
LGBTIQ rights in Africa: the state in the entire continent nowMuch is spoken by different people from many parts of the world regarding LGBTIQ people. However, this is its state across the continent.
by Agence France-Presse
29-05-2023 16:59
in Culture
The state of LGBTIQ Rights across Africa.
Image: pexels.com
In recent years several African countries have decriminalised same-sex relationships. But they're not representative of the continent. In fact, queer rights at times appear to be eroding in much of the continent, with Kenya and Uganda most recently in the news for harsh laws and violence against members of the LGBTIQ community. We asked sociologist and queer studies scholar Zethu Matebeni five questions.
--
How would you describe the state of LGBTIQ rights? The state of LGBTIQ rights on the continent could be described as being on a continuum of seven possible stages, as suggested by US legal scholar Adam Kretz. These move from total marginalisation to cultural integration. The position in the continuum is determined by a country's laws and its political, social and cultural conditions.
ALSO READ: Eswatini Supreme Court hears LGBTIQ group's registration case
There are countries - such as Nigeria, Mauritania, Sudan, and Somalia - that impose bans, lengthy jail terms, ostracism, or a death penalty on anyone displaying same-sex affection and lesbian, gay or transgender identity or existence. Most countries - such as Algeria, The Gambia, Malawi, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe - remain in the second stage of the continuum, maintaining criminalisation of LGBTIQ persons.
--
There are also a number of African countries - such as Angola, Cape Verde, Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Lesotho, Rwanda, to name a few - that have reached the third stage of decriminalisation of non-heterosexual sexuality. This makes it possible for LGBTIQ persons to attain rights and work towards changing societal attitudes.
ALSO READ: Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill wants to rehabilitate' LGBTIQ people Only a handful of countries - such as Mauritius, Botswana, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa - have codified their laws to make sure that LGBTIQ people are protected against discrimination. Although no African country has reached the end of the continuum - cultural integration - there are some that are trying to establish positive rights and full legal equality. Non-heterosexual acts have always been part of the African fabric and ways of being. Colonial laws have ensured they are considered un-African, against the order of nature and criminal.
Where is it safest to live as a LGBTIQ person - on paper? Queer people are everywhere and try to create safe spaces for themselves wherever they are. Safety is not only about what rights exist on paper. It's also about social conditions and attitudes of others about LGBTIQ people in that society.
--
Take South Africa as an example. It might be easy to say it's safer, on paper, to live there because of its laws and the rights given to LGBTIQ persons. But the reality may be different. Racial discrimination, economic insecurity, being considered a foreigner, sexual violence and many other factors contribute to making a place unsafe.
ALSO READ: Uganda anti-LGBTIQ bill protests for Pretoria and Cape Town
The country's high rates of femicide and sexual violence against women, girls and queer persons make it an unsafe place to live as a black and African queer person. Similarly, while South Africa may be ahead of others in the continent because of laws which allow a person to change their sex, these laws still carry certain conditions. These make it difficult for many transgender and intersex persons to live their full lives.
Where is it least safe? In over 30 countries in Africa LGBTIQ people would face imprisonment. It is difficult to live in a place where you are not wanted and constantly face arrest, violence, torture and persecution. Uganda has just signed into law the most extreme legislation against the LGBTIQ community, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. This imposes the death penalty, life imprisonment or between 10 and 20 years in prison for attempted homosexuality and promotion of homosexuality .
ALSO READ: World condemns Uganda's anti-LGBTIQ bill
Why do these rights matter? LGBTIQ rights matter because they are fundamental human rights that ensure that every person is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Ensuring that LGBTIQ individuals have access to basic human rights such as the right to freedom of expression, assembly, and association promotes democracy, heterogeneity, social justice and equality.
LGBTIQ rights matter because they recognise that everyone has the right to live their lives without fear of harassment, violence or persecution. With these rights it would be possible to fight discrimination, inequality and injustice in many societies while ensuring that everyone benefits from full access to rights.
