Homosexuality in Africa by Adam Briggs
There is a landmark conference happening just now in Mozambique as Oxford medical student and current Lancet intern, Adam Briggs, explains below-Rhona
Image courtesy of Behind the Mask
To try and highlight the current atmosphere of homophobia within Africa, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) organised a conference with the tag line “Building Lesbian Feminist Thinkers and Leaders for the 21st century” currently taking place in Maputo, Mozambique. Formed in 2004, CAL fight a major battle to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Africa. When their conference began, protesters gathered outside to urge local authorities to enforce Mozambique law which states that homosexual acts are illegal.
The long-standing battle against homophobia in Africa will take some time to resolve. The following highlights the current obstacles to such a resolution: according to the International Gay and Lesbian Association (IGLA) , homosexuality is currently outlawed in 38 African countries. 10 people were recently arrested in Senegal for celebrating an alleged homosexual marriage. In Egypt, 12 men, including four earlier this month, have been arrested for suspected HIV infection. The Egyptian arrests are an attempt by the authorities to enforce a law indirectly banning homosexual conduct. All of the men were forced to undergo HIV testing, four are in jail and the remaining eight are still in custody. Those that tested positive for HIV are chained to their beds in hospital. South Africa is thought to be the most progressive African state and is the only country in the world where gay and lesbian rights are guaranteed in the constitution. However, homophobia still exists - in July last year the brutally murdered bodies of two lesbians were found in Meadowlands, Johannesburg.
A huge proportion of Africa has a constitutional barrier against accepting homosexuality and even where that legal barrier does not exist, there is open homophobia leading to a significant reduction in lesbian and gay quality of life. This is a problem that is not going to change overnight and advocacy groups such as CAL and IGLA need a tectonic shift in opinion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people top be accepted in Africa. For example, in the UK where lesbian and gay rights are well developed, there is still social discrimination in many areas of society. However it is not all doom and gloom for Africa. The fact that CAL exists is a positive step, and the fact that it can hold its third conference amid such prejudice shows their courage and their willpower to demand change. And opinion across Africa will change, if only slowly; events like the Johannesburg pride parade and organisations such as Behind the Mask which publishes information about lesbian and gay rights and affairs in Africa will help to accelerate this social adjustment. The outcome of CAL’s conference is eagerly awaited and will help guide the next step in enhancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender African people’s rights. Adam Briggs: adambriggs@doctors.org.uk
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