In these days of the Syrian War and the unrest in Egypt we
tend to forget the strife of others across the globe suffering from human
rights injustices.
Today I would like to make a special mention of our Gay, Lesbian
and Transgender community in Africa. Our laws, traditions and cultures
in Africa criminalise consensual same-sex relations and acts. In many countries
those who challenge sexual or gender norms face arbitrary arrest and detention,
physical attacks, blackmail or extortion, and discrimination in the areas of
employment, education, and access to health care.
We have Presidents, namely
one Mr R G Mugabe (his excellency????), publicly denouncing gays and lesbians
as worse than pigs and dogs. In his latest inauguration speech President Robert
Mugabe castigated same sex marriage calling it a ‘filthy, filthy, filthy disease’.
He went on to make a reference to the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah, unwittingly
re-iterating and re-enforcing his well documented preference of genocide to a pure
loving relationships between consenting adults.
This has to change!! We as
Human Rights activists have to help to force Africa to wake up and smell the
coffee.
That said, I’d like to applaud
groups like Gays & Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), OUT and the International
Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) for their progressive humans
efforts and work. They lead the way through dedication to human rights advocacy
on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of
their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We
have to emulate local and international organisations such as these in order
for us to help those with no voices to be heard.
Melusi
Sibanda – Information & Publicity Secretary ROHRZIM Bradford Branch
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