ALSO READ: Court victory for LGBTIQ community in Kenya
What needs to be done about it? Legal, cultural, social, political and economic barriers would need to be lifted to advance LGBTIQ rights and promote greater inclusion. For many countries that are still in the first and second stage of the continuum, legal reform would need to be prioritised. Cultural and social factors to be addressed would include educating the public about diversity and difference.
Activists are already doing a lot, some with limited or no resources. Support of activist initiatives and organisations working on LGBTIQ issues, health issues, gender equity, advocacy for equality and social justice would need to be strengthened. This would ensure that these activities speak directly to policy issues.
ALSO READ: Uganda passes horror
Most recent headlines
08/12/2023
Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots portray the titular characters in writer-director Matthew Ross' thriller Frank & Lola....
08/12/2023
SBS to Bring All the Best Action from 2024 Dakar Rally
Media release
The world's biggest rally raid begins January 6 exclusive and free on SBS and SBS o...
08/12/2023
Marquis's new X2Pro5 software has been designed to integrate Final Cut Pro projects into a professional audio workflow, enabling Avid Pro Tools to be used f...
08/12/2023
The new report from the GSMA, published at its Indonesia Digital Nations Summit ...
08/12/2023
New platform opens up online access to over 57,000 archival programmes, creating seamless experience for customers to search and acquire video
Getty Images (NY...
08/12/2023
Color-Changing Capability, Compact Size, and Flexible Operation Make New Studio ...
08/12/2023
Colorist Andre Rivas Joins Picture Shop
Brie Clayton December 8, 2023
0 Comments
Colorist Andre Rivas has joined the award-winning artists at Picture S...
08/12/2023
Khronos Releases Open-Source iOS App for Viewing glTF Files
Brie Clayton December 8, 2023
0 Comments
Khronos glTF Viewer is live on the Apple App Sto...
08/12/2023
FilmLight chats with Sonny Sheridan, senior colourist at ENVY
Brie Clayton December 8, 2023
0 Comments
After an early career as a child actor, Sonny Sh...
08/12/2023
Axel Reichwein, CTO Beam Dynamics, looks at how media management and MAM solutions learn more by looking beyond typical M&E storage technology, search tools and...
08/12/2023
By TVBEurope Staff
Published: December 8, 2023
ACCESS:VFX founder Simon Devereux looks at the drive towards diversity and inclusion in the visual effects i...
08/12/2023
Cobalt Iron Inc., a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced that for the third year in a row, it has been named one of CIORev...
08/12/2023
Riedel Communications today announced the establishment of its latest Engineering Hub, the "Technology Hub Berlin," situated at Checkpoint Charlie. This expansi...
08/12/2023
LucidLink Launches Unbound' Film Series Exploring How Creatives Collaborate and Expand Possibilities in this New Hybrid World
Episode One Profiles Award-W...
08/12/2023
Singular.live, the pioneer of revolutionary web-based technology for live graphic overlays, proudly announces a game-changing partnership with SIS (Sports Infor...
08/12/2023
CVP will offer first-line support, repairs and service for Cooke's lens range in the UK
CVP, one of Europe s leading resellers and providers of profession...
08/12/2023
Jigsaw24 Media, a leading UK media systems integrator and EditShare partner, has developed two online training courses to help users and system administrators ...
08/12/2023
ENVY Extends Partnership with Avid to Streamline Post-Production Workflows
Brie Clayton December 7, 2023
0 Comments
Award-winning UK post house signs m...
08/12/2023
Catch Me If You Can TV Game Show Produced with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton December 7, 2023
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that the te...
08/12/2023
Esteban Toro presents Unlocking the Future of Video Editing: A Dive into Adobe A...
08/12/2023
Carbon welcomes Lauren DeFelice as Head of Production
Brie Clayton December 7, 2023
0 Comments
Creative production studio Carbon has named Lauren DeFel...
08/12/2023
Fibonacci Sunflower in Apple Motion
Simon Ubsdell December 7, 2023
0 Comments
A simple tutorial that looks at the numbers behind creating a stylised Fi...
