Tag Archives: Africa

Shielding his identity with a paper bag, a gay Ugandan spoke on Tuesday at an LGBT alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.

The anti-gay American Center For Law & Justice has opened a branch in Kenya, another ominous indication of the Christian right’s continuing push to demonize gays in Africa. From their site: The Christian response to all that is happening [in Kenya] has been ad hoc and reactionary. This has seen several laws passed that eroded the value system that we …

As the campaigns against gays in Uganda and Malawi continue to garner international headlines, many LGBT people across Africa are retreating further into the closet, fearful for their lives. This retreat effectively cuts many off from HIV/AIDS prevention outreach and life saving medications. Via PlusNews: More than two-thirds of African countries have laws criminalizing homosexual acts, and despite accounting for …

A gay couple has been arrested and charged with indecency for conducting a marriage ceremony in Malawi. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza had a tradiitonal ceremony in the south African country on Saturday. Malawi has severe penalties against homosexual acts, commonly punishing gay sex with up to 14 years in prison. Attempts lin 2007 by human rights lawyers to repeal …

Hundreds of anti-gay protesters demonstrated in Kampala today in support of Uganda’s pending “kill gays” bill. The protesters, led by born-again clerics, cultural leaders, and university undergraduates, marched to the parliament where they presented a petition. The bill – introduced by parliamentarian David Bahati – would see gay men and lesbians sentenced to life imprisonment for having sex, and a …

Perhaps inspired by Uganda, Rwanda is now moving to criminalize homosexuality. Rwanda’s lower house will reportedly vote today on a revision to the penal code which would criminalise homosexuality. According to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the proposed Article 217 of the draft Penal Code Act will criminalise “[a]ny person who practices, encourages or sensitises people of …

In response to a request from the Advocate, the White House has issued a statement (finally) condemning Uganda’s proposed “kill gays” bill. Via Kerry Eleveld: “The President strongly opposes efforts, such as the draft law pending in Uganda, that would criminalize homosexuality and move against the tide of history,” read the statement that came late Friday in response to an …

American evangelical Scott Lively, widely considered to be the chief U.S. architect of Uganda’s “kill gays” bill, today issued a press release saying that while he bears no responsibility for the legislation, which he calls a “serious overcorrection,” he also “commends the courage of the Ugandan people.” By official count 22 young men were executed under Uganda’s law on homosexuality. …

After weeks of media criticism, Rick Warren has at last specifically denounced Uganda’s now-dismantled “kill gays” bill. Previously Warren had said it was not his business to “interfere with sovereign nations,” despite his years-long championing of the bill’s chief proponent, Martin Ssempa. The text of the below video is here. An excerpt: We are all familiar with Edmund Burke’s insight, …

After weeks of international condemnation including threats to end foreign aid, Uganda will be dropping the sections of its anti-gay bill that call for the death penalty or life imprisonment. The draft bill, which is under consideration by a parliamentary committee, will drop the two punishments to attract the support of religious leaders who are opposed to these penalties, Buturo …

Uganda’s infamous “kill gays” bill is about to pass in the country’s parliament, but it is expected that the “gay death sentence” portion will be changed to life imprisonment. The draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill is part of a growing campaign against homosexuals in Uganda, rights groups say. Critics say the aim is to divert attention from corruption and other political issues …

Somehow making a connection to swine flu, Rush Limbaugh claims (without citing any evidence) that African nations are overstating the number of AIDS cases in order to receive more foreign aid.

Homosexuals in Uganda will face the death penalty if a new law proposed by Parliament member David Bahait is adopted. Aggravated homosexuality will be punished by death, according to a new bill tabled in Parliament yesterday. The private member’s bill was tabled by Ndorwa West MP David Bahati (NRM). A person commits aggravated homosexuality when the victim is a person …

Mory Kante, Yeke Yeke, 1988. With this global #1 hit, Guinean Mory Kante became the first African to score a million-selling single. The remix was a monster smash in gay clubs; my late pal Daniel literally broke his foot dancing to it at Miami’s Cheers, where DJ Danny Tenaglia often made it a cornerstone of his sets. In 1994 the …

The New York Times reports that armed militias are raping male villagers in the Congo in order to force them into submitting to their control. According to Oxfam, Human Rights Watch, United Nations officials and several Congolese aid organizations, the number of men who have been raped has risen sharply in recent months, a consequence of joint Congo-Rwanda military operations …

Researchers have identified a new strain of HIV in a woman from Cameroon. Previously only three strains of HIV had been thought to exist. A new strain of the virus that causes AIDS has been discovered in a woman from the African nation of Cameroon. It differs from the three known strains of human immunodeficiency virus and appears to be …

Researchers believe they have found an important missing link in the study of simian AIDS, a discovery with implications for human research. Up until now, scientists had believed that the 40+ known strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) did not make the animals ill. But two colonies of chimpanzees infected with a particular strain of SIV have been found to …

Researchers have determined that circumcising a man already infected with HIV does not protect his female partner from the virus. Early results prompted the scientists to cut short a study for the safety of the female subjects. Circumcision is known to protect men from acquiring HIV. But the research, from the Lancet, showed no benefit in those who already had …

A New Jersey medical student is suing his school for discrimination for the way they treated him after he described himself as a “white, African, American.” Which, as a Mozambique-born Caucasian immigrant, he technically is. But he may also be an asshat, as the school suspended him for continuing to use the expression after being told others found it offensive. …

A Miss Botswana contestant got the same question as Carrie Prejean and took her answer one step further, winning her the crown. In a scenario that mirrors the recent controversy at the Miss USA competition, Sumaiyah Marope was asked by judge DJ Fresh if she would advocate gay marriage. “It is unnatural act,” Marope proclaimed. “God made us men and …