Gay in Zambia

By Linda_Villarosa September 22, 2012 Huffington Post Those of us who are black and gay approach Africa with deeply conflicted feelings. On a recent trip to Zambia, along with my point-and-shoot and anti-malaria medication, I packed equal parts pride and shame, curiosity and fear. Homosexuality is illegal in nearly 40 African countries, and in the

Gay Kenya Continues Out and Proud in 2012

Homosexuality in Kenya continues to be a controversial issue, but gay rights advocates continue their advocacy for equality and tolerance. The most vigorous organization is Gays and Lesbians Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) founded in 2004 which leads the struggle for gay Kenyans everywhere.   Evolution of LGBT Rights and Spaces since 2008 This report was

Gay Uganda: a Bigot’s View

A biased news article composed by an ill-informed reporter about gays in the capital city Kampala. It is poorly focused, punctuated with useless hearsay including quotes from ‘professionals’ with outdated and irrelevant ideas about the ’cause’ of homosexuality. It’s a daunting–and typical–introduction to Ugandan public attitudes toward lesbigay citizens in that country.

Gay Life in Cape Verde

Posted here are some stories and reports about LGBT life in Cape Verde. There is little internet insight into the actual lives of gay Verdean other than the one essay by Ivalindo, native of Cape Verde (see #4) some indirect references. Being Africa there is the usual homophobia in society, yet also being Portuguese and European there seems to be less intensity to discrimination.

Gay Life in São Tomé and Príncipe

  Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Not surprising there is virtually no recent insight about LGBT life on this small two island nation. There is one short story, posted below, about a gay man in 2003 whose experience and attitude were expressed thus:  “Several people here know I’m gay, and it has

Gay Life in Lesotho

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012   Introduction Male same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Lesotho—a sharp contrast to South Africa, which completely surrounds the country. Lesotho law does not address sexual orientation.  LGBT people face discrimination in employment, housing, access to health care, access to education, or other areas. Homosexual conduct is taboo

Gay Life in Swaziland

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Off to a bad start: “Very little information is available on same-sex couples in Swaziland and no gay organizations are involved in the government anti-HIV campaign. The Gays and Lesbians Association of Swaziland (GALESWA), formed in the 1990s, has only one known member. The constitution does not

Gay Life in Mali

Introduction Neither male or female same-sex sexual activity is specifically prohibited in Mali, but public laws may be used against LGBT persons. According to the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes Project, 98% of Mali residents said that homosexuality should be rejected by society, making it the highest rejection of homosexuality in the 44 countries surveyed.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Mali)

Gay Life in Liberia

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Updated  December 2016 Introduction Not surprising, homophobia continues its march across sub-Saharan Africa unabated in 2012 as Liberia lawmakers take their turn in proposing hateful anti-gay discriminatory laws. Two lawmakers in Liberia have introduced bills that could make homosexuality more dangerous than it already is but the President

Gay Life in Madagascar

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction From: US State Department Human Rights Report Madagascar, with a population of more than 20 million, is ruled by an unelected and illegal civilian regime that assumed power in a March 2009 coup with military support. Andry Nirina Rajoelina adopted the title of president of the transition,

Gay Life in Eritrea

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction The news from Eritrea is not good in general and worse for LGBT citizens. Homosexual acts are illegal in Eritrea. Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited in Section II of the penal code from 1960. Article 600 “unnatural carnal offences” can be punished for internment for between 10

Gay Life in Sierra Leone

Ever since independence from England in 1961 (since 1808) the Sierra Leone government and society have preferred to deny the existence of lesbians and gay men.  But since the turn of the 21st century African homosexuality has become a flashpoint of conflict between old biblical/koranic colonial ideas and progressive human rights activism. Sierra Leone is no exception and today male same-sex sexual activity is illegal with possible life imprisonment as punishment. Social attitudes are hostile to homosexuality and cross-dressing because of religious beliefs. Most citizens subscribe to Christian or Muslim traditional gender roles and are expected to abstain from sexual activity outside of a traditional marriage.

Nevertheless, in 2011, the first major study was conducted regarding homosexuality:

Gay Life in Niger

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Same-sex sexual activity is technically legal, most likely only because it is not mentioned in the criminal statutes of Niger because most authorities do not think it exists in their country. Of course, there are no anti-discrimination laws for LGBT citizens and no ‘community’. The U.S. Department

Gay Life in Chad

Homosexual acts are no longer legal, as of 2017. The new code states the punishment for anyone who has sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex is 15 to 20 years in jail and a fine of 50,000-500,000 Central African francs (£60-£600). The legislators claim that the measure is intended to “protect the family and to comply with Chadian society”.

Gay Life in Central African Republic

It is very difficult to find reliable information about gay life in this central African country. It is a poor and abused country where life is harsh for the vast majority while a tiny privileged few enjoy access to foreign aid and business profits, legally or otherwise. Included here are miscellaneous writings found from extensive internet searching for any insight and understanding of the LGBT sub-culture. Same-sex contact is not illegal but is socially dangerous.

Gay Life in Guinea

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction The land that is now Guinea (sometimes called Guinea-Conakry) belonged to a series of African empires until France colonized it in the 1890s, and made it part of French West Africa. Guinea declared its independence from France on 2 October 1958. Islam is the majority religion for

Gay Life in Togo

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Any thoughtful study of African homosexuality should start with the well-researched book by Steven Murray and Will Roscoe titled  “Boy Wives and Female Husbands: A Studies of African Homosexualities” published in 1998. It is the first work of its kind on the subject of African sexuality offering

Gay Life in Gambia

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Sex between men occurs in most societies though its extent certainly varies from place to place, for cultural or other reasons. Its existence, however, is frequently denied by the authorities in many places because of religious teachings or cultural taboos, or because as individuals they feel uncomfortable

Gay Life in Burkina Faso

Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction After gaining independence from France in 1960, the country underwent many governmental changes until arriving at its current form, a semi-presidential republic. Laws about homosexuality In Burkina Faso male/male and female/female sexual relations are not illegal as such. According to the Penal Code of 1996:  “Any person

Gay Life in Libya

Three men accused of being homosexual are reported to have been executed by the Islamic State (ISIS). The men were reportedly shot in the head at the town’s main Ateeq Mosque following afternoon (Asr) prayers. Libya is in a chaotic condition with militant groups fighting each other for control, including ISIS  Traditional Islam condemns homosexuality and