights.  She is approaching the case from the point of view that like the Jim Crow laws of southern US which led to the Civil Rights movement and the apartheid laws of South Africa, the law being applied in the Republic of Cameroon is a violation of our human rights.

Just last week, 11 female students were dismissed from their college "after confessing to the Disciplinary Council of the school of belonging to a network of lesbians"

In the case of Nigeria, the proposed legislation which will ban any advocacy around LGBT issues – “Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006” has already been presented to the House of Representatives.  President Obasanjo is calling for the bill to be fast tracked

President urges the National Assembly to give expeditious consideration and passage to the bill. “This is because the problem has become topical and embarrassing in recent times”.  The House Leader added that  "the problem of homosexuality has become very disturbing in view of the increasing number of gays and lesbians in the country"

The Nigerian delegates felt that the bill would create a climate of fear amongst the community at large and would impact on HIV counseling and testing;  drive the issue of sexual identity underground; it would further reduce the number of reported rape cases both for men and women.  Women and girls would be even more reluctant to report rape for fear of being labeled lesbian and therefore the bill would put women at even more risk of being raped. As advocacy and support by any organisation around sexual identity will become illegal, organisations such as  Alliance Rights Nigeria and SPIN will be at risk of being criminalised.

African organisations that participated in the conference were:
SMUG
Alliance Rights Nigeria
SPIN
Changing Attitude
The Rainbow Project
Engender
GALZ
FEW
ARC En Ciel D’Afrique

Tags: Africa Gay & Lesbian