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Homophobia affecting gay people in Africa

A bill in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatening people with 5-15 years of "penal servitude" for same-sex relations, a prison sentence which can't be suspended.

This law, if adopted, would also impose fines of up to 30 million Congolese Francs, or about 9,800 Euros.

These fines would devastate lives in a country where the average monthly income is estimated at only 45 Euros, among the lowest in the world.

This is the third time in 14 years that such an initiative has been proposed. It is a sign of the continuing fight against equality. This proposal criminalizing same-sex love and “all actions associated with homosexuality” would have devastating consequences, reinforcing discrimination and violence against an already vulnerable community.

Petition here:

Oppose the Anti-LGBT+ Bill in the DRC
 
All Out suggest possible hope regarding Morocco's homophobic legal stance.

In Morocco, the shadow of outdated laws looms over the LGBT+ community, where Article 489 of the Penal Code unjustly criminalizes "lewd or unnatural acts" between same-sex individuals.

Same-sex activity can therefore be punished with anything from six months to three years imprisonment and a fine of 120 to 1,200 dirhams (12 to 120 USD).

However, a unique opportunity has arisen.

The newly elected Minister of Justice removed the draft law regarding criminal code procedures proposed by the Islamist parliament and is open to reevaluating what constitutes a crime. With these shifts in Morocco's political landscape, we stand at a pivotal moment to advocate for change and equality.

Petition here:

Join the Call: Make love legal in Morocco!
 
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Unpleasant thread here. Man kidnapped by peopel impersonating police, beaten and urged to "confess"
 
US far right groups with Christian leanings helping to promote and amplify their hatred of LGBT


NCOSE’s other ties in Uganda include The Boys’ Mentorship Programme (BMP), run by Godfrey Kuteesa, which it lists as a “Partner Organization” on its website. NCOSE has worked with Kuteesa for nearly a decade, and featured him in the 2015 blog post discussing Wrap week.

BMP’s activities include an annual “Summer Boys’ Boot Camp”, which the organization’s own website describes as “militaristic in nature”.

Last July, Kuteesa posted a video to X (formerly Twitter) that showed him making boys at the boot camp shout “a man marries a woman” four times, before shouting at them “That is the natural way!”

In other posts on X, Kuteesa has written that “gay is not a sexual orientation,” that boys with “pins in their ears … always turn out to be homos”, and that “African Leaders worry that Obama’s charisma will lead young people into homosexual sin.”
 
There's better news from Namibia, where consensual same-sex relations between men have been decriminalised.

The High Court has declared the common law offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences” to be unconstitutional.

These colonial-era laws – which were inherited from South Africa after Namibia’s independence – criminalized consensual same-sex conduct between male adults.

“For now, we are celebrating. We are no longer considered criminals by the law,” a Namibian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights activist told Human Rights Watch.

Friedel Dausab, who brought the case, argued the laws infringed his constitutional rights to equality, dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, based on his sexual orientation.

Namibia Court Decriminalizes Consensual Same-Sex Conduct
 

Muholi describes themself as a visual activist. From the early 2000s, they have documented and celebrated the lives of South Africa’s Black lesbian, gay, trans, queer and intersex communities.

Saw this and thought it might be of interest on this thread.

Each room of exhibition has a different theme. I'd say to see the rooms as a whole rather than concentrate a photo at a time.

I'd say it's ultimately uplifting show. Whilst it doesn't shy away from the difficulties LGBT people face it's a celebration of their lives as well. Which I like as it shows people's humanity.

Muholi is also a very good photographer. These are top quality thought out photos.

I've had one look at it and will go back ( plus point of Tate membership). As it's a lot to take in.

Also covers some of the history of LGBT people in SA. Pamphlets/ magazines and posters for example.
 



Saw this and thought it might be of interest on this thread.

Each room of exhibition has a different theme. I'd say to see the rooms as a whole rather than concentrate a photo at a time.

I'd say it's ultimately uplifting show. Whilst it doesn't shy away from the difficulties LGBT people face it's a celebration of their lives as well. Which I like as it shows people's humanity.

Muholi is also a very good photographer. These are top quality thought out photos.

I've had one look at it and will go back ( plus point of Tate membership). As it's a lot to take in.

Also covers some of the history of LGBT people in SA. Pamphlets/ magazines and posters for example.
Looks good. Meanwhile over at the Barbican until 30th June is this Soufiane Ababri | Barbican
This is an exhibition by a Moroccan artist. I caught it by accident en route to a concert by the London Gay Symphony orchestra at St Giles Cripplegate.
Soufiane Ababri is a painter and gives free reign to his erotic fantasies. So much so I was surprised not to see a trigger warning on the exhibition door!
 
Akufo-Addo is procrastinating to the max before signing the Anti-Gay Bill, presumably to give his mates a chance to steal as much of the IMF loan as their pockets will hold before international capital punishes Ghana's homophobia by cutting off funds again. They repeat this dance every decade or so: What are the legal challenges to Ghana's anti-LGBTQ+ bill? | Context
The biggest rip-off in Ghana was when Pres Kufour sold off the government stake in Ashanti Goldfields to Anglo American of South Africa.
Compared to that the typical case of corruption among Ghana MPs is more like "tractor porn"
eg
  • Mahama Ayariga. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice was petitioned by a pressure group in September 2009 to investigate Mahama Ayariga for acquiring 5 subsidized tractors from the ministry of Agriculture that were meant to support underprivileged farmers in rural communities. Appointments Committee of Parliament initially suspended his approval of becoming a minister pending investigations, that cleared him afterwards.[6] Mahama Ayariga claimed that his application to acquire the tractors "was approved" and he was unaware that there was an "affordable arrangements" scheme associated with purchasing the tractors.[7] The investigation was reopened in July 2017 when a different political party formed a new government.[8]
 
News from Workers' Liberty "Solidarity"
Anti-gay laws in Burkina Faso - by Will Roberts
In Burkina Faso, the ruling military junta has announced new laws criminalising homosexuality. The Justice Minister announced the news on 11 July.
The law still has to be approved by the parliament and then signed by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore, but as the parliament is controlled by the junta and Traore leads the cabinet that made the initial decision, the law is certain to pass. Two different military coups occurred in 2022. The second put the current leader, Traore,in charge. As with other countries in the Sahel region, up to two million people have been displaced in Burkina Faso by around a decade of conflict with Islamist forces. In June, Russia announced a new round of investments and military support to Burkina Faso, as part of its wider project of building links across Africa. The country will receive Russian military training, arms and some military presence. Burkina Faso is taking a broader shift away from its former colonial power, France, which had troops there until 2023 and a dominant influence during much of the period since independence. The country still uses the French-created “CFA franc” as its currency. Its new geopolitical orientation is towards Russia, which has encouraged anti-LGBT policy in countries throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa. Uganda, which introduced anti-gay laws in May, has also increased links with Russia.
 
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