08/12/2023
For the past 4 months, 11 students from three local universities, NC Central University, Shaw and St. Augustine's, have been interning in Capitol Broadcasti...
08/12/2023
Norman Lear, who produced an array of hit comedies that frequently touched on key social issues, died at home in Los Angeles December 5. He was 101 and his wife...
08/12/2023
Tracy Underwood, ABC Signature executive VP of creative affairs, has been named president of the studio. She will report to Eric Schrier, president of Disney Te...
08/12/2023
Fox will air the special M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television on New Year's Day. The special goes for two hours and features cast members Alan Alda, ...
08/12/2023
DaLaun Dillard has joined KRIV Houston, known as Fox 26, as morning anchor. He will co-anchor Houston's Morning Show with Melissa Wilson weekdays from 7 to ...
08/12/2023
Dr. Phil McGraw and his upstart TV network, Merit Street Media, is poised to lau...
08/12/2023
A+E Media Group said a German version of its international hit Alone has been greenlit for production by RTL Plus....
08/12/2023
Viamedia said it has agreed to become the exclusive local and regional direct advertising sales firm for Perpetual Media, a digital outdoor and place-based adve...
08/12/2023
Annie Mae has joined WTTG Washington as traffic reporter on Fox 5 News Morning and Good Day DC, in the 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. block....
08/12/2023
Brian Cheung has been named business and data correspondent at NBC News. He joined NBC News as a reporter in the business and technology unit in September 2022....
08/12/2023
Local Now, Allen Media Group's free streaming service, said it made a deal with Vice Media Group to add two Vice free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) chann...
08/12/2023
MLS Cup Final 2023: League, Apple, NEP Group Partnership To Produce First Champi...
08/12/2023
NASCAR's New $53 Million Production Facility Revs Up Ahead of 2024 Season Facility offers flexibility for NASCAR and rightsholders to work in new ways By K...
08/12/2023
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame 2023: Ernie Johnson Jr., Sportscasting's St...
08/12/2023
Back to All News
Anime Adaptation of Rising Impact' Takes Flight on Netflix in June 2024Play Video
Play Video
Entertainment
08 December 2023
GlobalJap...
08/12/2023
Posted on 08 Dec 2023
When word went out for donations of books and jigsaws for the Warton Book Exchange, team ICG came up with the goods for our Give Back Fri...
08/12/2023
Article courtesy of ASC
Read the article
Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC worked with senior colorist Yvan Lucas of Company 3 on the film's lookup...
08/12/2023
Article courtesy of Televisual
Read the article
The movie reunited Coppola with cinematographer and colourist duo, Philippe Le Sourd and Damien van der Cruyss...
08/12/2023
Today Apple published an independent study conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Dr. Stuart Madnick that found clear and compelling proof...
08/12/2023
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Homecomings aren't always a welcoming event fo...
08/12/2023
First, a follow-up: In the October 13 tip about creating Track Presets for parallel processing, I mentioned that Track Presets can't include buses, which is...
08/12/2023
HOUSE OF ZWIDE: Thursday's episode, 7 December 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of House of Zwide? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of House of Zwide ...
08/12/2023
LOTTO is played less by already rich' people, say studiesThe National Lottery LOTTO is one of the country's most popular games. But would you play as m...
08/12/2023
SKEEM SAAM: Thursday's episode, 7 December 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of Skeem Saam soapie right...
08/12/2023
Durban's Trail of Lights' back for the festive seasonDurban's Trail of Lights is one of the most famous attractions, and it's back for the 2023...
08/12/2023
Africa Fact of the Day: Mamelodi Sundowns is Africa's second-richest club - ...
08/12/2023
[WATCH] The end of Lindiwe?' Hlomla Dandala returns to The River' as Z...
08/12/2023
Lemogang Tsipa, Siphesihle Ndaba, Linda Sokhulu score roles in Killer Front Pag...