Shocking report here on the institutionalised and violent nature of homophobia in the central African state of Cameroon.
Marriage equality is speck on the horizon if you are gay in Cameroon – just as it is in Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and so many others.
It is what we have come to expect in Africa. I wish it were more outrageous of me to criticise a whole continent like that, but frankly: it’s the truth. With the exception of South Africa, the entire continent is a disaster zone for gays and their rights. The truth is that it is more socially acceptable to have sex with animals in many parts of Africa than it is the act in the “unAfrican” way of loving someone of one’s own sex.
Does it shock you to read that from me? Well – be shocked at the actual violence and hatred in Africa; that is the real problem. I hope only that the internet and globalisation can help share more and more stories of normal gay and lesbian lives so that those suffering now in Cameroon can be inspired to change their society or to leave it according to their wishes.
Tags: Cameroon gay marriage, Cameroon gay rights, care2 gay marriage, care2 homophobia, gay marriage Africa, gay marriage South Africa, homophobia africa, homophobia Cameroon, marriage equality africa, same sex marriage Africa
Although I think you have rightly raised the seriousness of homophobia in Africa I think there are a few additional points I think should be raised.
The first is that there is an active and growing GLBT movement in Africa. I went to a conference a few months ago and met a number of inspirational activists. One guy was from Cameroon from this organisation
http://www.amsher.net/ – doing amazing work bringing people together.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that there are people working hard to challenge homophobia in African countries and we should think about what we can do at a practical level to support them. I was also really encouraged to hear from so many straight people from those countries who are very concerned about the situation for GLBT people.
Another point to consider is the role of the US Christian right in promoting homophobia in African countries.
This article raises some of these issues:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-kapya-kaoma
Finally, there is a strong link between homophobia and sexist attitudes. The attitudes that oppress GLBT people are based on the same ideology that has led to extremely high levels of sexual violence in armed conflict, discrimination against women in the family etc. Perhaps coalition building between the global GLBT and women’s movement might be a way forward.