Following last issue's Bulletin piece on the global quest by UK legal rights group Human Dignity Trust to decriminalise homosexuality around the world, recent developments in Nigeria and South Africa show that there is still a long road ahead for those seeking tolerance and equality for LGBTI people.
Nigerian government restricts same sex rights and prohibits same sex marriage
A bill which prohibits same sex marriages has been enacted in Nigeria and the offence will now carry a 14 years prison sentence. Groups advocating gay rights will also be prohibited under the new law. A debate took place in Lagos where one senator referred to homosexuality as a "mental illness" and another senator commented that "such elements in society should be killed."
The Guardian reports that the view taken by some Nigerians is that the bill is a method of gaining political support in a largely religious society where there is a great intolerance of homosexuality.
Gay writer and activist Unoma Azuah commented "I've never heard of a single Nigerian same-sex couple demanding to have marriage rights....So I am truly baffled as to why our lawmakers feel this debate is more relevant than terrorism, corruption, lack of infrastructure and education. The whole thing reminds me of the traditional Igbo proverb that says, he whose house is on fire does not go around chasing rats."
Report by Human Rights Watch reveals that the gay community in South Africa lives in fear
Human Rights Watch have released a report which interviewed 121 lesbians, bisexual women and transgender men over two years in some of the townships in South Africa. Although same-sex marriage is legal in South Africa under its constitution, the cultural traditions do not always reflect its far-reaching provisions.
Human Rights Watch called on the South African government to establish "a sustained, large programme that embraces education in schools and engages with religious leaders" in order to counteract the problem of attacks on homosexuals. However, victims are reluctant to report attacks as they fear that their case will not be given full consideration.
Some lesbians have even been murdered due to their sexuality and activists maintain these crimes should be considered hate crimes. A gender policy analyst Nomboniso Gasa commented: "If there was any other group that was targeted in the way LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex people] are targeted, South Africa would declare a crisis. This report lifts a veil of silence to make a visible the realities South Africa would rather pretend do not exist."